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What Do You All Do for Fire Extinguishers?

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MartyO

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Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Messages
1,310
Location
N.W. Georgia
Well last night, I met with a local guy who services fire extinguishers and we go to talking about cars (I showed up in my '65 Falcon wagon). He took great care of me and this weekend I will be placing extinguishers everywhere in the shop.

Some things happen for a reason. I made a new friend from a small fire and now i am much better equipped.
 
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darkk

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Joined
Dec 24, 2009
Messages
3,361
Location
Willimantic, Ct.
I have two exit doors and a fire extinguisher at each.....hope I never ever have to use either one. I seen garage fires, it ain't purdy.....:willy_nil
 

fireguy

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Joined
May 25, 2008
Messages
530
Halon is available, in new and used FX. I just sold a used 5 # Halon this week that is still in the pressure test time frame. There are other clean agents, but they do not have the fire rating of Halon and are much more expensive.

At about 150°F, ammonium phosphate melts, occluding the oxygen from the fire. The ABC chemical also interrups the chemical reaction.

Kiddie FX do not compare with Amerex, Ansul or Badger. You get what you pay for. I have seen up to 50 % of new Kidde plastic valve fx that have lost pressure. We have a special place for the Kidde brand, in the scrap metal trailer.

An ABC fx is a good choice for most applications. We can install a water type, a BC or PK dry chem, and a CO2, covering the major fire types and hope the user can remember which FX to use on which fire or install one ABC and protect the same hazards.

A CO2 is not a ggod choice for flammable liqueds. The CO2 is boiled off immediatly. A Halon or anyother vaporizing liqued has the same problem, it boils away. A dry chem forms a foam, occluding the oxygen from the fire.

Special fires call for special extinguishers. If you have a possibility of magnesum fires, water is a poor choice, the intense heat will separate the O2 from the water and increse the size and violence of the flame. I still remember a chainsaw that was involved in a house fire. I hit it w/water and the result was impressive. After the fire was contrelled, the magnisium was still burning. It was on dirt, haveing burned through the wooden floor.
 

Brad54

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Joined
Jun 13, 2006
Messages
4,646
Special fires call for special extinguishers. If you have a possibility of magnesum fires, water is a poor choice, the intense heat will separate the O2 from the water and increse the size and violence of the flame. I still remember a chainsaw that was involved in a house fire. I hit it w/water and the result was impressive. After the fire was contrelled, the magnisium was still burning. It was on dirt, haveing burned through the wooden floor.

So you're saying my thermite stash could pose a problem if my garage ever catches fire? :D

-Brad
 

Man Cave

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Joined
Oct 29, 2009
Messages
94
Location
southern Indiana
Great thread, I'm learning from all the posts. I have one medium size abc in my shop and none in my home. I always brief anyone in my shop where the extinguisher is and glad it's never been needed yet. The overhead bottles interest me, where are they available? My shop is seperate from my home, 30x50.
 
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mslisaj

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Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Messages
251
Location
Klamath Falls, Oregon
I was raised fire prevention crazy by my father. He had a business before he was married and it burned to the ground. He lost everything. So he preached fire prevention to us all the time. Consequently in our shop we have four 4A10BC fire extinguishers on the wall, Two CO2's sitting close to the stalls and a 35 Pound Halon there also. In the house I have a 4A10BC fire extinguisher by the two entrances to the house. In the kitchen I have two Halon units and in the master bedroom I have another 4A10BC.

About 20 years ago I did have a fire. We work on our cars and we get complacent with gasoline. I was changing a fuel pump on this Chevy pickup. As usual I removed the supply line and fuel started running out. I went to the bench to get a bolt to shove in the hose but it wasn't big enough so I returned to the bench for a bigger bolt. Probably had a good pint of fuel on the floor. Long story short after putting everything back together and installing a plastic fuel filter on the suction line of the pump I wanted to bend the fuel line a little so the filter was hanging clear in the air instead of resting against the frame edge. I accidentally touched the positive post of the starter motor and the resulting sparks fell in the gas under the truck. I had more fire faster then I have ever seen before. In fact it quickly burned off the plastic fuel filter. I grabbed the 40 pound CO2 and exhausted the entire contents of this bottle on the fire and it didn't even dent it. By this time I had flames breathing into the wooden rafters of the building. I spun around and grabbed the ABC off the wall and one burst put that fire completely out. But that was very scary and taught me a HUGE lesson. In my opinion you CAN NOT have too many fire extinguishers around and I have my share.................And learned my lesson on handling gasoline.

Lisa
 

Drift_G35

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Joined
Oct 27, 2010
Messages
71
My best friend works at a Fire Alarm company locally and gets me extinguishers all the time. I have one at each corner of my garage a few in the house, and a pile of extras in the corner of the garage. I have a couple 20 pounders. In all honesty, if, lets say, I wasnt around and my girlfriend caught the garage on fire, I dont think she would be able to pull one of the 20lb extinguishers off the mount. I should probably change those out with 10 pounders.
 

GTO

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Joined
May 8, 2009
Messages
3,927
Location
NJ,FL
Dry ABC Chemical Fire Extinguishers are very corrosive,if you (god forbid)have to use it on a car fire,plan on replacing all electrical wires.
I have 4 10lb. Amerex's along with a Amerex #240 with 2.5 gal. of H20 in it.
Amerex makes Halotron(HCFC)Extinguishers,which is less expensive than Halon.
 

NoSloCoupes

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Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Messages
196
Location
IL
Wheres a good place online to order some extinguishers? I've got a few that need serviced, but nobody here locally does it. I'll have to do a little driving for that.

So, which to get for car fires....the halon or CO2? Some said halon is no longer available and some say it is? I do not want a mess thats for sure.
 

GTO

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2009
Messages
3,927
Location
NJ,FL
Wheres a good place online to order some extinguishers? I've got a few that need serviced, but nobody here locally does it. I'll have to do a little driving for that.

So, which to get for car fires....the halon or CO2? Some said halon is no longer available and some say it is? I do not want a mess thats for sure.

Halon is still available.It's gotten too expensive.
Amerex sells a Halotron Extinguisher in 1.4lb all the way up to 15.5lb.
Chrome is available for the car too.

See post #48

www.amerex-fire.com
 
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