What type of Fire Extinguisher for cockpit locker and galley?

[boatmike]

I went for CO2 - no mess and "universal" - While foam is less messy than dry powder it is still "messy" whereas with CO2 there is no clean up involved apart from what ever burnt.

But you do have to add the health warning that it should not be used in confined spaces where people are. CO2 is IMHO fine for squirting into engine compartments but I wouldn't use it on a galley fire. It is really surprising how quickly someone can die without oxygen........

No galley should be without a simple fire blanket. Often the best first defence and very effective. If that does not work damn the mess. Dry powder works better than foam having used both.... I would rather clean up the boat later than have to abandon ship!

Just my opinion of course, like everything else, but MCA won't certify a commercial vessel with only CO2.... Must be a reason???

 

[lw395]

CO2 doesn't remove the heat from whats burning. Not much use on solids fires on their own as you'll prbably need to back up with foam or water.

Also if using gas extinguishers in an engine compartment make sure that vents, etc are closed and engines stopped befoe discharge.

W.

Not entirely true, the CO2 comes out very, very cold.

 

[lw395]

But you do have to add the health warning that it should not be used in confined spaces where people are. CO2 is IMHO fine for squirting into engine compartments but I wouldn't use it on a galley fire. It is really surprising how quickly someone can die without oxygen........

It's a big yacht you cannot get out of in a few seconds.
A proper fire will have used a lot of the oxygen anyway.

But I would be reluctant to use a CO2 extinguisher on a galley fire, as they tend to blast burning liquids over a wide area.
That is the most memorable thing I learned in A level chemistry practicals....

 

[sailorman]

It's a big yacht you cannot get out of in a few seconds.
A proper fire will have used a lot of the oxygen anyway.

But I would be reluctant to use a CO2 extinguisher on a galley fire, as they tend to blast burning liquids over a wide area.
That is the most memorable thing I learned in A level chemistry practicals....

So who cooks deep fried items.
the most we do is the occasional eggs n bacon, we just spray that stuff in a tin to lube the non stick pan & on as low a heat as possible

 

[lw395]

So who cooks deep fried items.
the most we do is the occasional eggs n bacon, we just spray that stuff in a tin to lube the non stick pan & on as low a heat as possible

Then it will never catch fire will it?

If it's just a bit of scorched toast, you don't want the expense of a new CO2 extinguisher when a damp tea-towel will do!

(A damp tea towel is to be preferred over a proper fire blanket if you might still want to eat the scorched item, as proper fire blankets often drop glass fibres, which are not good for you...)
(Likewise, fresh water, not a bucket of sea...)

 

[[2574]]

If that does not work damn the mess. Dry powder works better than foam having used both.... I would rather clean up the boat later than have to abandon ship! ???

It's not the powder mess that worries me but the "white out" caused by the powder. I'm told that it is essential to hit the base of the fire with the extinguishant and to do that you need to be able to see it.

 

[Anders_P42]

Has anyone tried one of these?

http://shop.nrgmarine.com/Portable-Fire-Extinguisher

Vid of same product

http://youtu.be/aLsCchy1u8g

Anders

 

[penfold]

Then it will never catch fire will it?

If it's just a bit of scorched toast, you don't want the expense of a new CO2 extinguisher when a damp tea-towel will do!

(A damp tea towel is to be preferred over a proper fire blanket if you might still want to eat the scorched item, as proper fire blankets often drop glass fibres, which are not good for you...)
(Likewise, fresh water, not a bucket of sea...)

If your fire blanket is shedding fibres it's long past time for a new one; they cost so little it's an easy decision. We do fire exercises with them at work and they do not shed unless badly frayed and/or very old.

 

[lw395]

If your fire blanket is shedding fibres it's long past time for a new one; they cost so little it's an easy decision. We do fire exercises with them at work and they do not shed unless badly frayed and/or very old.

Our fire blanket has never been out of its holder.
Years ago I gained some practical experience of small galley fires with the meths cookers on the RYA's Sonata fleet.
I did once manage to set light to a pizza when the microwave decided not to switch off after defrosting it. That was quite horrible, a fair amount of black smoke that left a mess.
I just switched it off at the wall and dropped it out of the window.

 

[JimC]

Drifting the thread a bit: how can you tell if a DP extinguisher is still serviceable? When I shake mine nothing seems loose inside, does this mean the powder has all turned into one solid lump?

 

[sailorman]

Drifting the thread a bit: how can you tell if a DP extinguisher is still serviceable? When I shake mine nothing seems loose inside, does this mean the powder has all turned into one solid lump?

yes

 

[Woodlouse]

Dry powder is messy, yet by far the best all round solution to boat fires. As someone else said, if I had a fire on board that was big enough to get be reaching for the extinguisher then the mess it left would be the least of my worries.