Automatic fire extinguisher in engine bay

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stephen_h

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On a recent purchase survey the report noted that the engine bays
did not have a automatic fire extinguisher fitted. The insurance
company now insist they are fitted.
Boat is a sailing cat with twin Yanmar 3GM's.
Any advice on a cost effective solution and where best to mount them.

Thanks, Steve
 
Easiest and cheapest option to satisfy insurance would be to use standalone auto powders. Alternatively get some standalone auto fm200 extinguishers. Size will depend on engine room volume. Should get one, big enough for whole volume, rather than use two or more smaller ones.
There are more complex, and arguably better, options, including remote monitoring and remote firing, but all depends how much you want to spend.
 
...and sometimes you'll find a clause in the insurer's Ts&Cs stipulating your extinguishers require a manual operation as well, even stating the position where the manual operation needs to be located.
 
...and also consider -depending how for you want to travel or your ins firm is prepared to push you down the route of

Fuel tank shut off valves -remote
Air vent closure flaps --- remote
Engine shut off --- remote

On top of auto and poss remote firing of the extinguisher
 
Thanks for the reply's.
The FM200 look good and will investigate further. Don't like the idea of all that powder everywhere :(.

Will have to check insurance T & C's but think they only raised it because the surveyor
recommended they be fitted.
 
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Recently got a 15m saily boat through MCA coding. it was acceptable to have a remote operated extinguisher for the engine room. The high tech solutions was a hole to poke a hand held extinguisher through. Engine is 6cyl 80HP
 
neale said:
Easiest and cheapest option to satisfy insurance would be to use standalone auto powders. Alternatively get some standalone auto fm200 extinguishers. Size will depend on engine room volume. Should get one, big enough for whole volume, rather than use two or more smaller ones.
There are more complex, and arguably better, options, including remote monitoring and remote firing, but all depends how much you want to spend.
Click to expand...
+1 for one unit big enough for the space. Problem with 2 small ones is that one fires, cools things down a bit and the second doesn't fire until the flames are big enough to trigger it and then it isn't enough to put the fire out. Agree with others though to avoid powder. Nasty stuff and damaging to equipment. Go for whatever is the current Eco version of gas (would have been halon years ago)
 
Avoid powder for sure, I've seen the corrosion it causes to metals as well as the mess they make, I would imagine one going off would write off a running engine if not stripped and cleaned out very quickly afterwards.
That said if you are on board with a fire the engine is the least of your worries, better powder than nothing at all.
 
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