Fire extinguishers
Discussion
How many people have these in their homes or cars? I'm getting increasingly paranoid in my old age and am looking at investing in one for home and one for car. I'm aware the car versions are anything from £20 upwards - what is the shelf life of these, and how cheap/easy is it to get them serviced? As for home versions, well, same question really. Can anyone recommend a particular type and firm for each application? Also, are fire blankets a worthy addition to the kitchen?
TIA :)
TIA :)
Shelf Life: Fire extinguishers have a gage on them that shows that they are pressurized, and whether or not they are "empty". Since they are imperfectly sealed pressure vessels, they leak very, very slowly over the years. I don't know if you can get one re-pressurized or you just have to by a new one, but I don't think the fire retardant leaks out, just the air that's supposed to pressurize it.
Many work places have occupational health and safety standards and sometimes have fire extinguisher training classes, so that you can learn how to properly use one, where to aim it at the fire, how big a fire can the size of extinguisher handle etc. A manufacturer's website may also give similar instructions.
I have a fire extinguisher in my house and in my car, and a smoke alarm in the kitchen in addition to the standard one that the landlord has centrally located.
I think the important thing is having smoke alarms in the vicinity of a likely fire (ie, near kitchen) so that you can catch it early, and also being able to judge whether a fire is something you can put out on your own.
Many work places have occupational health and safety standards and sometimes have fire extinguisher training classes, so that you can learn how to properly use one, where to aim it at the fire, how big a fire can the size of extinguisher handle etc. A manufacturer's website may also give similar instructions.
I have a fire extinguisher in my house and in my car, and a smoke alarm in the kitchen in addition to the standard one that the landlord has centrally located.
I think the important thing is having smoke alarms in the vicinity of a likely fire (ie, near kitchen) so that you can catch it early, and also being able to judge whether a fire is something you can put out on your own.
That's right. It's worth it to spend the money on a really good one that can handle a fire that you couldn't otherwise put out by, say, suffocating a grease fire by putting the lid on the pan. It may only happen once in your whole life anyway, so don't economize too much on safety equipment. I actually haven't had any fires in my car, or kitchen, or due to burning candles, during my whole adult life, but still keep the extinguisher in case.I've got a couple in the car just in case, a carbon fibre effect flamebeater job and a bigger Guardian one. Both are dry powder as you can use it on most types of fire you're likely to find in a car.
I keep mine in case I can save my P&J from going up in flames or in case I witness an accident where people are trapped.
I keep mine in case I can save my P&J from going up in flames or in case I witness an accident where people are trapped.
julianhj said:
How many people have these in their homes or cars? I'm getting increasingly paranoid in my old age and am looking at investing in one for home and one for car. I'm aware the car versions are anything from £20 upwards - what is the shelf life of these, and how cheap/easy is it to get them serviced? As for home versions, well, same question really. Can anyone recommend a particular type and firm for each application? Also, are fire blankets a worthy addition to the kitchen?
TIA
Yes I have dry powder extinguishers, both 1 kilo.
Long shelf-life, I've had mine a few years now and there is a gauge on it with a red/green pressure indicator on them. Still in the green zone.
I've done several courses with the fire service and they recommend multi-purpose dry powder. Dry powder is a multipurpose extinguisher, suitable for solids (wood, paper, etc), flammable liquids, flammable gases and electrical equipment.
I've used all types and for all round applications dry powder is the best. Halon was pretty effective but it's now been outlawed and they're pretty hard to find, thx EU
Fire blankets only really any use for chip pan fires.
and aluminium, if it managed to get ignited. Most of the car ones are dry powder. I have one of these that I keep in the boot with a first aid kit. I wasn't sure this was the best place for it but, after doing a fire marshall training course for work, I was told by the trainer that he also keeps his extinguisher in the boot. His reason for this is that if you don't have time to get it out of the boot and use it then the fire is probably already too big for you to tackle yourself anyway and it's time to call the professionals. It's good to know its there though.
marctwo said:
Most of the car ones are dry powder. I have one of these that I keep in the boot with a first aid kit. I wasn't sure this was the best place for it but, after doing a fire marshall training course for work, I was told by the trainer that he also keeps his extinguisher in the boot. His reason for this is that if you don't have time to get it out of the boot and use it then the fire is probably already too big for you to tackle yourself anyway and it's time to call the professionals. It's good to know its there though.
OK so it's an electrical fire, your extinguisher is in the boot. You drive a TVR, electronic boot release only.
Not good.
With fires, seconds can make all the difference and if you have an extinguisher to hand in the car then those seconds could be invaluable.
Hey that reminds me! It must be bloody annoying when you have to coat the inside of your car or engine bay with foam and possibly damage the electronic bits/interior/whatever else you please. There is a company making a product called “Sapphire” that looks and acts like water in a fire but does now damage electronics, paper etc where as obviously water does. Apparently it lasts for 5 years in a canister.
Here you can clearly see the laptop being submerged in the liquid and having the liquid poured onto it and yet it remains operational and undamaged:
Here you can clearly see the laptop being submerged in the liquid and having the liquid poured onto it and yet it remains operational and undamaged:
Hilts said:
OK so it's an electrical fire, your extinguisher is in the boot. You drive a TVR, electronic boot release only.
Not good.
With fires, seconds can make all the difference and if you have an extinguisher to hand in the car then those seconds could be invaluable.
I see your point, I have an electronic release on my Audi too. The guy that gave us the training was from the Fire Protection Association though so you would think he would know what he was talking about. I guess his point was all about not trying to be a hero and letting the professionals do their stuff.
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