Currently looking at fire extingushers for our inboard diesel. The commercial requirement says the spec of a fire extinguisher is rated minimum of 5A/34B.
From talking to shops at the boat show yesterday they say this rating refers to manual activated dry powder, and that in an engine compartment you need automatic (halon replacement preferred as they said that dry power will ruin engine if it gets into it).
At the show there was plenty of shops selling automatic ones but none of the automatic were rated (except to say A/B/C rated)
So does one get manual extinguishers actually rated 5A/34B (or better) stored outside the engine compartment then also get an automatic one for the compartment????
5A/34B rated extinguishers are what the code requires for "accommodation" or other spaces. Engine rooms are another matter and are considered separately.
Would suggest a gaseous automatic for the engine compartment backed up via a fire port in the engine box that you can fire a big dry powder into.
Wouldn't let a powder extinguisher anywhere near my boat - I have 2x 2kg AFFF foam - would rather Halon but of course it's been banned by the Greens - funny reqally as they were all Green!!!
Talking of which do people remember when fire extinguishers used to be colour coded? It was great - red for water - black for CO" - Green for Halon etc etc. Brilliant idea and so simple - until the bloody EU decided every extinguisher HAD to be red so you would have to stop and read the stupid bloody labels - great in an emergency!!!
Powder is an essential i wouldnt step on a boat without one, after you have done some serious offshore passages you will realise that its not what it damages but to stop the fire and the best charnce you have is powder
I would have Powder and an additional Co2 - at the end of the day if you can stop a fire by squirting CO2 through the air intake while it is still running then you won't damage anything. But when you have flames, the aim will be to put it out rather than look after the engine. Afterall that's what insurance is for.
__________________
Boat Care UK
Web: www.boatcareuk.com
Phone: 0845 652 14 15
I've got a 'Halon Replacement' Firemaster GTFE2000 Auto Extinguisher in my engine box.
I was advised (for coding) not to put an auto powder or AFFF extinguisher in the box, as the auto heads have been known to go off when not required - and if they do they'll trash your engine. With a gaseous unit, I understand that your engine will still stop due to lack of oxygen - but it won't kill it.
I've also fitted fire access flaps on the box to deliver additional extinguishant if required.
Make them, they are just a cover like the type you sometimes see on a door lock to keep the rain out of the lock. Mine are cut from a spare piece of GRP with the bolt hole near the top.
War Shot
powder is a last resort as it destroys everything.
