Choosing engine fire extinguisher

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cpedw

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Fire extinguishers are probably expired; I don't know for sure but we have had the boat 3 years. Anyway they are all manual dry powder type that most folk seem to disparage.

I thought an automatic extinguisher in the engine compartment (Volvo 2030 under cockpit, behind companionway steps) would be an improvement. So far I have only studied Force 4 offerings but I am already very confused. They have these:
https://www.force4.co.uk/seafire-fg25-extinguisher.html £200 for 0.7m3
https://www.force4.co.uk/fireblitz-fba-g1-automatic-fe-36-fire-extinguisher.html £100 for 1.7m3

Since the engine compartment is 0.6m3, the cheaper one seems like a no-brainer. Is there a good reason to pay double for less capacity?

Any other types I should consider?

Derek
 
cpedw said:
Fire extinguishers are probably expired; I don't know for sure but we have had the boat 3 years. Anyway they are all manual dry powder type that most folk seem to disparage.

I thought an automatic extinguisher in the engine compartment (Volvo 2030 under cockpit, behind companionway steps) would be an improvement. So far I have only studied Force 4 offerings but I am already very confused. They have these:
https://www.force4.co.uk/seafire-fg25-extinguisher.html £200 for 0.7m3
https://www.force4.co.uk/fireblitz-fba-g1-automatic-fe-36-fire-extinguisher.html £100 for 1.7m3

Since the engine compartment is 0.6m3, the cheaper one seems like a no-brainer. Is there a good reason to pay double for less capacity?

Any other types I should consider?

Derek
Click to expand...

Not types per se, but you do need to check your insurance requirements for what (if anything) they specify.
 
I have the Fireblitz one in your link. The Seafire includes a switch to indicate that it’s gone off, to trigger an alarm, automatic fire dampers, or perhaps engine shutdown - none of these are very relevant to a yacht and I can’t see any other reason to buy the more expensive extinguisher.

Pete
 
I have a Seafire system in the engine room and various CO2 and powder extinguishers throughout the boat along with fire blankets and all manner of safety stuff but I have to comply for coding.

Fire protection is something I wouldn’t skimp on. A good couple of CO2 and maybe a powder in the galley with a fire blanket tends to wok well on most yachts <50ft. Also a couple of smoke detectors with one in the engine compartment.
 
Has anyone considered a remote operated fire extinguisher for the engine compartment with a fire/smoke alarm rather than an automatic that could go off without warning and at an inconvenient time.
 
Looks to be a bit of discrepancy about the volume a 1kg FE36 extinguisher will cover. Most sites seem to indicate 0.7m3 but some give 1.7m3. I bought a Fireblitz 1kg from Simply Extinguishers for £82 incl. p&p.
I also have 2x1.5kg drypowder + a fire blanket. Reckon on a 22' footer, that'll do.
(BTW I also have 2x2gallon buckets with lanyards)
 
pioneer said:
Looks to be a bit of discrepancy about the volume a 1kg FE36 extinguisher will cover. Most sites seem to indicate 0.7m3 but some give 1.7m3. I bought a Fireblitz 1kg from Simply Extinguishers for £82 incl. p&p.
I also have 2x1.5kg drypowder + a fire blanket. Reckon on a 22' footer, that'll do.
(BTW I also have 2x2gallon buckets with lanyards)
Click to expand...

Most people are replacing theirs with the water mist , but the most important issue is the fire going out, yes the powder may cause damage to the engine but that is always in the risk and how much you can spend on the extinguisher.
Check the insurance and the coverage of the extinguisher, it is only there to put the fire out, not a raging inferno
I have 2 water mist either side if engine , one over the Webasto in rear locker , large foam in cabin ,fire blanket, in kitchen each cabin has a CO2 extinguisher , each cabin has a smoke alarm and their is a CO alarm in the main saloon.
As well as a gas alarm in the bilges,
 
moomba said:
Most people are replacing theirs with the water mist , but the most important issue is the fire going out, yes the powder may cause damage to the engine but that is always in the risk and how much you can spend on the extinguisher.
Check the insurance and the coverage of the extinguisher, it is only there to put the fire out, not a raging inferno
I have 2 water mist either side if engine , one over the Webasto in rear locker , large foam in cabin ,fire blanket, in kitchen each cabin has a CO2 extinguisher , each cabin has a smoke alarm and their is a CO alarm in the main saloon.
As well as a gas alarm in the bilges,
Click to expand...

Well you cant be too careful
Im intrigued with the kitchen
 
cpedw said:
Fire extinguishers are probably expired; I don't know for sure but we have had the boat 3 years. Anyway they are all manual dry powder type that most folk seem to disparage.

I thought an automatic extinguisher in the engine compartment (Volvo 2030 under cockpit, behind companionway steps) would be an improvement. So far I have only studied Force 4 offerings but I am already very confused. They have these:
https://www.force4.co.uk/seafire-fg25-extinguisher.html £200 for 0.7m3
https://www.force4.co.uk/fireblitz-fba-g1-automatic-fe-36-fire-extinguisher.html £100 for 1.7m3

Since the engine compartment is 0.6m3, the cheaper one seems like a no-brainer. Is there a good reason to pay double for less capacity?

Any other types I should consider?

Derek
Click to expand...

That SeaFire unit is more expensive as it is intended to be part of a system that shuts the engine down and switches off the engine blowers.
 
moomba said:
Most people are replacing theirs with the water mist , but the most important issue is the fire going out, yes the powder may cause damage to the engine but that is always in the risk and how much you can spend on the extinguisher.
Check the insurance and the coverage of the extinguisher, it is only there to put the fire out, not a raging inferno
I have 2 water mist either side if engine , one over the Webasto in rear locker , large foam in cabin ,fire blanket, in kitchen each cabin has a CO2 extinguisher , each cabin has a smoke alarm and their is a CO alarm in the main saloon.
As well as a gas alarm in the bilges,
Click to expand...

I don't believe the bilge is the correct location for a gas alarm, unless it is a duplicate. Yes, propane sinks, but the bilge is probably somewhat sealed from the cabin, so the gas will not get there until it has been at dangerous levels in the cabin for some time. Also, a detector in a damp location (bilge) will not be reliable.

The detector should be near the appliance, near the floor. This is in the manual.
 
pvb said:
Has anyone on the forum ever experienced a diesel engine fire? If so, what caused it?
Click to expand...

Yes.
Not sure if it applies to your question. it was not on a sailboat.

Hi pressure diesel sprayed onto hot surface. Hi fog activated manually. (water mist). Fire out in seconds. No visible damage. Fuel line replaced, Clean up spilled diesel.

Very big + for hi fog or water mist. Any other system, I am sure it could have been a major life threatening fire.
 
Last edited:
pvb said:
Has anyone on the forum ever experienced a diesel engine fire? If so, what caused it?
Click to expand...
No experience, but guess the source of ignition would be electrical. You can put a lit match on diesel and it won't ignite, so other flammable materials would be involved.

Water mist for me.

A search of YouTube will throw up a few ships engine fires, a very different beast.
 
On my boat. Which is small and has a small GM 30. I have a standard ABC extinguisher and a small hole into engine compartment for access for extinguisher. Meets the minimum requirements for my insurance.

I am quite happy with this. ABC might be messy but it puts out fires. It will put out a fire in the space described. If I can find an approved water mist extinguisher. For the same purpose. I will replace it.

For the rest of my boat I have ABC but water or foam would be better. The only reason I haven’t got water mist is I haven’t found a local supplier. Yet.

I think I posted a story before about a fire on my boat. A leaking camp stove, spread to a bunk cushion. I threw both the stove and cushion overboard. The burning bunk cushion was a very spectacular fire floating in the anchorage. It was quite embarrassing.
 
Sandy said:
No experience, but guess the source of ignition would be electrical. You can put a lit match on diesel and it won't ignite, so other flammable materials would be involved.

Water mist for me.

A search of YouTube will throw up a few ships engine fires, a very different beast.
Click to expand...


The flash point for diesel is between 61 and 64 degrees C depending upon the grade of gas oil. Which may seem quite high compared to other flammable liquides. Even so, I would not recommend putting a match to diesel.
You only need three things for a fire. Fuel, air, (O2) and heat.
 
Powder destroys the electronics so use a CO2 fire extinguisher. I didn't install and an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine room because smoke from a slipping fan belt creates smoke and needlessly sets it off. The CO2 extinguisher was installed opposite where the engine was.
 
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