Fire Extinguisher best place to fit
Discussion
Just a word of caution, think very carefully about this as you really need to think how a 1kg + weight would react if it came adrift after a collision. Not scaremongering but I have witnessed the results of a similar circumstance. I would STRONGLY suggest either a secure (through to chassis) mounting if within upper cabin area, i.e. parcel shelf etc. or on the floor as in the photo above in passenger footwell.
Edited by Richard 858 on Tuesday 14th January 22:01
Try reaching that extinguisher from the driver's seat.
Consider also a seat belt that does not want to release.
You may wish to relocate it...
My very limited personal experience of needing one is; when you need it, you will need it in a hurry.
Parcel shelf seems best providing you are certain it will not become a missile in an accident, in front of the drivers seat would be second choice, and most convenient / out of the way.
Sorry, it sound pretty dreadful to consider the worst, but I have seen a few things.
That said - I need to get mine out of the boot too.
Consider also a seat belt that does not want to release.
You may wish to relocate it...
My very limited personal experience of needing one is; when you need it, you will need it in a hurry.
Parcel shelf seems best providing you are certain it will not become a missile in an accident, in front of the drivers seat would be second choice, and most convenient / out of the way.
Sorry, it sound pretty dreadful to consider the worst, but I have seen a few things.
That said - I need to get mine out of the boot too.
Richard 858 said:
Just a word of caution, think very carefully about this as you really need to think how a 1kg + weight would react if it came adrift after a collision. Not scaremongering but I have witnessed the results of a similar circumstance. I would STRONGLY suggest either a secure (through to chassis) mounting if within upper cabin area, i.e. parcel shelf etc. or on the floor as in the photo above in passenger footwell.
^^ This, multiplied by a thousand.The picture of a fire extinguisher mounted to the back of the parcel shelf immediately made me think "I hope that's securely mounted to the chassis", and then reading that it's screwed using self-tappers (presumably just to the fibreglass)...
The fire extinguisher will effectively weigh many many times its normal weight during a frontal impact, and if the impact is slightly offset then there's no way of knowing where it'll try to go. I certainly wouldn't trust some self-tappers screwed into fibreglass to be man enough for the job. And then you need to consider the bracket and clips that the cylinder is held by - were they designed to take impact loads or will they simply let go of the cylinder?
If I were mounting it there, I'd either want to drill holes through the fibreglass and bolt onto a chassis member using nice big meaty bolts, or possibly use a metal plate as a load spreader behind the fibreglass and bolt securely to that. I would also consider tethering the cylinder to a chassis member using a short metal cable and one of those climbing clips (I think it's called a carabiner or something like that).
ETA: Personally, I would only use my fire extinguisher for tackling a minor fire under the bonnet before it becomes major. I reason that I'm going to see smoke etc and should therefore have enough time to retrieve the cylinder from behind the driver's seat (where it isn't able to move anywhere). If the fire is anything more major then I'm going to GTFO and retreat to a safe distance. Then cry.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Wednesday 15th January 10:09
Mine's is placed behind drivers seat - i case of dropping out of it´s poor bracket in case of a crash.
AND: If driving with co-driver - he/her will be able to release the can while i´m trying to stop the car.
It´s the best place in case of a fire comming fom the engine bay.
Even when roof is closed, with a simple cut in the rear window, everyone safely can get the extinguisher, even if the front-half of the car is burning.
Contra Footwell:
I placed the extinguisher there for some weeks, studied many of my passengers while stepping in&out: I got severe complaints related to the comfort getting in&out.
I think in case of a fire, panic won´t be the best attempt.
And if injured after a crash and secured outside the car, don´t forget, that the door-openers are not self-explaining to "strangers". It will be time-consuming explaining someone to open the door.
Standing secure outside, releasing backrest & grabbing FE was my No.1.
Staying inside a burning car & fiddling in the co-drivers footwell was my No. 99.
So i moved it to the back.
That was my decision-finding..
Additionally i would like to stress, that every crash with a car of this concept will harm driver & co-pilot in a severe way. A dicussion about a loose FE... in my opinion obsolete.
...perhaps my curious heat-indicator will warn me early enough ;-)
AND: If driving with co-driver - he/her will be able to release the can while i´m trying to stop the car.
It´s the best place in case of a fire comming fom the engine bay.
Even when roof is closed, with a simple cut in the rear window, everyone safely can get the extinguisher, even if the front-half of the car is burning.
Contra Footwell:
I placed the extinguisher there for some weeks, studied many of my passengers while stepping in&out: I got severe complaints related to the comfort getting in&out.
I think in case of a fire, panic won´t be the best attempt.
And if injured after a crash and secured outside the car, don´t forget, that the door-openers are not self-explaining to "strangers". It will be time-consuming explaining someone to open the door.
Standing secure outside, releasing backrest & grabbing FE was my No.1.
Staying inside a burning car & fiddling in the co-drivers footwell was my No. 99.
So i moved it to the back.
That was my decision-finding..
Additionally i would like to stress, that every crash with a car of this concept will harm driver & co-pilot in a severe way. A dicussion about a loose FE... in my opinion obsolete.
...perhaps my curious heat-indicator will warn me early enough ;-)
Edited by freeclimb on Wednesday 15th January 22:08
ks has spoken ......This has made me think.
Mine is presently self tapped to the fibreglass at the centre of the vertical panel behind the parcel shelf. As already pointed out, it will become a missile if I go head first into anything or get hit by someone/thing else.
I have a roll cage, so will go down to the car parts/fire extinguisher store and buy something suitable to fix the extinguisher to the roll cage vertical tube that is located just behind the passenger seat, ie where i can reach it.
Many thanks guys
Mine is presently self tapped to the fibreglass at the centre of the vertical panel behind the parcel shelf. As already pointed out, it will become a missile if I go head first into anything or get hit by someone/thing else.
I have a roll cage, so will go down to the car parts/fire extinguisher store and buy something suitable to fix the extinguisher to the roll cage vertical tube that is located just behind the passenger seat, ie where i can reach it.
Many thanks guys
Fixed mine in secure clips to the floor behind the drivers seat. It's the only safe place for quick action for under bonnet fires due to perished fuel hoses. Too late to get to passenger side for the driver. Fire from split fuel hose above off side exhaust is well on fire. Driver would have to run back again round the car to to extinguish. To late!. Also gets in the way of passengers feet.
Douglas Valley and Bell scrapers have many a burnt out TVR where this has happened due to slow action due to these perished fuel hoses just above the exhaust manifold. Check for cracking in these now! Have re routed mine above the bell housing following advice from Matt Smith.
Rear parcel shelf, a scud missile! to decapitate. Hopefully it will miss and shoot through the screen.
Also on parcel shelf looks bad for nervous passengers and prospective new buyers.
Douglas Valley and Bell scrapers have many a burnt out TVR where this has happened due to slow action due to these perished fuel hoses just above the exhaust manifold. Check for cracking in these now! Have re routed mine above the bell housing following advice from Matt Smith.
Rear parcel shelf, a scud missile! to decapitate. Hopefully it will miss and shoot through the screen.
Also on parcel shelf looks bad for nervous passengers and prospective new buyers.
I considered a number of places when looking to fit, at the time the parcel shelf felt like an easier place to reach if/when needed, but now having read these comments worried about it flying forward in a serious accident.
Currently have the Chim up on axle stands in the garage doing a few tidy up jobs so will look at alternative fixings whilst I can see under the car.
Currently have the Chim up on axle stands in the garage doing a few tidy up jobs so will look at alternative fixings whilst I can see under the car.
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