What type of Fire Extinguisher for cockpit locker and galley?

[nigelmercier]

When I pick up my new life-raft next week, I plan to get a new fire extinguisher for the cockpit locker, and a new one for the galley. I'm not sure what the current type are, but I figure one with a hose is a good idea, as I have a hole in my engine compartment to insert one (I also have an automatic Halon one in there, yes I know).

If I stand the extinguisher upright in the locker, I probably only have room for a 2kg, but I could possibly fit in a larger one if laid on its side. I'm less limited I the galley, but the existing one is 2kg.


Thoughts?

 

[wipe_out]

I have just replaced ours and switched from powder to foam.. Most foam extinguishers now have an isolating nozzle which makes them more suitable for electrical fires than they were in the past but on our boat we have no inverter or generator so any electricity is 12v anyway.. For me the advantage of foam is less mess than powder if it's ever used.. Obviously opinions on these things will probably differ..

 

[knuterikt]

I would have chosen foam if you don't have freezing temperatures during winter.

 

[nigelmercier]

We don't even have winter!

 

[prv]

My preference is foam as well.

Pete

 

[sailorman]

I bought 2 of these earlier this year. also they were at the time the best price. mine were £14.40 each inc vat ex del. total price del £34.80
http://www.nationwidefireextinguishers.co.uk/p528540/2ltr-foam-fire-extinguisher.html

 

[cliff]

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.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Water Mist and AFFF

I am considering replacing mine with the Dry Water Mist types in all areas except the engine bay (I too still have Halon installed). The water mist is supposed to be residue free and I think this would be a useful feature if tackling a fire at sea. The slip risk from foam would be eliminated and clean up afterwards would be faster.

For the cockpit I am considering a AFFF for a diesel* spill fire and the fact that I believe foam could be used from the companionway hatch more effectively than the water mist to direct onto a base of a fire if access was not straight forward. Both the water mist and AFFF can be used on electrical fires and provide cooling as well.

http://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/water-mist-extinguishers

* I have two large diesel tanks built into the sides of the yacht. It's feasible that a collision could crack the tanks leading to a flow of fuel into the boat.

 

[prv]

The slip risk from foam would be eliminated

Hmm, that's an aspect I hadn't even considered. My cabin sole is already not as grippy as I'd like, and I can well imagine foaming agents being slippery.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[Deleted member 36384]

To be honest Pete I don't know if it is more slippy than water. I have used AFFF many times on training exercises with a tray of diesel on fire but not on steel floors. I have seen videos of large foam deployment in ships and at airports and slippyness is never mentioned. I suspect that the chemicals in the foam are not more slippy than water on a cabin sole. The Water Mist apparently does not leave puddles of water around. I reckon if you put out a fire with foam, managing the clean up safely would require just a bit more care than normal, say on hands and knees while wiping up. If it was significant risk, it would be mentioned in literature.

 

[prv]

The Water Mist apparently does not leave puddles of water around.

Not sure I believe that - in the air it's a fine mist with interesting properties, but ultimately the water has to go somewhere. One of the sites has a demo video where they spray it on a stack of mains electrical equipment (a small consumer unit, a couple of lightbulbs, a CRT telly). Their point is that the operator isn't electrocuted, and indeed he isn't, but you can clearly see ordinary water raining down from the upper board onto the telly.

Not that I have a problem with this, surplus water is hardly a novelty on a boat

Pete

 

[[2574]]

I've gone over completely to water mist (except for the Halon replacement in the engine room) after I saw the "white out" caused by powder in the YM crash boat fire video. It seems to me that powder is less than ideal in a confined space as within seconds it causes zero viz; a real (additional to the smoke) problem if you need to evacuate a cabin quickly.

 

[prv]

I've gone over completely to water mist (except for the Halon replacement in the engine room) after I saw the "white out" caused by powder in the YM crash boat fire video.

I did similar, moving to foam, in Kindred Spirit.

Ariam still has the extinguishers she came with, mostly powder, but replacement is on the list.

Pete

 

[cryan]

Engine bay- Co2 or Foam (be wary that spraying Afff on electronics will not do them any good)
Galley- Fire Blanket
Cabin -water or Dry Powder

DP is messy and has the added bonus of giving you the runs should you ingest any however it hoovers up. AFFF stinks!!!! Not easy to clean out of foam upholstery. CO2 is good in enclosed areas but should not be used on things which might be blown about the cabin such as paper or burning oil unles you want to set fire to everything. Water in a bucket is abundant at sea but does not do well with oily fires and over enthusiasm brings stability isues. A bucket is cheaper and quicker to use on a small boat than a water extinguisher.
If you have a cooker fire then cover with a fire blanket or damp through (but not dripping) tea towel.
If you have a gas fire turn off the gas then treat whatever is burning separately. Your taught on fire courses that you can't extinguish gas fires while the gas is still flowing.

 

[nigelmercier]

Galley- Fire Blanket...

I've got a fire blanket. The label fell off, so I made my own

 

[RAI]

If you don't have one, I suggest CO2. They are very good and clean on electrical fires. Even a small one is likely to smother an engine room.
But they do need caution when used inside a small cabin.
The one electrical fire that I have had was put out with a short burst.

 

[Momac]

I recall seeing a video demostration of different extinguishers on a galley fire, which showed foam to be the best choice.
CO2 can snuff you out in a confined space, like a boat interior.

 

[lw395]

I recall seeing a video demostration of different extinguishers on a galley fire, which showed foam to be the best choice.
CO2 can snuff you out in a confined space, like a boat interior.

Galley fire, fire blanket and quickly usually works with no mess.

If I had a fire I was worried about, not just a scorched bit of wood or spilt meths, I don't think I'd worry about mess from powder.
I think it more important to whack it quickly than select the optimal extinguisher and powder fits pretty much all small boat fires.

 

[PilotWolf]

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.

 

[rogerthebodger]

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

W.

Thats why I fitted a remote operated CO2 with a smoke detector in my engine room

Some years ago I had and automatic CO2 fire extinguisher go off in my engine room with there being a fire but by the heat of the engine after a long run