Car/Camper Fire Extinguishers
Submitted: Friday, Feb 21, 2003 at 17:12
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wazza
Has anyone had experience using fire extinguishers in a real situation whilst on the road? Anyone ever had extinguishers that have failed to work at all? Or, maybe it worked ok, but the capacity was not enough to extinguish the fire successfully. Example. I have a 1.0kg dry chemical type in the back of my car. It is about 5 year old, and still in the green on the guage. Was wondering if when the time comes, would it be sufficient to do the job.
All the extingushers we use on our ship are taken away for inspection yearly, regardless of type. Leading up to the day we send them off for the inspection, we occasionally let them off as part of fire drills and have had failures. These were foam type, but I assume there would be some failure rate for dry chem and CO2 extinguishers as
well.
Any insurance companies still offer discounts for carrying one? I know AIM used to offer 5% discount, but they stopped that a couple of years ago.
Reply By: Bob Y. - Saturday, Feb 22, 2003 at 16:05
Saturday, Feb 22, 2003 at 16:05
Wazza, we've got them scattered around here, on all buildings, and in each vehicle. Few times have used them they are very quick and efficient, with almost instant extinguishing of flame. Chubb service them every 12 months, and they use a nylon hammer to bash the case to loosen the powder. On severe corrugations, I'd suggest you might need to do this more readily, say monthly.
Would agree with the others, get a second one. Saw a case near Urandangie, where some people had a front tyre alight, caused by seized wheel brgs, they didn't have an extinguisher so were chucking sand on it. The flame would go out, as the sand hit it, but would flash back, and eventually the whole vehicle, HT Holden, was torched. They didn't have any water either! Hooroo....
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Follow Up By: Tuco69 - Sunday, Mar 02, 2003 at 17:10
Sunday, Mar 02, 2003 at 17:10
Yup - dry powder extinguishers that are carried on any vehicle should be 'serviced' every 3 months. The gauge on the unit only shows that the propellant charge is OK. On any vehicle the vibration packs the dry powder into a solid lump in the bottom of the extinguisher. When you try to use it - only the propellant gas will be discharged and the powder 'blanket' that is used to smother the fire will stay in the can!
Vehicles and equipment used by oil companies or in aviation refuelling usually have the powder removed, sifted (with a flour sifter) and then put back into the container with a funnel.
Inverting and tapping with a rubber or nylon hammer will help, but removal and sifting is best.
Tuco
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