Fire Extinguisher
Discussion
Always carry one in the car. Had one mounted in the foot well in the westfield after finding myself sat in a large pool of petrol one day when a fuel line ruptured.
Recently one of the local club chaps lost his lovely old taimar after it unexpectedly combusted.
So i invested in a decent extinguisher for the S. Having it in the boot seems pretty pointless if an electrical problem comes up.
So was thinking of places to mount it, the obvious place is bolted through the rear bulkhead. But will need an extra means of securing it should i need to stop very quickly. Some sort of quick release jubilee clip sort of thing.
Any ideas?
Recently one of the local club chaps lost his lovely old taimar after it unexpectedly combusted.
So i invested in a decent extinguisher for the S. Having it in the boot seems pretty pointless if an electrical problem comes up.
So was thinking of places to mount it, the obvious place is bolted through the rear bulkhead. But will need an extra means of securing it should i need to stop very quickly. Some sort of quick release jubilee clip sort of thing.
Any ideas?
I asked a friend who is a fireman what type/size to get etc.
His advice, 'don't bother with one, just get your arse out of the car as fast as possible and leave it to the insurance. The car can be replaced, your harder to repair'
As much as I love the car, I would prefer to keep myself in one piece than risk trying to save the car.
His advice, 'don't bother with one, just get your arse out of the car as fast as possible and leave it to the insurance. The car can be replaced, your harder to repair'
As much as I love the car, I would prefer to keep myself in one piece than risk trying to save the car.
Sprung clips on their own are not reliable, but you can get straps with over centre latches which are fine. Make sure the load is spread into the fibreglass otherwise you'll still have the problem pf it bashing you in the back of the head, just with the bracket attached.
The best place I've found for it is sideways under the driver's knees. You can reach it while seated (may be useful if you're trapped), you can reach it from outside the car (maybe useful if the interior is on fire), you can't see it easily from outside the car and it's very difficult to get at without opening the door so less temptation if you ever need to leave the car with the roof down.
The best place I've found for it is sideways under the driver's knees. You can reach it while seated (may be useful if you're trapped), you can reach it from outside the car (maybe useful if the interior is on fire), you can't see it easily from outside the car and it's very difficult to get at without opening the door so less temptation if you ever need to leave the car with the roof down.
Pop Pop said:
Fitted mine on passenger side on the upstand below the door, no probs.
Guessing this is a box section made up of grp. How did you fix it and does it cause any problems with passengers kicking it etc?If it fits ok down there it won't need a strap. Just concerned about fixings into grp. Self tappers should work.
No wiring pipe work etc down there?
Wiz said:
If it fits ok down there it won't need a strap.
It needs a strap.Wiz said:
Just concerned about fixings into grp. Self tappers should work.
It needs to be bolted on to something strong. Self tappers into fibreglass are hopeless. Bolts through fibreglass are not strong enough unless you spread the load out with penny washers or a spreader plate.GreenV8S said:
Wiz said:
If it fits ok down there it won't need a strap.
It needs a strap.Wiz said:
Just concerned about fixings into grp. Self tappers should work.
It needs to be bolted on to something strong. Self tappers into fibreglass are hopeless. Bolts through fibreglass are not strong enough unless you spread the load out with penny washers or a spreader plate.Russ35 said:
....'don't bother with one, just get your arse out of the car as fast as possible'.....
Have you ever used a fire extinguisher?Have you ever fought a petrochemical fire?
Have you experience in car fires?
Because when your car is on fire is not the time to start learning.
If you get an extinguisher, get taught how to use it effectively. Otherwise, as quoted above, don't bother.
Alan
mine is fitted vertically on the rear bulkhead behind the drivers seat and above the seat belt "winder" ~ so when I'm driving its just behind my RH Shoulder ~ its just clipped in place by the bracket but as its behind the seat its not going anywhere, can be got at from outside the car easily and does not interfere with the seatbelt.
I bought it new from Halfrauds as I had no idea how old the one in the car when I bought it... when I removed the old one I decided to let it off and guess what ? nothing happened
so let that be a warning to anyone who has bought a car recently !
I would always carry one although I accept there are some fires I/it would not tackle...
K
mine is fitted vertically on the rear bulkhead behind the drivers seat and above the seat belt "winder" ~ so when I'm driving its just behind my RH Shoulder ~ its just clipped in place by the bracket but as its behind the seat its not going anywhere, can be got at from outside the car easily and does not interfere with the seatbelt.
I bought it new from Halfrauds as I had no idea how old the one in the car when I bought it... when I removed the old one I decided to let it off and guess what ? nothing happened
so let that be a warning to anyone who has bought a car recently !I would always carry one although I accept there are some fires I/it would not tackle...
K
I once did a track day at Castle Coombe (not in the S)and the car failed scrutineering due to the fact that the fire extinguisher was NOT permanently fixed in, it was only clipped in it's holder, what they said was that even with one of those clips that go all the way round the body and have a sort of quick release clip it still would not be safe I had to take it out completely to take part in the track day.
My own personal opinion is that for road use the wrap around quick release clip will be fine as long as it is BOLTED to the bulkhead with big washers, just don't use the push in and hold clip that they normally come with.
Cheers.....Tony..
I had to take it out completely to take part in the track day.My own personal opinion is that for road use the wrap around quick release clip will be fine as long as it is BOLTED to the bulkhead with big washers, just don't use the push in and hold clip that they normally come with.
Cheers.....Tony..
In a crash the extinguisher could easily see 30'g' or more (as could anything else in the car). 30'g' on a 2kg extinguisher will generate a force equivalent to lifting 60 kg (or a small adult). Try reaching behind the seats and lifting someone up with one hand (no, don't, you'll hurt yourself...)
If you can pull the extinquisher from its mounting bracket, then it can easily come out in a crash.
If you're going to have an extinguisher, it should be where you can reach it from the drivers seat, with a seat belt on and the inertia reel locked (a likely scenario post crash) and must be securly mounted (such that you would need a crow bar and a lot of force to prise it off it's mountings).
Sure it will be slightly slower to remove it when you need it, but at least it will stay put. Lots of people have been killed by stuff flying around inside their cars in a accident who would have otherwise survived.
The best locations I can think of would be lying down in front of the drivers seat as previously suggesed, either across the car or along the footwell next to the door. Possibly standing upright under the dash attached to the door pillar would work on S1/2's, but might be too far away in S3/V8's.
I'd agree with the comments about running away if you don't have the experience to know how to best fight a fire (I have done this...), except that if I were to be trapped in a burning vehicle, I'd prefer to have option to try and do something about it (even if I then fail).
If you can pull the extinquisher from its mounting bracket, then it can easily come out in a crash.
If you're going to have an extinguisher, it should be where you can reach it from the drivers seat, with a seat belt on and the inertia reel locked (a likely scenario post crash) and must be securly mounted (such that you would need a crow bar and a lot of force to prise it off it's mountings).
Sure it will be slightly slower to remove it when you need it, but at least it will stay put. Lots of people have been killed by stuff flying around inside their cars in a accident who would have otherwise survived.
The best locations I can think of would be lying down in front of the drivers seat as previously suggesed, either across the car or along the footwell next to the door. Possibly standing upright under the dash attached to the door pillar would work on S1/2's, but might be too far away in S3/V8's.
I'd agree with the comments about running away if you don't have the experience to know how to best fight a fire (I have done this...), except that if I were to be trapped in a burning vehicle, I'd prefer to have option to try and do something about it (even if I then fail).
Wow, this is getting quite heavy !
while I appreciate there is the horrendous possibility of being trapped in a burning car,it is very remote. I personnally started carrying an extinguisher after a small petrol leak from the regulator valve started spraying fuel onto the exhaust, luckily it did not ignite. But had it, without an extinguisher I'd have had to stand there, totally helpless, and watch poor old Tiv go up in flames ! Do however fully appreciate that if things look a bit seriuos its "get out and stay out" or "get away and stay away" call the Fire Brigade
So, following day a 2kg dry powder was procurred and temporarily put in the boot, far from ideal, particularly if power is lost and can't open the boot.
Clip provided with it is designed to hold it to a wall or similar stationary object so have found this little strap, holds tight but undoes very easily, just got to decide where to put it now !
while I appreciate there is the horrendous possibility of being trapped in a burning car,it is very remote. I personnally started carrying an extinguisher after a small petrol leak from the regulator valve started spraying fuel onto the exhaust, luckily it did not ignite. But had it, without an extinguisher I'd have had to stand there, totally helpless, and watch poor old Tiv go up in flames ! Do however fully appreciate that if things look a bit seriuos its "get out and stay out" or "get away and stay away" call the Fire Brigade
So, following day a 2kg dry powder was procurred and temporarily put in the boot, far from ideal, particularly if power is lost and can't open the boot.
Clip provided with it is designed to hold it to a wall or similar stationary object so have found this little strap, holds tight but undoes very easily, just got to decide where to put it now !
Edited by phillpot on Thursday 2nd July 21:39
Edited by phillpot on Thursday 2nd July 21:41
Have been looking at the mounting options as discussed and though the driver footwell sounds the best. Have just tried locating it there, with the garage being quite small getting in and out is even more restrictive.
So option two the rear bulkhead as Norman has his in the photo seems best. Can be reached sitting down with the belt on as well and if the roofs down and i want to get it quick no problem.
Will mount with bolts through the bulkhead and put a plate behind to spread the load. Just need to sort out a strap now.
Demon Tweeks list extinguisher spare parts so will give them a ring see if they have anything.
So option two the rear bulkhead as Norman has his in the photo seems best. Can be reached sitting down with the belt on as well and if the roofs down and i want to get it quick no problem.
Will mount with bolts through the bulkhead and put a plate behind to spread the load. Just need to sort out a strap now.
Demon Tweeks list extinguisher spare parts so will give them a ring see if they have anything.
my take is a bit different, mainly from sprinting/hillclimbing plastic cars. If its on fire, get ya arse out, end of!
the car can go up very very quickly, not just the fuel but brake fluid and of course trim and bodywork too.
if you want to have an onboard extinguisher, why not fit a plumbed system (£150ish). simplest systems have one nozzle spraying at the drivers legs and another to the fueling side of the engine. The extinguisher bottle location then isnt important. If fitted in the boot it will be almost invisible too. If you want a handheld then, again maybe leave it in the boot.
the car can go up very very quickly, not just the fuel but brake fluid and of course trim and bodywork too.
if you want to have an onboard extinguisher, why not fit a plumbed system (£150ish). simplest systems have one nozzle spraying at the drivers legs and another to the fueling side of the engine. The extinguisher bottle location then isnt important. If fitted in the boot it will be almost invisible too. If you want a handheld then, again maybe leave it in the boot.
Contacted DT and they have straps but for a set size and make of extinguisher. Have emailed the manufacturer (Guardian)to see what they have.
Seems strange that an extinguisher sold for car use doesn't come with a Q/R strap fixing of some sort.
Begining to wish I'd just bought a proper motorsport one in the first place.
Seems strange that an extinguisher sold for car use doesn't come with a Q/R strap fixing of some sort.
Begining to wish I'd just bought a proper motorsport one in the first place.
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