Fire safety and security bits, Lidl ,01/02/07.

Bought one of the gas alarms last time they had them (though I'm sure they were £12.99 then). Excellent .... nearly as sensitive at detecting butane as SWMBO! (comes with mains cube or can be directly wired to 12v). (Note: they are NOT carbon-monoxide detectors).

The extinguishers are also just as good as those you'll pay £12-£14 for elsewhere.

Vic
 
They are aprox 4inX4inX1" and probably about same robustness as a typical smoke detector. Current is not insignificant at around 100mA (standby), so have wired so as to only be on when main boat supply is on (ie when occupied). (They use the hot-wire detection method, as I believe most gas detectors do). They are certainly LOUD.

Purists may argue that the worst possible thing is turning on the main switch before knowing if gas is present. but the alternative would likely be flat batteries anyway after a prolonged absence........and am very diligent at turning off the gas whenever off the boat anyway.

Vic
 
Installation: In my case directly below the cooker, about 6in above floor-level, as there is a 'well' there where any gas leaking from the cooker would collect first. (On Natural Gas in a house it would however be installed up towards the ceiling).

Vic
 
I believe the minimum reccomended for dry powder fire extinguishers is 2.5kg on a boat, nevertheless they look a useful backup for a small problem where otherwise you've got a boat full of powder. However, last year Lidl were selling big 5kg or larger ones and I bought two. Just as well I did because inside 3 months one depressurised and I took it back. They were quite good and gave me a refund because I had saved the receipt, they were unfortunately unable to replace it. I was glad that I had bought two as the one for the kitchen at home replaced the defective one on the boat. They were £12.99 at the time and very good value. I'm dissappointed that they've only got 1kg size this time. Moral of this is: buy more than you want (they're only £4.99 after all) because you might find they depressurise.
 
Have got 2 of the big 6Kg (PROTEX) ones and 4 of the 1Kg. (all with gauges). Still up to pressure at over 18months. I guess you were unlucky. Also have some interesting 1Kg ones which contain a sealed CO2 cartridge (I guess a bit like a lifejacket cartridge) and which do not carry expiry dates ...... might be an advantage in France if some recent reports are to be believed /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif)

Vic
 
After seeing news of this on another site, I checked the ANAF website . AFAI can see the compny's marketing and technical information indicates that all of ANAF dry powder products are carrying the Marine Equipment Directive attestation mark. BUT anyone considering purchasing should double check for the mark on the product in the shop just in case the one in Lidl carries no suitable mark of assurance for the BSS purpose. Although again, the company's information suggests all of their relevent extinguishers meet the Directive.

I was even surprised to see on this Spanish website, the Boat Safety Scheme logo, even if it is our old pre-2002 version. Unfortunately it is showing that one of its Carbon Dioxide extinguishers is suitable for the BSS, but it cannot be as it is not suitable for A class fires!

Once again, without checking the actual item so please apply buyer beware principles, the evidence suggests that the Lidl advertised product has a 5A 34B capacity. If so, that would meet our requirements, but do please check again before purchase (if it is intended that we should consider it part of the boat's compliment of suitable extinguishers).

All this and more can be checked in our BSS Essential Guide in Chapter 6 .

Regards
Rob@BSS
Go boating - Stay safe
 
Rob

I haven't had a look at these particular bits and pieces,but previous experience would indicate that all the relevant European standards are complied with.

Implied in your post is the inference that Lidl,Aldi et al are traders that need to be looked at in the same way as some dodgy boat Jumble/E bay traders.
They are multi million pound companies incorporated in Europe with all the restraints that that implies and it would be commercial suicide for them to sell "dodgy" goods.

It is quite interesting to do a search of some of the named products that they sell and compare prices with for instance Chandlers and Specialist fire safety outlets.And given their turn-over you are more likely to buy "new stock".
The extinguishers I bought in Feb 2006 were manufactured in Dec 2005!

I do wish however that they would do some deals with AFFF extinguishers as well as dry powder.

Oh by the way,I have no commercial interests in Lidl/Aldi/Netto.
 
Please, allow me to restate this. The inference is not about the quality of anything sold by Lidl, the reference is to the application and relevence to the BSS requirements for portable fire extinguishers. Our requirements are specific about the attestation marks as shown in Chapter 6. Extinguishers from another manufacturer, sold by Lidl previously, have appeared on the manufacturer's website both with suitable attestation marks and without.

This has also happened with other extinguishers being retailed by other suppliers. Two similar looking extinguishers, one with suitable attestation for BSS requirements and one without.

As I said, a quick review of the ANAF website seems to suggest that most of their class A & B extinguishers are attested to meet the MED. Whatever the extinguisher, whoever is the supplier, if buying for boat subject to BSS requirements, it's best to check this point before buying.

Thanks for letting me know.

Rob
 
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