automatic fire extinguisher - dry powder or FM200?

[ozzie]

We had the sea trial on the Bavaria 29DC last Wednesday, and all went well. (Glad volvopaul was onboard to check the mechanicals) she was then lifted for the survey, no major problems, biggest being the toilet sea cock needing replacing and the extinguishers 5 years out of date!
I need a 2KG automatic for the engine bay, but am undecided on whether to go for dry powder or the better (and more expensive) FM200 clean agent. The surveyor says either are acceptable, but at the back of my mind I seem to remember hearing that in the event of a fire in the engine bay with the engine running an insurance company may not pay out for damage caused to the engine by the dry powder. As a retired Commander in the Fire Service in my experience any boat fire is not usually successfully extinguished by extinguishers anyway. My main concern is not falling foul of the insurance companies. Any advice welcome - need to order them ASAP!!

 

[andy59]

Just got rid of my dry powders and have replaced with a seafire FM200 system . Speak to Pete at fireguard services new Milton , excellent service and knows his stuff with boats . No connection etc etc .

 

[superheat6k]

I suppose it depends on whether you want to put a fire out quickly. Gaseous drench system for me every time. Dry powder has to smother the base of the fire, not sure you can guarantee that at all in an engine bay. Gaseous drench will instantly kill a fire - been there and got the T Shirt for that one. It does leave a mess behind, but at least you live to clean it up.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

This is a timely reminder. In the aftermath of the big insurance policy wording debate on here a few months ago, I was looking at the requirements of my insurance policy with regard to the maintenance of the fire extinguishing systems on the boat. The gist of it is that the extinguishers need to be serviced in accordance with manufacturers requirements; which for the handhelds is basically an annual inspection. For the fm200 seafire system though it turns out that the cylinder requires testing and recertification every 10 years; the manufacturing date is stamped on the cylinder.

 

[Robg71]

Thats not just fire extinguishers Jimmy
All compressed gas/liquid cylinders require recertifying. The validity does change with its intended usage too...

 

[spannerman]

I would definitely recommend FM200, having had to clean up after a powder extinguisher was used!.
Also its important that the system is connected to the engine via the dedicated harness which then shuts the engine down when the extinguisher is used. Otherwise you have a very effective evacuation pump (read engine) which will rapidly remove the extinguisher gas from the engine room, resulting in next to no protection.

 

[Scubadoo]

There are other options, I have Firepro fitted which is not powder, details here: http://www.fireprouk.com/products/modular-aerosol-generator/

I think the new version is now Stat-x system http://www.marinefiresafety.co.uk/nobel-k5_fire1suppression.html

Worth a look and I don't think it is anymore expensive than the FM200 system.