What’s the best in car fire extinguisher?

[TSS]

I thought I’d ask this in the Track Days forum as you guys are likely to carry extinguishers and may well have the best knowledge.

I am looking for a lightweight but effective extinguisher (hand held rather than plumbed in). I've read that the dry powder ones can leave a real mess and do more damage because the powder is corrosive. Some websites advise a Halon one but apparently they are no longer easily available. I’m happy to pay what’s necessary to get a really good one because if I ever have to use it I want it to actually work!

Any information or suggestions would be great.

Thanks,

TSS

[GC8]

Halon gas replacements are the best, but theyre extremely expensive compared to AFFF extinguishers. Powder extinguishers (for motorsport use) are less common in this country, because even though the FIA has approved them, the MSA doesnt.

[GreenV8S]

AFFF is your best alternative to powder.

[agent006]

GC8 said:

Powder extinguishers (for motorsport use) are less common in this country, because even though the FIA has approved them, the MSA doesnt.

Those will be the powder extinguishers i've used at every MSA event i've marshalled at then. Or are these different powder?

[mmm-five]

agent006 said:

GC8 said:

Powder extinguishers (for motorsport use) are less common in this country, because even though the FIA has approved them, the MSA doesnt.

Those will be the powder extinguishers i've used at every MSA event i've marshalled at then. Or are these different powder?

Me too, but are the in-car(oops-pulled-the-extinguisher-instead-of-the-electrics)ones powder too?

[GC8]

agent006 said:

GC8 said:

Powder extinguishers (for motorsport use) are less common in this country, because even though the FIA has approved them, the MSA doesnt.

Those will be the powder extinguishers i've used at every MSA event i've marshalled at then. Or are these different powder?

The MSA Blue Book said:

Competitors : Safety [C(c)]

-Fire Extinguishers-

S54: Dry powder extinguishers are prohibited.

I wonder if you will you be as quick to apologise as you were to try to show me up: eh? What marshals do or do not carry has nothing whatsoever to do with what is approved for use by competitors in national motorsport events...

Edited by GC8 on Thursday 9th July 02:30

[GC8]

GreenV8S said:

AFFF is your best alternative to powder.

AFFF is a poor alternative to Halon/BCF though. Perhaps the best extinguishant available is marketed by Lifeline as 'Zero360'. Its a replacement for totally illegal Halon and its excellent, but it is extremely expensive.

There are some under-bonnet fires that youll be unable to extinguish with even a 6/9 litre aqueous film extinguisher that a small BCF extinguisher could snuff out when discharged through the radiotor grille. You have to weigh up the risk vs. the cost...

http://www.lifeline-fire.co.uk/fireextinguisher/mo...

[PetrolTed]

How expensive are they?

[TSS]

PetrolTed said:

How expensive are they?

Very : http://www.msar-safety.com/motor-sport-zero-360-ga...

Thanks GC8. This is the sort of thing I was after. If it does the job then it's worth paying for, but does anybody know where you can get one a bit cheaper?

[GC8]

Yes, very. Thats about as cheap as Ive seen a hand held (new) gas extinguisher too, so I dont think that there are massive savings to be had.....

[fergus]

I use a fully plumbed in system, plus a sparco fire eater. However, these are not sold in the UK (not sure why), but are like a marine flare, which gives about 50 seconds of powder output.

One of these put out an under bonnet fire on my caterham, when a full 3 litre hand held AFFF failed. I won't drive on circuit without one now. I have it in the cockpit where I can reach it if I'm trapped in the car.

Spend the money to get whatever level of comfort you personally feel OK with. Don't wait until the "it'll never happen to me/my car" event happens. Being trapped in a burning car is no fun. I have some scarring to prove this. A nomex (or better) long sleeve shirt is the absolute minimum I'll wear in a car on circuit now.


http://www.elise-shop.nl/sparco-fireater-fire-exti...

Edited by fergus on Thursday 9th July 11:40

[GC8]

Similar link in English.

[fergus]

GC8 said:

Similar link in English.

click the union flag logo in the top right of the screen?

[GC8]

Sorry: that was rushed and it was intended to include a similar link that was in English.

[GC8]

This is the link:

http://www.mangiafuoco.it/en/home.asp

I believe that Mangia Fuoco are the original manufacturers and I also believe that you can buy a case of twelve pieces for just over £40 each (unbranded with a black case).

[fergus]

GC8 said:

....Mangia Fuoco are the original manufacturers..... you can buy a case of twelve pieces for just over £40 each (unbranded with a black case).

Correct! Sparco just bang their stickers over the top and ramp the price up!! Easier than buying 12, unless you plan on catching fire a lot! May be worth a bulk buy?

[TSS]

TSS said:

PetrolTed said:

How expensive are they?

Very : http://www.msar-safety.com/motor-sport-zero-360-ga...

Thanks GC8. This is the sort of thing I was after. If it does the job then it's worth paying for, but does anybody know where you can get one a bit cheaper?

A bit cheaper here in case anybody else is interested: http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/LIFELINE_Extinguis...

[tertius]

fergus said:

GC8 said:

....Mangia Fuoco are the original manufacturers..... you can buy a case of twelve pieces for just over £40 each (unbranded with a black case).

Correct! Sparco just bang their stickers over the top and ramp the price up!! Easier than buying 12, unless you plan on catching fire a lot! May be worth a bulk buy?

I'd be up for that - certainly take two.

[GC8]

Its something that Ive been meaning to do...

[agent006]

GC8 said:

I wonder if you will you be as quick to apologise as you were to try to show me up: eh?

No, i won't.