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#Post#: 101327--------------------------------------------------
Fire extinguishers for the garage
By: Sprocket Date: May 17, 2016, 7:56 am
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From time to time it crosses my mind that if anything caught
fire in the garage I'd be fairly helpless, as I don't have any
firefighting equipment whatsoever (except a 20-year old
Betterware kitchen extinguisher bunged behind the seat in my
Landy).
So I'd appreciate any suggestions on what to get in order to
stand a chance of keeping things from turning into a pile of
ash, or worse.
I've just got a typical domestic double garage space, with no
gas cylinders or heaters to worry about.
I know there are CO2, Water, Foam and Powder extinguishers, and
that they all have their specific duties, so do I have to fork
out for one of each, or is there a compromise that would give me
some chance at quelling a fire before it got out of hand, advice
on sizes, types and possibly suppliers would be gratefully
received, thanks.
#Post#: 101329--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fire extinguishers for the garage
By: DarrenH Date: May 18, 2016, 3:30 am
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powder is the only one safe for all fire types, and the one sold
by most retail suppliers.
powder has one weakness which is solid fuels (wood/ paper) as it
cant remove the heat like plain water. without getting into
too much science, wood doesn't really "burn", it heats up and
gives off flammable vapours which then burn. so if you were to
shoot a powder extinguisher at an established wood fire, it
would snuff out the flames but will still be simmering as the
heat is still in wood, temp will still be above autoignition
point, fire will then re-take. < this is why you see fire
crews damping down for hours after industrial fires are put out.
the only reason data centres or offices are stocked with Co2,
rather than all rounder powder, is because the dust renders most
electrical equipment useless.
i wouldnt go any smaller than 2kg extinguisher as the smaller
ones are literally pointless, like throwing a handful of flour
at a fire.
sounds silly but i always have an old trigger bottle full of
water (like an old cillit bang / mr muscle / dettol spray) so
when welding i can quickly snuff anything.
in short, 2kg + powder if you only buy one. or 2kg+ powder
and a water if you are buying 2. but tbh if youve got an
established solid fuel fire in a double garage dont go anwhere
near it !
#Post#: 101331--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fire extinguishers for the garage
By: Doug_T Date: May 18, 2016, 5:30 am
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^^^as he said powder just stops the chemical reaction that is
the burning process. It doesn't remove heat or oxygen.
When we do our mandatory fire training courses, we get to use
all the types of extinguisher in anger. All water really does is
remove the "heat" part of the combustion triangle, in the
process making a LOT of steam and smoke cutting your visibility
down.
CO2 is great, but you need to get in close (though not too close
as you can blow what you're trying to extinguish) everywhere.
Powder is good, quite long range, can be used sparingly
(difficult one this, the temptation is to squeeze the trigger
and hold but really it snuffs the fire incredibly quickly). It
also makes a big mess and is subject to the caveat mentioned
above.
Foam both smothers and cools the fire and is amazingly
effective. Yes you can't use it on live mains voltages, but IF I
could only have one in a garage I'd make sure I could turn the
power off easily (preferably next to my emergency exit) and use
a foam extinguisher.
That's just my views on using these things (albeit in a
controlled environment) to snuff out fires. In real life I
wouldn't be thinking in terms of fighting a fire in my garage
with a view to preserving as much as I could; I'd be looking at
it as a means of buying time to allow myself and anybody with me
the chance to escape.
Incidentally there are a couple more extinguishers around: Wet
Chemical (think chip pan fires) and one for extinguishing metal
fires.
#Post#: 101332--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fire extinguishers for the garage
By: SteamPunk Date: May 19, 2016, 5:05 pm
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I have a 2kg ABC powder and a 6ltr foam extinguisher in my
similarly sized garage.
Any vehicles stored inside have their batteries disconnected.
ABC Powder has good 'knock down' capability but doesn't prevent
re-ignition.
AFFF (Aqueous film forming foam) is effective against
carbonaceous and liquid fuel fires as it has a smothering and
cooling effect, if you want to know some techniques for how to
use foam, youtube is as good a place to start as any!
If you ever find it necessary to deploy a powder extinguisher
check your escape route first. Fire training courses usually
take place outside so most people are not aware of the instant
impenetrable fog which can be created when you set one off in a
confined space.
My safety equipment also includes eyewash and a field dressing
taped to the wall (not in a difficult to open box) - but I work
out of earshot of assistance much of the time.
If anybody reading this is of an age or condition of health they
think heart attacks or strokes are even remotely possible, your
first aid equipment should also include strong asprin - again
easy to access.
'First aid kits' annoy the hell out of me. Most of what's in
them I see as being for second stage care. Plasters, triangular
bandages, safety pins and small gauze bandages will do you fuck
all good if you sustain serious damage.
#Post#: 101339--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fire extinguishers for the garage
By: NoelC Date: May 23, 2016, 2:01 am
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I was a little undecided about extinguishers so bought this,
ticks all the boxes. >Htlr<
[URL=
HTML http://s1031.photobucket.com/user/leyland510/media/L882CPC/Rapier_08MAY16.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y372/leyland510/L882CPC/Rapier_08MAY16.jpg[/img][/URL]
On a more serious note, if you're going to pick one extinguisher
a 9 litre AFFF is the one to have for home use as far as I'm
concerned. Powder extinguishers do have a major failing, the
powder tends to solidify over time so the gauge can read in the
the green zone yet when the time comes sod all comes out. The
chaps that do our fire inspections always lift power
extinguishers up and invert them, listening for the powder
moving. 6 litre AFFF extinguishers can be had for a little over
£30, not that much more than a 2 litre. Money well spent IMHO.
HTML https://www.fireprotectionshop.co.uk/fire-extinguishers/afff-foam-fire-extinguishers/fireshield-9ltr-afff-foam-fire-extinguisher.html
HTML https://www.fireprotectionshop.co.uk/fire-extinguishers/afff-foam-fire-extinguishers/fireshield-9ltr-afff-foam-fire-extinguisher.html
#Post#: 101361--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fire extinguishers for the garage
By: Bert the Bodger Date: May 29, 2016, 1:58 am
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Apologies for jumping in after lurking for so long.
Re. the point about 'strong aspirin' above: have four 30mg
dispersible aspirin ready for immediate use in a foil wrap in
the event of stroke or heart attack. The dispersible bit
means-as many of you will be aware- that it gets into the blood
stream damn quick to help unclog things/keep things flowing. The
'in a foil wrap' bit is because of all the bloody cardiovascular
related drugs aspirin, for some unfathomable reason, is the
hardest to get out of the bubble packs and probably completely
impossible in the midst of crisis.
Even if young and apparently fit it is a good idea when doing
welding, and other noxious fume producing activities, to have
aspirin ready for use...
Richard (Bert)
#Post#: 101368--------------------------------------------------
Re: Fire extinguishers for the garage
By: Peter de Dawg Date: May 29, 2016, 5:22 pm
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When welding a load of galved stuff we were always made to neck
a pint of milk first to 'coat' the innards a bit :toothless:
..Fire extinguishers SH><.?..Nah just get a big bucket of water
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