Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I was reading Fourwheeler the other night and came across their Fire extinguisher article. It was talking about the destructive properties of the dry powder ones and was recommending the Halon filled ones as a more effective solution. It seems the dry powder ones cause a lot of corrosive damage once sprayed onto the fire in most cases causing more dmage than a small fire they are putting out. The Halon seems to work very well without any side affects other than an environmental impact that wasn't explained fully.

So what are people using and does anyone know more about the halon. Currently both my 4wds are using dry powder extinguishers with the one in the Zuk nearing 10 years old and way past due to be replaced.

With comps etc what are the requirements for competitors and what do the safety crews use?

Halon is illeagle in Aus as it is a CFC, there is a holon replacment, but it is quite expensive, dry chem in the best all round as it is suitable for electricle, the corrosion you may experience is due to the dry chem being car soda. it works by attacting theelectrons to the carb soda there fore inhibiting the chemical chain reaction of fire. Dry cheam if cleaned well should not cause any real corrosion. the oter issue with CO2 or the halon replacment is it is effected by wind quite badly. Halon and Halon replacment were / are primarily used in omputo rooms where fire doors shut and the halon starves the entire room of oxygen and can not be effected by any breeze. these days computor rooms use fine mist sprays so the holon replacment is effectivly being fased out anyway. stick with dry chem, it is cheap, readily available, and effective

bogged wrote:http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/View.asp?ForumQID=25865

good link thanks Bogged

To save myself from typing to much, and for you to get the correct information read these link below.

There is a quick mention on Halon 1211 on page 3 aswell. It's essentially all the basics on Fire Extinguishers and it's from the Fire Protection Association of Australia.

http://www.fpaa.com.au/information/docs ... ishers.pdf


As far as Halon is concerned in most cases it is illegal and if your caught setting off an old BCF Extinguisher you will get fined. All the old decanned stuff has been kept in storage. Exemptions can be given for use of the stuff, but it's a massive paper trail. The only time i have ever come across the exemption being given were for Cargo Ships from other countries which needed their Halon Systems recharged. As these ships fall under different requirements to our own and are not legally allowed to leave port if things like their Fire Systems are not 100% operational. There is about a dozen gases now that have been used to replace Halon and it's all good stuff, but they are only found in Fixed Fire Suprresion Systems.



Just stick to a ABE rated Dry Chem extinguishers. Yes it is corrosive if not cleaned properly but so is the Foam used in Foam extinguishers. The only non corrosive stuff would either be Water which is not overly useful on a Vehicle or a CO2 which is no good in open areas as wind blows the gas away.

As for sizes one around 1kg can put out a decent fire by an experienced user but most people aren't that experienced. Best to step up to atleast a 4.5kg, a 9kg would be better but takes up more space. But at the end of the day some kind of extinguisher is better then none.

Check your extinguisher regularly. Regularly look at the pressure guage to make sure it has the correct pressure in it. Also about once a month remove it from it's holder, turn it upside down and give a bit of a shake to break up the powder inside. The powder will settle and form a hard lump inside and may not work in an emergency.

One other thing, an Extinguisher like many other things is a pressure cylinder, if it shows any sign of damage or rust let a proffessional inspect it, also they have to be pressure tested every 6 years. For the smaller ones like a 1kg it's far cheaper to just buy a new one then to have it pressure tested aswell.

As other have said yes DCP is very corrosive but so is foam. I have seen 1000's of dollars of elec equipment stuffed becuase of drunk defence personnal who think its funny to set them off.
But when it comes to putting out a car fire. DCP is the only cost effective way. Only other viable option would be Foam. But to be effective you would need a 9lt (smallest size the generally come in).
using DCP extinggushers
Since most car fires are under the bonnet. When trying to put fire out. Try and put the nozzel thru a gap thru the wheel arch. This well give the powder the best chance of putting the fire out. As it will contain the fire and powder alot better, due to the semi closed space.
Then just hold the trigger untill it is empty. They are buggered as soon as they are set off so you may as well use all the powder. And DONT POP THE BONNENT for a look. DCP has no cooling effect. So what ever is burning may re-ignite.

Once fire is out try and give it a good wash asap. That will keep the damage of corrosion to a minimum.

There are other agents that can be used but Dry Chem Powder are still the most cost effective. I havnt priced the others for awhile as they where only for fixed systems and it dosent take much to get the price up.

If you need prices on anything bigger the 1kg. PM as I may be able to get them a little cheaper (dad sells them), But hes away for a week or so.
In my car I have 2.5kg (in the back) and a 0.9kg (in the pass foot well).

Also 9lt stored pressure water extinguishers are great for cleaning out radiators and intercoolers when they get full of mud and other crap.
These and foam are the only ones that are easily fillable. As it is almost just the case of putting 9lts of water in and pump the bugger up to 700kpa for water and 1000kpa for foam.
Making sure all this is done in a good steel cage incase the thing craps itself and peels open (so thats the WARNING, done wrong these will blow up and it will hurt heaps).

I may have to edit this I have been drinking.

We used Halon fire systems on some of the navy ships I served on. They removed it all not only because of the enviromental effects but also because it comes in contact with the fire it creates fosgene (SP) gas. It also cretes a corrosive substane that I can't remember the name of. I once had to use the system when we had a engine room fire and when the temp came down to normal we had to wear wet suits under our fire fighting clothes as well as a constantly hosing ourselves down using the fire hose with water while we overhauled the fire.

Chucky wrote:We used Halon fire systems on some of the navy ships I served on.

Not my greatest claim to fame, but i worked on and repaired the Fire System on the HMAS Westralia towards the end of 1997

grimbo wrote:I was reading Fourwheeler the other night and came across their Fire extinguisher article. It was talking about the destructive properties of the dry powder ones and was recommending the Halon filled ones as a more effective solution. It seems the dry powder ones cause a lot of corrosive damage once sprayed onto the fire in most cases causing more dmage than a small fire they are putting out. The Halon seems to work very well without any side affects other than an environmental impact that wasn't explained fully.

So what are people using and does anyone know more about the halon. Currently both my 4wds are using dry powder extinguishers with the one in the Zuk nearing 10 years old and way past due to be replaced.

With comps etc what are the requirements for competitors and what do the safety crews use?

You know you could wash the powder off after using the extinguisher.
Comparing some corroded electricals to a car burnt to the ground, I think I'll risk using the extinguisher.

Rainbow Warrior wrote:You know you could wash the powder off after using the extinguisher.
Comparing some corroded electricals to a car burnt to the ground, I think I'll risk using the extinguisher.

while I do agree, its really fine shit and gets in everywhere.

the bike club was usin my rodeo ute for crash pickup at oran park one day, dry chem went off in the cab, all we saw was 2 dudes diving out of the white powder, car dissappeared, and took several months to clean it out totally, including completely removing seats, carpet etc 3 times... threw out the radio - its fine nasty shit like talcum powder...


...but as you say, compared to losing a truck, fekin oaf use it.. its what tis there for.

Rainbow Warrior wrote:

grimbo wrote:I was reading Fourwheeler the other night and came across their Fire extinguisher article. It was talking about the destructive properties of the dry powder ones and was recommending the Halon filled ones as a more effective solution. It seems the dry powder ones cause a lot of corrosive damage once sprayed onto the fire in most cases causing more dmage than a small fire they are putting out. The Halon seems to work very well without any side affects other than an environmental impact that wasn't explained fully.

So what are people using and does anyone know more about the halon. Currently both my 4wds are using dry powder extinguishers with the one in the Zuk nearing 10 years old and way past due to be replaced.

With comps etc what are the requirements for competitors and what do the safety crews use?

You know you could wash the powder off after using the extinguisher.
Comparing some corroded electricals to a car burnt to the ground, I think I'll risk using the extinguisher.

Yeah i realise that was just trying to find out what else was out there like the Halon