Fixed fire extinguisher?

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Fourbees

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Our new (to us) boat has a 40 hp Yanmar diesel, which is twice the power of the previous boat's engine. The surveyor (pre-purchase) suggested we should fit an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine compartment. Currently there's just an access port through which a handheld extinguisher could be discharged. Should we fit an automatic extinguisher or not?
 
IMHO, it's best to fit an alarm system and have a manually operated extinguisher.
If the engine bay is well sealed up, a CO2 extinguisher is good as it won't damage your engine. The automatic ones I've seen have been powder which apparently does your engine no good at all!
 
There are also "Halon replacement" automatic gas extinguishers which should blanket any fire without coating everything in corrosive powder. If you do go this route, I'd advise that you retain the ability to fire a manual extinguiser through a peep hole, as at present.

We had an original Halon type go off in the engine bay when the exhaust split. It didn't have a fire to deal with but the gas smothered the engine and nobody wanted to go in until it had been thoroughly ventilated. A long sail home against the tide ensued as we couldn't bind the exhaust box up. Got into a lot of trouble when I got home at 4am!

Rob.
 
Fourbees said:
I wondered whether there were any rules about this, but haven't found any.
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No rules in the UK but there are elsewhere. It's usually down to insurer's requirements on receipt of surveyors report. There are halon replacement auto extinguishers but we have a 3 litre foam with nozzle which can be poked through finger hole in engine compartment door and it can also be used anywhere else on boat.
 
I have no idea about costs, but I would look at a misting system, it's two small cylinders, one filled with water and the other filled with nitrogen, the nitrogen drives the water through a misting nozzle which extinguished through cooling, but the mist is so fine that it doesn't cause any damage. A bit of a mop up with a rag afterwards and you're good to go. We installed one in an engineroom, but that was a 1200HP diesel so it was quite a big system. Cruise ships use it.
 
DannyB said:
I have no idea about costs, but I would look at a misting system, it's two small cylinders, one filled with water and the other filled with nitrogen, the nitrogen drives the water through a misting nozzle which extinguished through cooling, but the mist is so fine that it doesn't cause any damage.
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In the last couple of years "dry water mist" portable extinguishers have appeared for about the same price as other types (except powder, which are generally the cheapest). They don't have separate propellant cylinders, they look much like normal water extinguishers but the special nozzle means they're safe on electrics and possibly liquids (not sure about the latter, best check).

Pete
 
I have a number of engine warning and safety systems fitted. Exh temp alarm, smoke detector in the engine comp (just a domestic one) and auto fire ext (halon replacement) 2L.
 
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