Automatic fire extinguisher

[Orla]

I am about to fit a 'SEA FIRE' automatic fire extinguisher to my engine compartment.
Insurance companies although do not insist on them do strongly recommend them, they have all sorts of statistics that show this area to be of concern.
I am happy to fit one but my concern is, can they accidently go off with just the heat from the engine?
My engine, a yanmar 75hp is cramed into a very tight space and it must get pretty hot in there.
I also beleive that they do a lot of damage once they have gone off.

Anybody got any experiances of this sort of thing happening?

 

[Csail]

Assuming it is powder? Why not go for gas?

 

[jerryat]

>>I also beleive that they do a lot of damage once they have gone off.<<

This will only apply if the system is powder based. Gas types i.e halon replacement are ok.

 

[Aja]

This was taken from Safelinks' website:

Safelinks

"Firemaster GTFE Range of Automatic Fire Extinguisher

A range of automatic fire extinguishers which are particularly suited to marine applications. When the temperature in the space in which the extinguisher is situated reaches 79°C the extinguisher automatically discharges and smothers the fire.

Clean inert extinguishing gas (Halon replacement FE36)
Can be installed almost horizontally (>15 degrees from horizontal)
5 Year manufacturers warranty
Safe for use on electrical equipment
Suitable for class B & C fires
Manufactured under BS EN ISO 9002
Zero ozone depletion
Manufactured in the UK"

79C is quite warm. I certainly would not like to be in a small compartment in anything over 40C.

Donald

 

[Orla]

I had just asssumed it was powder but after looking more closely it apairently is filled with something called Heptafloropropane. Actuation temperature is 100C/212F.
Maybe my worries were unecessary.

 

[whipper_snapper]

I worried about such premature activation in the past. To reassure myself, I bought (for almost nothing. From Maplins I think) some temperature sensitive 'dots' they irreversibly change colour at a threshold temperature. I stuck a few with different activation temperatures around the possible mounting areas and in some spots chosen to get really hot. I then used the boat as normal for a week. I don't remember what the highest recorded temp was, but it was nowhere near the extinguisher's activation temp.

 

[Orla]

Sorry had to re-write the last post, couldn't resist /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif


I worried about such premature ejaculation in the past. To reassure myself, I bought (for almost nothing. From Maplins I think) some temperature sensitive 'dots' they irreversibly change colour at the threshold of ejaculation. I stuck a few with different activation temperatures around the possible mounting areas and in some spots chosen to get really hot. I then used as normal for a week. I don't remember what the highest recorded temp was, but it was nowhere near the ejaculations temp.