Fire extinguishers; can we conclude?

[Cerebus]

Just read a post about them. Most replies suggested only one type of extinguisher; water mist.

As in buildings, a selection are provided.

Is it not therefore sensible that should apply to boats too?

Watermist to cool and extinguish ‘general’ fires.

Foam for galley oil or engine oil fire or fuel fire?

Co2 for squirting through the hole in bulkhead to engine bay?

Powder ? Pretty bargain basement rubbish (or am I incorrect; do they have a purpose?)

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[st599]

Powder is the only one you mentioned that is suitable for combustible materials, electrical, flammable liquid and flammable gas.

 

[ylop]

Powder is the only one you mentioned that is suitable for combustible materials, electrical, flammable liquid and flammable gas.

A water MIST extinguisher as @Cerebus mentioned is suitable for small flammable liquid fires (kitchen pan fires), electrical fires <1000V, and gas as well as wood, furnishings etc. water mist should not be confused with traditional water extinguisher.

 

[ylop]

Just read a post about them. Most replies suggested only one type of extinguisher; water mist.

As in buildings, a selection are provided.

Is it not therefore sensible that should apply to boats too?

Watermist to cool and extinguish ‘general’ fires.

Foam for galley oil or engine oil fire or fuel fire?

Co2 for squirting through the hole in bulkhead to engine bay?

Powder ? Pretty bargain basement rubbish (or am I incorrect; do they have a purpose?)

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You haven’t included “clean agent” extinguishers which seem to be the preferred choice for automatic engine room extinguishers.

A typical engine bay extinguisher hole is about 20mm so can’t see you getting a CO2 nozzle through that.

A fire blanket is probably better for galley fires.

Powder will generally work - and if your objective is just to survive the fire that’s probably all that matters. In 99% of cases a fire is going to be a big insurance claim anyway so probably doesn’t matter.

Most buildings don’t have lots of types they have a one, or perhaps two unless they have special risks. A typical boat simply isn’t big enough for lots.

Don’t forget you have a bucket too.

That said I have clean agent, powder, fire blanket and 2 buckets on a 32fter.

 

[Cerebus]

A water MIST extinguisher as @Cerebus mentioned is suitable for small flammable liquid fires (kitchen pan fires), electrical fires <1000V, and gas as well as wood, furnishings etc. water mist should not be confused with traditional water extinguisher.

No, water mist cools a lot better than simple water.

 

[Cerebus]

Powder is the only one you mentioned that is suitable for combustible materials, electrical, flammable liquid and flammable gas.

Eh? Co2 for electrical, foam for flammable liquid, co2 again for gas?

No?

 

[Cerebus]

A water MIST extinguisher as @Cerebus mentioned is suitable for small flammable liquid fires (kitchen pan fires), electrical fires <1000V, and gas as well as wood, furnishings etc. water mist should not be confused with traditional water extinguisher.

Water onto a kitchen pan fire with oil? That is a big NO no surely?

Blanket yes.

Foam, yes.

 

[Cerebus]

You haven’t included “clean agent” extinguishers which seem to be the preferred choice for automatic engine room extinguishers.

A typical engine bay extinguisher hole is about 20mm so can’t see you getting a CO2 nozzle through that.

A fire blanket is probably better for galley fires.

Powder will generally work - and if your objective is just to survive the fire that’s probably all that matters. In 99% of cases a fire is going to be a big insurance claim anyway so probably doesn’t matter.

Most buildings don’t have lots of types they have a one, or perhaps two unless they have special risks. A typical boat simply isn’t big enough for lots.

Don’t forget you have a bucket too.

That said I have clean agent, powder, fire blanket and 2 buckets on a 32fter.

Very sorry, but my foam extinguisher (with the huge horn taken off) fits through a 15mm hole.

So too does the co2.

For the engine room.

Most public buildings have colour coded extinguishers detailing their use. Even my small boat can take foam and co2 and water mist.

Is “clean agent” what has replaced Halon? You don’t give any details. Can you breath “clean agent”? A fire put out with foam allows one to breath.

I thought this would be a simple conclusion of what fire fighting equipment was needed.

Also, if get to fire quickly enough (which one REALLY wants to do on a boat) the 99% claim figure goes out the window because on a boat (a small cruiser) one wants the fire out in seconds before barely any damage occurs surely?

 

[ylop]

Water onto a kitchen pan fire with oil? That is a big NO no surely?

Water mist is rates for kitchen pan fires. Water mist is not the same as water. 6ltr Water Mist Fire Extinguisher - UltraFire

Blanket yes.

Foam, yes.

Foam extinguishers are not recommended for hot oil/fat fires. They can be used on flammable liquids (like petrol).

 

[ylop]

Very sorry, but my foam extinguisher (with the huge horn taken off) fits through a 15mm hole.

I don’t think I’ve seen a foam extinguisher with a horn could you post a pic?

So too does the co2.

Your boat is on fire and you are unbolting the horn from the co2 to fit it through the hole.

Most public buildings have colour coded extinguishers detailing their use.

Generally building try to confuse their users by having as few types as they can. If the building has lots of different types of risks differnet areas may have different options.

Even my small boat can take foam and co2 and water mist.

I’m impressed you have storage space for all those. The co2 is a suffocation hazard so needs careful thought before use on a boat.

Is “clean agent” what has replaced Halon? You don’t give any details.

Clean agent is how the manufacturers refer to it. Yes it’s used in settings where halon would have been common. It seems to be the norm for automatic engine room extinguishers. It is also available in handheld format.

Can you breath “clean agent”? A fire put out with foam allows one to breath.

Yes. Although if you think you want to be in an enclosed boat with the residual smoke it won’t be pleasant.

I thought this would be a simple conclusion of what fire fighting equipment was needed.

There is no absolute simple answer, but if you want a simple answer it’s water mist - but you started the thread surprised it could do everything.

Also, if get to fire quickly enough (which one REALLY wants to do on a boat) the 99% claim figure goes out the window because on a boat (a small cruiser) one wants the fire out in seconds before barely any damage occurs surely?

Well I’ve never had a fire on board - but anything which required an extinguisher rather than a fire blanket or dropped in the toast in the sink would be very likely to cause damage. Your confidence that you think you can deal with a fire before it gets bad seems misplaced to me. The only time I can imagine that is a galley fire whilst I’m literally standing there - anything else in the time for the detector to go off me to reach the extinguisher, find the source, pull the pin I’m expecting it’s not a DIY repair.

 

[Cerebus]

Water mist is rates for kitchen pan fires. Water mist is not the same as water. 6ltr Water Mist Fire Extinguisher - UltraFire

Foam extinguishers are not recommended for hot oil/fat fires. They can be used on flammable liquids (like petrol).

I did not know that about water mist being ok for oil pan fires, thank you.

Do you have a link?

 

[Cerebus]

I don’t think I’ve seen a foam extinguisher with a horn could you post a pic?

Your boat is on fire and you are unbolting the horn from the co2 to fit it through the hole.

Generally building try to confuse their users by having as few types as they can. If the building has lots of different types of risks differnet areas may have different options.

I’m impressed you have storage space for all those. The co2 is a suffocation hazard so needs careful thought before use on a boat.

Clean agent is how the manufacturers refer to it. Yes it’s used in settings where halon would have been common. It seems to be the norm for automatic engine room extinguishers. It is also available in handheld format.

Yes. Although if you think you want to be in an enclosed boat with the residual smoke it won’t be pleasant.

There is no absolute simple answer, but if you want a simple answer it’s water mist - but you started the thread surprised it could do everything.

Well I’ve never had a fire on board - but anything which required an extinguisher rather than a fire blanket or dropped in the toast in the sink would be very likely to cause damage. Your confidence that you think you can deal with a fire before it gets bad seems misplaced to me. The only time I can imagine that is a galley fire whilst I’m literally standing there - anything else in the time for the detector to go off me to reach the extinguisher, find the source, pull the pin I’m expecting it’s not a DIY repair.

I don’t know how to do these multi quotes.

My mistake; only my co2 extinguisher has the anti frost horn, not the foam.

multi quotes taken out of context aren’t helpful; one of my co2 extinguishers has had its anti frost horn taken off permanently, so no unbolting is not required as you supposed.

Yes I can accommodate 2 co2 fire extinguishers, 2 foams, and water mists. I do have powder ones stored horizontally but I don’t trust them to deploy.

Unfortunately I have seen too many fires (too many) and one explosion because WRONG fire extinguisher was used upon a molten mess. I won’t post the photo because it is horrendous although the person just managed to survive owing to a lot of cooling water being applied. Recuperation period was long.

Yes, I thought this would be a simple thread; carry the right and varied extinguishers for the right types of fire! And know which ones do what.

Even a tiny old 20 footer could accommodate the correct and different extinguishers that have been discussed.

I can hold my breath and use a co2 extinguisher to put out a fire and then escape to fresh air; it would be a decision made at the time; good sailors make good decisions quickly and act upon them and know their limitations AND they plan for lots of eventualities.

You’ve never had a fire on board, so you cannot speak from experience can you?

Your absolute answer is water mist.

You want to use water mist on a fire when hooked up to shore based 240volts on a dehumidifier or electrical heater ?

You state:
“Your confidence that you think you can deal with a fire before it gets bad seems misplaced to me.”

I am afraid you do not know me or my experience, so writing that is questionable and perhaps unacceptable (that is me being polite).

One of my cars still has the original automatic extinguisher and as far as I know it is halon (since that is how it started out) a professional friend services it and I do not know what it contains; he just signs it off after doing whatever he does. Perhaps he replaced the chemicals? I trust him and pay him and don’t look at the paperwork because I trust him.

 

[The Q]

Having been trained in putting out fires and attended and put out many land based fires, I'll stick to dry powder.
It can be used on anything. The only thing against it is it's messy to clean up afterwards, only foam is messier.
If You have restricted room on board , better to use just one universal type of extinguisher available but more of them, rather than several different types that can only be used on one type of fire..

 

[[70521]]

Having been trained in putting out fires and attended and put out many land based fires, I'll stick to dry powder.
It can be used on anything. The only thing against it is it's messy to clean up afterwards, only foam is messier.
If You have restricted room on board , better to use just one universal type of extinguisher available but more of them, rather than several different types that can only be used on one type of fire..

This is always worth a look. Personally, the last thing I'd want to fight a fire onboard is a dry powder extinguisher unless I was in full Breathing Apparatus. Give me water mist every time.

 

[Scubadoo]

I like the idea of water mist, but what happens in temperatures below freezing, perhaps not a huge problem with heated boats, but still a risk I think in the winter months. Although I don't like powder, it is the one of the few that covers all fires, leaving a mess is probably the least of your worries. I also have PFE-1 Portable Aerosol Fire Extinguisher (JE 50) which would be the first I use before powder for most types of fire, keep one in the car too. The engine has stat-x aerosol automatic extinguisher.

 

[seeSimon]

Just read a post about them. Most replies suggested only one type of extinguisher; water mist.

As in buildings, a selection are provided.

Is it not therefore sensible that should apply to boats too?

Watermist to cool and extinguish ‘general’ fires.

Foam for galley oil or engine oil fire or fuel fire?

Co2 for squirting through the hole in bulkhead to engine bay?

Powder ? Pretty bargain basement rubbish (or am I incorrect; do they have a purpose?)

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Commercial shipping and offshore rigs etc are required to have extinguishers of the appropriate type "handy by" the related risks.
This usually includes a great many dry powder extinguishers...

 

[The Q]

Water mist on 240v and also on 10 kW electric drive motor , it's control system and a generator no thanks.

 

[LittleSister]

Water mist on 240v and also on 10 kW electric drive motor , it's control system and a generator no thanks.

They're safe for that.

The same company did have some great vids of them being used to e.g. put out oil fires, on a live TV set IIRC, etc. etc. (impressively fast and effective!), but I don't have time to go through them just now to find the relevant ones (if they're still online) now.

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[LittleSister]

I like the idea of water mist, but what happens in temperatures below freezing, perhaps not a huge problem with heated boats, but still a risk I think in the winter months.

I worried about the same thing. I bought one, nonetheless, and would use it in preference to the dry powder ones, but intend to bring it home in the winter months (and rely then on the powder ones) unless I can find some authoritative advice on the matter.

 

[Momac]

I agree if you can't be certain to keep the boat temperature above freezing any water based extinguisher would be better taken home.
The only issue with water mist is I belive you need a 2kg to have the sane effect as a 1kg dry powder.
I would also mention fire blankets which are equally valuable and have no expiry date.