FE36 or CO2

Dazzajohm

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Afternoon all,

I need to buy some auotomatic fire extinguishers for my engine bay and my question is which is better - the FE36 Halon replacement type or CO2?

Any recommenditons for best place online to get them from?

Cheers
 
For me the halon style every time. CO2 works by smothering the entire firs and starving the oxygen. Whereas essentially a halon achieves the same thing the method should be considered.

The halon actually burns or in fact pyrolises around the flame base forming an inpenetrable barrier to free oxygen required to sustain combustion. I have seen halon work and it was instant in knocking out a fire on a gas turbine. But do not breathe in the pyrolised product after it has done its job. The by products are very nasty.
 
...The halon actually burns or in fact pyrolises around the flame base forming an inpenetrable barrier to free oxygen required to sustain combustion. I have seen halon work and it was instant in knocking out a fire on a gas turbine. But do not breathe in the pyrolised product after it has done its job. The by products are very nasty.

Good advice, and neither should you stick your head in a compartment full of CO2.
 

Hi,

CO2 can also cause damage to the machine because when discharged it is very cold and if the shower hits the hot engine it can be distorted by the temperature difference in the engine.

I have Fireboy- Xintex MA2-500-227 + Automatic Marine Engine Shutdown, i thik this is HALON system. I do not know if this is good because I hope I will never need it.

NBs
 
Last edited:
Hi,

I have Fireboy- Xintex MA2-500-227 + Automatic Marine Engine Shutdown, i thik this is HALON system. I do not know if this is good because I hope I will never need it.

NBs
FE36 is a trade mark of Du Pont, and is ASHRAE HFC R236a, whereas HFC R227 is a generic ASHRAE numbered gas. These gases are generally made by the same chemical firms that make the common refrigerants, such as R134a, R407C etc. Generally they market these under their own branded numbers, and often only the brand owner will be able to make a certain blend.

All are HFC F Gases, so it will be interesting as the HFC phase down continues to see what will be offered. HFCs are being largely replaced by HFOs in the refrigeration field, which won't be of much use for fire extinguishing as all HFOs are flammable. The refrigeration industry isn't used to using flammable gases, and this Country is about to start filling all its commercial fridges with flammable gases. That said Hydrocarbon HC (Butane / Propane) have been used as refrigerants in fridges for about 10 years. They offer similar operating characteristics to R134a.

Not sure these are so safe though - Grenfell Tower fire started in a fridge using HC as the refrigerant, but presently the specific cause has not been released as it may have been either the fridge gas burning or the insulation / casing materials, or possibly both.
 
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