Fire Protection - Fire Balls

[sjvicker]

Does anyone on here have experience with E Fire USA's Fireballs for fire protection? https://www.efireusa.com/product-page/e-fire-usa-ball-bundle-brackets-included

It seems like a pretty novel product for a passive fire protection system. There's some CPSC warnings out there about how consumers should stop using these and dispose of them properly but it seems like that's mostly because the CPSC compares their use to an actual fire extinguisher and for that situation I dont disagree.

 

[cmandp]

In theory they sound good and could help but I think in practice they really can't disburse the retardant enough and don't have enough to be effective.

They are not really novel. I had a couple of similar, glass passive fire retarders from the 1950s in the boiler room when we bought our house. Those were also said to not be effective.

Our inspector made a deal with the previous owner to take one of them for his collection.

Good smoke alarms and a fire extinguisher and willingness to call 911 is probably more effective.

 

[walta]

The link seems to be a new version of a very old idea.

The antique one had very nasty chemicals, carbon tetrachloride as I recall.



Walta

 

[Racer_X]

If I were looking for a passive system, I would go for these.

 

[pcmeiners]

Scam, seriously you think the amount of ammonium phosphate in those balls will disperse better than a fire extinguisher, with the same product at 1/4 the price .

 

[BrandonV]

Not UL listed and certainly questionably marked USA.

You want to try to throw a ball at a fire under stress? I know I don't. Unless you mount the thing right above where you expect a fire, they don't work. Every demonstration I've seen with these the ball has to be right at the point of ignition.

Elide was the "reputable" company that invented these.

CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Elide Fire Extinguishing Balls Due to Failure to Extinguish Fires and Risk of Serious Injury or Death

CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Elide Fire Extinguishing Balls Due to Failure to Extinguish Fires and Risk of Serious Injury or Death

www.cpsc.gov

CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Fire Extinguisher Balls Due to Failure to Extinguish Fires and Risk of Serious Injury or Death; Sold on Amazon.com

www.cpsc.gov

 

[DGersic]

You want to try to throw a ball at a fire under stress? I know I don't.

Maybe if you had a bunch of them, and something like a potato canon to launch them at the fire. With enough of them, and a hopper feed system, you could put out a small fire and have fun doing it.

 

[BrandonV]

Maybe if you had a bunch of them, and something like a potato canon to launch them at the fire. With enough of them, and a hopper feed system, you could put out a small fire and have fun doing it.

Interesting idea. .

 

[pbon]

How about fire blankets?

 

[racecougar]

Fire extinguishers and blankets require someone to operate them. The OP is looking for a passive solution. That Kanex setup is neat, but I wonder how many you would need for a typical size shop. It may be worth going to a normal sprinkler setup instead.

 

[billconner]

A 13R fire protection system is pretty easy and simple. CPVC pipe and fittings, some low hazard spaces omitted (small bathrooms and closets). Certainly could be DIY but not sure if that would get insurance benefits.

 

[sjvicker]

Fire extinguishers and blankets require someone to operate them. The OP is looking for a passive solution. That Kanex setup is neat, but I wonder how many you would need for a typical size shop. It may be worth going to a normal sprinkler setup instead.

You’re 100% correct. I don’t want to use them like a grenade, I’m looking for more passive protection. I have a shed with my solar stuff in it and I was thinking about putting one of these over each inverter.

The Kanex system doesn’t seem to be available in the us.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Happy Fun Ball

 

[Sing Core]

Does anyone on here have experience with E Fire USA's Fireballs for fire protection? https://www.efireusa.com/product-page/e-fire-usa-ball-bundle-brackets-included

It seems like a pretty novel product for a passive fire protection system. There's some CPSC warnings out there about how consumers should stop using these and dispose of them properly but it seems like that's mostly because the CPSC compares their use to an actual fire extinguisher and for that situation I dont disagree.

I've never seen such a product, thanks for sharing. I'm gonna watch a few videos on this thing.

 

[whizzer182]

Tried a few of them in a firefighter class that I took, I have no idea whether it was that brand or a different one. We tested them by throwing them into a fire made with pallets and straw bales, inside of a building. First one was just far enough away from the fire that the fire was much too big to slow it down when the ball went off. Second one, on a different fire, went off right away, but when it exploded, it spread the burning straw all over the place and made the fire bigger.

We decided that they might be good for a dumpster fire, or somewhere it was contained, but not much else.

 

[Sing Core]

Tried a few of them in a firefighter class that I took, I have no idea whether it was that brand or a different one. We tested them by throwing them into a fire made with pallets and straw bales, inside of a building. First one was just far enough away from the fire that the fire was much too big to slow it down when the ball went off. Second one, on a different fire, went off right away, but when it exploded, it spread the burning straw all over the place and made the fire bigger.

We decided that they might be good for a dumpster fire, or somewhere it was contained, but not much else.

That's kind of disappointing. Maybe in an enclosed space like a closet or garage space that you're worried about catching fire.

 

[BrandonV]

Tried a few of them in a firefighter class that I took, I have no idea whether it was that brand or a different one. We tested them by throwing them into a fire made with pallets and straw bales, inside of a building. First one was just far enough away from the fire that the fire was much too big to slow it down when the ball went off. Second one, on a different fire, went off right away, but when it exploded, it spread the burning straw all over the place and made the fire bigger.

We decided that they might be good for a dumpster fire, or somewhere it was contained, but not much else.

The original inventor of these balls was presented with evidence they don't work and refused to stop selling them or recall them. Enough said IMO.

 

[1redTA]

if they were effective they would replace sprinkler systems. I don’t believe they would handle a multi class fire versus an ordinary (class a) combustible fire that you may have in a garage that is ordinarily considered a high fire load area

 

[Metal-Marc]

Practice at the bowling alley, extinguish fires?