Safety in the garage..

[bobg03]

This came to mind with the PPE thread.

How many of y'all have a quality fire extingusher in your garage or your house?
By quality I refer to an actual metal head fire extinguisher, not the plastic head throw away type.

I have three, one 2,5 pound ABC on the leg of my bench, one 10 pound ABC mounted next to the man door that exits my garage and one 5 pound ABC in the laundry room off my kitchen that leads into my garage.

 

[zkdiesel]

Multiple abc hanging on wall, and marked above it extingusiher
2 water ones also charged for small fires/ember not worth using the main one for a big mess
Cell phone always in pocket is a big key. You can call or text for help in case of fall/entrapment.

 

[BrandonV]

Yup. Only buy Amerex (you can get them at Grainger or Zoro).

I like having a traditional ABC, a Purple K, and a CO2 on hand.

The plus side with the Purple K and CO2 (B & C fires only) is that you won't have a corrosive mess on your hands.

 

[Firebrick43]

I would suggest a halotron fire extinguisher. They are expensive but the residue from an ABC extinguisher is not only a mess but but is very corrosive.

 

[BrandonV]

I would suggest a halotron fire extinguisher. They are expensive but the residue from an ABC extinguisher is not only a mess but but is very corrosive.

There is one major problem with this. If you're not careful (and this can happen w/ CO2 as well) the pressure of the agent coming out can push smoldering or flaming material and spread a fire.

Just something to keep mind of for anyone who wants to use any extinguisher w/ a compressed gas.

 

[Firebrick43]

There is one major problem with this. If you're not careful (and this can happen w/ CO2 as well) the pressure of the agent coming out can push smoldering or flaming material and spread a fire.

Just something to keep mind of for anyone who wants to use any extinguisher w/ a compressed gas.

Halotron has a lower pressure (100-125psi) than ABC and purple K (195 psi) that you’re recommending?

Ideal with a paper fire would be water but then you have to watch out for electricity but halotron is lower than all the ones you have.

 

[BrandonV]

Halotron has a lower pressure (100-125psi) than ABC and purple K (195 psi) that you’re recommending?

Ideal with a paper fire would be water but then you have to watch out for electricity but halotron is lower than all the ones you have.

Pressure is just one factor among many in fire suppression. I'm just not a fan of anything but water or dry chemical for a class A fire. The challenge lies in the effectiveness of standard dry chemical ABC and Purple K extinguishers, which not only smother and choke out the fire with a physical coating of dry chemical but also inhibit the chemical chain reaction. A fire you put out with a dry chemical is not going to reignite. In contrast, gas-based extinguishers primarily rely on oxygen deprivation (or interrupting the chemical chain reaction for Halotron) and if you're unlucky after it dissipates it could reignite. CO2 hasn't been approved by UL for class A fires due to concerns about pushing embers and subsequent lack of CO2/dissipation on what you just spread. Halotron, while approved for A class fires in larger extinguishers (around 10lbs or more), still poses some risks in specific circumstances (the biggest concern of UL is running out of Halotron if the fire spreads a little due to pressure).

Ultimately this is why people stick to the old dry chemical ABC. You don't have to worry about improper usage, wrong fire type, etc. Point and spray.

 

[Firebrick43]

Pressure is just one factor among many in fire suppression. I'm just not a fan of anything but water or dry chemical for a class A fire. The challenge lies in the effectiveness of standard dry chemical ABC and Purple K extinguishers, which not only smother and choke out the fire with a physical coating of dry chemical but also inhibit the chemical chain reaction. A fire you put out with a dry chemical is not going to reignite. In contrast, gas-based extinguishers primarily rely on oxygen deprivation and if you're unlucky after it dissipates it could reignite. CO2 hasn't been approved by UL for class A fires due to concerns about pushing embers and subsequent lack of CO2/dissipation on what you just spread. Halotron, while approved for A class fires in larger extinguishers (around 10lbs or more), still poses some risks in specific circumstances (the biggest concern of UL is running out of Halotron if the fire spreads a little due to pressure).

Ultimately this is why people stick to the old dry chemical ABC. You don't have to worry about improper usage, wrong fire type, etc. Point and spray.

People stick to ABC because they are cheap and they don’t think about or hope to never have to clean up.

In all my training halon/halotron was instant out and didn’t displace paper much at all.

 

[BrandonV]

People stick to ABC because they are cheap and they don’t think about or hope to never have to clean up.

In all my training halon/halotron was instant out and didn’t displace paper much at all.

How big of an extingusher were you using? If you got one of those big wheeled ones I'd agree. The problem stems when you look at the equivalency.

Halotron I:

11lb extinguisher is equivalent to 1lb of water.
15lb extinguisher is equivalent to 2lb of water.



A ABC dry chemical that weighs 5lbs-6lbs can be anywhere between 2 to 3lbs of water equivalency.

 

[Firebrick43]

Both big bottles in the marine corps (halon) working on aircraft and probably 10-11 lbs (halotron) when working on CNC grinders with oil coolant.

 

[BrandonV]

Both big bottles in the marine corps (halon) working on aircraft and probably 10-11 lbs when working on CNC grinders with oil coolant.

Yeah the real Halon stuff is way better than Halotron on all types of fires. If you're dealing with a class B or class C fire a real old school Halon extinguisher is the bomb. They're probably 4-5x better than Halotron & CO2.

Not to mention around aircraft you don't have any real options besides using clean extinguishers.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Most of ours are small extinguishers, either 2.5 or 5#. Three in the shop - one by the welding bench, one by the front door, one by the back door. One outside by the grilling station. Three in the house.

Edit: Forgot there's always one in each vehicle as well.

 

[olytdi]

Three in the shop, one in the garage, and one in the kitchen. All ABC dry chem.

 

[Zeke]

I have some Fireaid extinguishers. Good reviews but I've only discharged an extinguisher once, on a car fire under the hood. Hood was too hot to raise after pulling the release. So through the cracks was not enough to even come close before the bottle was done. So the car was lost. Not mine, just a bystander with an extinguisher. Of course as a samaritan I got nothing.

Once I stopped on the Hollywood freeway going in the opposite direction, and stuck due to rubber neckers, and I gave my extinguisher to the guy on the other side of the median barrier. I knew that one was not coming back.

 

[LeeG]

A 10lb ABC at the garage entrance from the house, a 20lb ABC on the garage door side, along with a CO2 & a pressurized water. I have a small 5lb ABC on my welding cart. I keep a 10lb ABC in the truck and one outside my shed. All are Amerex and get professionally serviced very 2 years.

Lee

 

[nadogail]

I have two from COSTCO, I am ashamed that neither the one in the van or in the workshop have been mounted.

 

[DGersic]

One by my workbenches at the back of the garage. One by the doors at the front of the garage. Hope never to need either one.

I had a couple of ancient CO2 extinguishers to get rid of a few years ago. Not old enough to be cool old stuff. Nobody would take them or touch them because they were pressurized. I solved that by walking across the street to the park, and shooting them in to the air. Got snow in July. Then, once discharged, they went out in the garbage.

 

[nadogail]

If I get hurt in my workshop, i will not be allowed to keep it; therefore i am required to work safely.

 

[Mike65]

I have one attached to the front leg of one of the workbenches for easy access. That bench is along the side wall back by the walk-thru door in the back rear corner of the garage. When I am in the garage or in my workshop I try to be as careful as I can, think twice before doing anything that might hurt me.

 

[ddurrett896]

(3) in attached big garage
(2) in detached garage
(1) in attached small garage

 

[NYBODYMAN]

What's a good recommendation for a home garage/shop. Mechanical work, general tinkering, and occasional welding?

 

[racecougar]

In the shop: (1) 20lb CO2 extinguisher, (2) 10lb ABC's, (2) 5lb ABC's, a welding blanket, and a fire blanket (just about the same thing).

In the attached garage: (2) 5lb ABC's.

In the house: (2) 10lb ABC's, (3) 5lb ABC's, (1) H2O (don't remember the size of it).

I keep at least one cheap 5lb ABC in every vehicle, too.

 

[BrandonV]

What's a good recommendation for a home garage/shop. Mechanical work, general tinkering, and occasional welding?

Realistically? Unless you're ready to drop $1k+ (or you can locate one cheap) on a clean fire extinguisher (Halon & Halotron) you'll want to stick to the standard ABC dry chemical for a single extinguisher. As others have pointed out, it's highly corrosive if you have to use it but for all intents and purposes the idea of a fire extinguisher is to stop the fire from spreading in the structure potentially injuring others.

If you think you (or anyone else who may have to use it) can make a quick decision about identifying a class A versus class B/C fire you can branch out into a 2 fire extinguisher system (water extinguisher + CO2 and/or Purple K).

Amerex is the way to go. All metal construction.

 

[racecougar]

Fiberglass fire blankets are another clean solution to employ.

 

[BrandonV]

Fiberglass fire blankets are another clean solution to employ.

Reminds me how much better European fire safety is than the US.

In Europe if you have a kitchen fire you just slap a fire blanket on the cooking fire and call it a day. Try finding one in the US. Everything is a knockoff from China or you have to spend big $ on Amazon UK.

 

[dcg9381]

How many of y'all have a quality fire extingusher in your garage or your house?
By quality I refer to an actual metal head fire extinguisher, not the plastic head throw away type.

I got in a little "trouble" with a camping propane bottle and a leaking lighter a few weeks ago. Got burnt, lit a few things on fire. I was busy trying to get the whole deal into the hot tub to put it out, I completely forgot that there were fire extinguishers inside the shop... while I was busy running through trying to a tool long enough to handle this mess.

In the "aftermath" of this, after replacing several very burnt things, I added a large extinguisher outside the shop (where I got in trouble). Strangely enough I know we had an extinguisher in the house at one time, I couldn't find it either.. So ended up adding one to the laundry room where it is very obvious.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have fe at all entrances and keep one where I'm doing hot work. Also have heat and smoke alarms plus a water hose that's always on. I also get the fe tested each year as cheap insurance. I keep a good first aid kit, burn kit and eye wash. The eye wash probably sees the most use, even with safety glasses and face shield, good to wash out the dust.
I try to follow the same standards at work and home. As we get older and have been lucky safety has become even more important.

 

[zendriver]

I have one still in the box. Haven’t finished the walls in order to hang it.

Been working, trying to starting the old Ford tractor, so I bring it out sit by just in case learning from past experience

 

[racecougar]

I have fe at all entrances and keep one where I'm doing hot work. Also have heat and smoke alarms plus a water hose that's always on. I also get the fe tested each year as cheap insurance. I keep a good first aid kit, burn kit and eye wash. The eye wash probably sees the most use, even with safety glasses and face shield, good to wash out the dust.
I try to follow the same standards at work and home. As we get older and have been lucky safety has become even more important.

Good call on the eye wash station. You can see mine on the right side of the photo below, as well as one of the first aid kits on the left.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Just be advised....I had a name brand, pretty good sized fire extinguisher in my old garage. Checked the little gauge regularly, always in the green. Finally, after enough years, I began to grow suspicious.. Took it down one day to test it, pulled the trigger and it discharged it. Result was about as strong as me spitting a watermelon seed. Dead as hell! Powder turned solid. No pressure. Gauge still reading OK...solidly in the green. If you're going to have fire extinguishers, have them inspected regularly by a professional.. Mine had probably been dead for a long while and would have been absolutely useless in the event of a fire.

 

[racecougar]

You really ought to flip and tap/shake your ABC extinguishers from time to time.

 

[finn]

Five of the smaller , ie 2.5-5 lb fire extinguishers mounted around the shop. Plus whenever I am welding I keep a spray bottle, milk jug, and one gallon bucket of water, plus a wet rag nearby.

Also wear safety glasses with side shields whenever I am there, along with leather boots. I will probably upgrade to another pair of composite toe safety shoes to replace the pair I just wore out, but the leather boots are at least a step up over running shoes.

Just as important as fire extinguishers is to promptly clean up spills and get rid of flammable rags, and eliminate trip hazards. I also work alone, so I make sure my wife knows when I am at the shop and when I will be using welders, grinders, cutoff wheels, or moving heavy objects.

Fire is only one hazard, and is probably a minor hazard compared to some others in the shop.

 

[Firebrick43]

Realistically? Unless you're ready to drop $1k+ (or you can locate one cheap) on a clean fire extinguisher (Halon & Halotron) you'll want to stick to the standard ABC dry chemical for a single extinguisher. As others have pointed out, it's highly corrosive if you have to use it but for all intents and purposes the idea of a fire extinguisher is to stop the fire from spreading in the structure potentially injuring others.

If you think you (or anyone else who may have to use it) can make a quick decision about identifying a class A versus class B/C fire you can branch out into a 2 fire extinguisher system (water extinguisher + CO2 and/or Purple K).

Amerex is the way to go. All metal construction.

They don't have to be big honkin' ones that cost 1K.

A 5 lbs halotron are 260-280 dollars. Halotron has very high ratings on B and C fires You can have a second cheaper extinguisher if its not enough or your worried about big A fires,

 

[Pexto]

You really ought to flip and tap/shake your ABC extinguishers from time to time.

Thanks for the reminder! I try to do this annually but haven't done it for a while. Flip 'em upside down and tap 'em with a big rubber hammer a few times. Supposedly it keeps the powder from setting up as a solid.

 

[Pexto]

By the way, there was a huge recall on Kidde extinguishers some years back. Kidde will ship you a new extinguisher if you have one of the affected models.

Fire Extinguishers Recall ID Guide | Kidde

In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kidde announced a recall to replace certain fire extinguishers.

www.kidde.com

 

[Zeke]

By the way, there was a huge recall on Kidde extinguishers some years back. Kidde will ship you a new extinguisher if you have one of the affected models.

Fire Extinguishers Recall ID Guide | Kidde

In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kidde announced a recall to replace certain fire extinguishers.

www.kidde.com

Good info. I bet I have some of those. Be nice to have new and you know we procrastinate on that.

 

[BrandonV]

Perfect example of why to stick to an ABC dry chemical. This fire would easily be extinguished with a handheld ABC or Purple K (if you're worried about corrosion).

A handheld Halon/Halotron or CO2 (as seen in the video) does not have enough B:C equivalency to be effective for a large fire. Also would have helped if the guy tried to use it correctly... Spraying at the top w/ a CO2 extinguisher is wasting time. Then he goes to spray the base WAY too close.

 

[GrayFlattop]

In the garage, one 10# ABC dry Chem, three 5# ABC dry Chem, one 10# CO2, two 5# CO2 and one pressurized water. Similar in the house.

 

[Mike65]

@Pexto thanks for posting about the Kidde fire extinguisher recall. I checked their website and checked all of our fire extinguishers. The one in the kitchen was included in the recall. Posted the info on their website on Sunday & by Friday we had a replacement one here. I boxed up the old one to be sent back. Thanks again.

 

[WisJim]

One thing that I learned working in building equipment maintenance was checking fire extinguishers. We did it monthly, and I went around with my rubber mallet and turned over and tapped all the dry powder extinguishers, and still do that at home. I have a CO2 extinguisher in each of the 3 rooms of my garage/shop plus some 2A:10BC in the house. I think I should get a couple more. At my job, we had annual training where we took turns extinguishing a couple of practice fires out in a parking lot by the central shop., which was helpful.
I also have a first aid kit in the shop with regularly updated band aids and adhesive tape.