Engine Compartment Fire Extinguisher

T

tuadhmumhan

New Member
Joined
15 Nov 2009
Messages
21
Visit site
I'd like to install an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine compartment of my Malo 36.

What are the pros and cons of the various types (powder, CO2, foam, etc.)?

What is a "halon replacement" fire extinguisher and where can one be sourced (at a reasonable price)?

All advice welcome.

Martin.
 
tuadhmumhan said:
I'd like to install an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine compartment of my Malo 36.

What are the pros and cons of the various types (powder, CO2, foam, etc.)?

What is a "halon replacement" fire extinguisher and where can one be sourced (at a reasonable price)?

All advice welcome.

Martin.
Click to expand...

Hi Martin,

I'm sure some people will be able to share some good info, in the past I've read quite a few posts on the subject (I seem to remember in the motor boat forum).

If you give the search option a go I think you'll probably find some good discussions on the subject.

cheers,
gl
 
tuadhmumhan said:
I'd like to install an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine compartment of my Malo 36.

What are the pros and cons of the various types (powder, CO2, foam, etc.)?

What is a "halon replacement" fire extinguisher and where can one be sourced (at a reasonable price)?

All advice welcome.

Martin.
Click to expand...

Powder is a disaster - as it will bugger your engine.

Halon replacement is the way to go.

But, if you have an automatic extinguisher, you must have some way of stopping the engine BEFORE the exstinguisher goes off, because when that happens the engine vents the extinguishant through the exhaust in seconds leaving nothing to tackle the fire!

You need to solve this problem, and I am not sure how without some very expensive systems.

I solve the problem by having an additional couple of manual extinghuisers which can be injected manually through a keyhole to the engine compartment, but this means going down below when there is a fire......

CO2 - very heavy canisters, also a large volume is needed, so I don't think it is really a practicle solution in small boats.

Also consider how you turn off your diesel tap if this is in the engine compartment.
 
"But, if you have an automatic extinguisher, you must have some way of stopping the engine BEFORE the extinguisher goes off, because when that happens the engine vents the extinguishant through the exhaust in seconds leaving nothing to tackle the fire!"

What I did in the past and will do on my new boat is to fit a fire/smoke detector in my engine box with 2 remote operated extinguishers and a viewing port.

If the detector goes off I can check the engine box without opening it and if a fire is found, I can shut down the engine and operate the first extinguisher. If that does not kill the fire the second one can be used.

If I an in a place where I cannot shut off the engine due to safety reasons I can still monitor the fire until it is safe to shut down and deal with the fire.
 
Powder may bugger your engine but rather that than the boat burning down to the water line sinking! I would think in many cases unless you have a sealed engine compartment (which most yachts don't have) then halon/halon replacement would do more harm you than put out the fire. C02 would just get sucked into the engine and the fire would carry on.

I'm sure that most insurance companies would rather replace a buggered engine than a replace a whole boat, which is what they would have to do if you didn't stop the fire.

Me I've got an automatic 2Kg dry powder extinguisher, I'm happy as I know it will put out a fire. The rest I can deal with later, but I'll still be afloat and manoeuvrable.
 
Ariadne said:
Powder may bugger your engine but rather that than the boat burning down to the water line sinking! I would think in many cases unless you have a sealed engine compartment (which most yachts don't have) then halon/halon replacement would do more harm you than put out the fire. C02 would just get sucked into the engine and the fire would carry on.

I'm sure that most insurance companies would rather replace a buggered engine than a replace a whole boat, which is what they would have to do if you didn't stop the fire.

Me I've got an automatic 2Kg dry powder extinguisher, I'm happy as I know it will put out a fire. The rest I can deal with later, but I'll still be afloat and manoeuvrable.
Click to expand...

The trouble with powder is that it puts out the fire but it doesn't either cool it (water) or smother it (foam). So with an engine fire, for example, there is a real risk that it will reignite. This happened to me in a fire after a carburettor leak on an Alfa Sud, of blessed memory. This negative property is widely reported.

Halon or its substitute extinguish the fire by chemical means and it will not reignite. Contrary to urban myths, halon is not poisonous. It is as unpleasant to breathe as the smoke is, but it will do no more harm. I assume the substitute is the same, although it was introduced after my fire-warden duties were over.

I carry all three: a large foam one for engine fires, halon substitute for something that really works when needed and powder as a last resort.
 
Ariadne said:
Powder may bugger your engine but rather that than the boat burning down to the water line sinking! I would think in many cases unless you have a sealed engine compartment (which most yachts don't have) then halon/halon replacement would do more harm you than put out the fire. C02 would just get sucked into the engine and the fire would carry on.

I'm sure that most insurance companies would rather replace a buggered engine than a replace a whole boat, which is what they would have to do if you didn't stop the fire.

Me I've got an automatic 2Kg dry powder extinguisher, I'm happy as I know it will put out a fire. The rest I can deal with later, but I'll still be afloat and manoeuvrable.
Click to expand...

What if it goes off in error, and trust me it does happen. (vibration, heat, someone burst the bulb when working in the engine etc) You have one almighty mess and it will probably happen at 3 am motoring in bad weather!!!!!

Halon or halon substitute is the way to go and as previously stated, reignition is a distinct possibility with dry powder.
 
rigman said:
What if it goes off in error, and trust me it does happen. (vibration, heat, someone burst the bulb when working in the engine etc) You have one almighty mess and it will probably happen at 3 am motoring in bad weather!!!!!

Halon or halon substitute is the way to go and as previously stated, reignition is a distinct possibility with dry powder.
Click to expand...

Who said halon - shhhhhssshshshs
 
Engine Space Fire Protection

Halon replacement is the way to go. Without getting into arguments about stopping the engine, we have a 2Kg equivalent auto gas, bought from FIRE PROTECTION CENTRE LIMITED - very good prices and service (we also bought more extinguishers from them, including an auto gas one for the bow thruster compartment).
All approved by a surveyor for coding.

Cheers,

Michael.
 
If you check out this website for Ocean Engineering there are some really good low impact systems around now http://www.oceanengineering.co.uk/fixedsystems.htm As surveyors we are really impressed with the effectiveness of the latest water fog systems - they now make smaller sized versions for yachts and powerboats. A little more expensive to start with but servicing is a lot cheaper - just nitrogen and water.
 
You might just want to consider "what happens if........." it goes off by accident?

The halon replacement in the engine space of my Rassy went off on a frolic of its own, first I knew of it was when I (diligently) checked the pressure gauge. Had it been foam or powder - yes I would have known about it soonish, but there might have been a bit of a mess and maybe a boogered engine.

Yes it does happen
 
I've gone a different route purely because the halon replacement is so expensive.
I have a 6 litre foam extinguisher ready to use. Messy, but will not ruin the engine.
It is not automatic, but to ensure I don't burn down top the waterline without any forewarning, I have a smoke alarm in the engine room LINKED to another in the whelhouse.
If one goes off, so does the other.
Extinguisher and smoke alarms were sourced from http://www.firemart.co.uk/webshop/
Cost around £40 for the lot. (Their other extinguishers are also very cheap)
 
fire

Powder is dangerous because it tends to coagulate in the extinguisher.
Halon itself was first class and banning it for use in small craft off-shore was massively irresponsible.
I do not know the Halon sub (it has come up rather recently) but I would NEVER rely on any automatic gizmo working as the salesman promised.
I have extinguished several serious ship fires
The most important thing is to realise the fire is burning and then do something skilful to put it out FAST
I have an isolated engine compartment (ventilated directly from the ship's side) and I have a large CO2 extinguisher just outside.
I may now look at halon sub.
In larger boats, high pressure water mist is the best.
 
tuadhmumhan said:
I'd like to install an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine compartment of my Malo 36.

What are the pros and cons of the various types (powder, CO2, foam, etc.)?

What is a "halon replacement" fire extinguisher and where can one be sourced (at a reasonable price)?

All advice welcome.

Martin.
Click to expand...

Where you go? I ask because cheapo automatic go off at as low as 80C, in warmer climes your (small) engine "room" will get there easily. Measure temp in your engine "room" on a hot UK day and add the difference in temp between UK summer and where you plan to go. Second most small engine room fires are electrical, shorting of thick cable being commonest. Priority is to be able to isolate battery, including starter and alternator remotely (having seen amount of smoke from alt short that probably needs to be on deck or have BA set in deck locker). I have put a 150amp trip next to my alternator. Having cut electric you need something to put out flames and a small hole into compartment with extinguisher in deck locker should do the trick. Years ago I did get two "automatic halons" but as I am not offically allowed to have them I seem to have "forgotten" where there are but if there were a fire I might, in the heat of the moment, suddenly remember where I put them and throw one or both into the engine box.
 
dratsea said:
. Years ago I did get two "automatic halons" but as I am not offically allowed to have them I seem to have "forgotten" where there are but if there were a fire I might, in the heat of the moment, suddenly remember where I put them and throw one or both into the engine box.
Click to expand...

I think I have also forgotten where I put mine too:D
 
Certain types of Halons are now no longer used as such as they are classed as ozone unfriendly, they are still knocking about in green extinguishers and have generally a gas called BCF (Bromochlorodifluoromethane)in them. A replacement called FM200 is now available.

FM-200® is a colourless, liquefied compressed gas. It is stored as a liquid and dispensed into the hazard as a colourless, eclectically non-conductive vapour that is clear and does not obscure vision. It leaves no residue and has acceptable toxicity for use in occupied spaces at design concentration. FM-200® does not displace oxygen and therefore is safer for use in occupied spaces without fear of oxygen deprivation.

*FM-200, FE-241, Halon 1301 and Aero-K Aerosol fire suppression systems for marine vessels, industrial and computer room applications.

Benefits and Features:

Fast & effective
No significant reduction in oxygen levels
Clean gaseous agent leaving no residue
Zero ozone depleting potential
Low global warming potential
Short atmospheric life span
Electronically non-conductive
Safe for use in fully occupied areas
Minimal storage requirement
Versatile range of containers, nozzle and ancillaries
Extensively tested, recognised and approved worldwide

It is available here:

Moira Clements

Sea-Fire Europe Ltd

Sales & Transport Coordinator

Unit 2 Discovery

Voyager Park

Portfield Road

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO3 5FN

Tel: 023 9267 9666

Fax: 023 9266 7014

Not cheap but good stuff.


The disadvantage with bulk C02 is the physical amount of volume that is required to be carried to knock down a fire in comparison.

Long winded but hopefully helpful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top