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Plumbed Fire Extinguishers

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:03 pm
by MK1_Oz
I was about to order a 4lt plumbed in fire extinguisher but then noticed that it is cheaper to purchase 2 x 2.25lt plumbed systems. In an ideal world i would like the engine compartment, crew and boot/fuel tank covered.

Other than having 2 extinguisher pull handles outside and inside (these could poss be connected) are there any other reasons why 2 smaller extinguishers would not be better than one larger one?

Cons
weight
regulations (never read that this isn't possible)
dual pull handles = confusion

Pros
more nozzles (4 vs 2) giving better area coverage
slightly increased powder/foam volume

Thoughts?

PS - it will make the car go faster cos I will feel safer :D

Re: Plumbed Fire Extinguishers

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 9:25 pm
by Mk2RS+R32
Not sure about the regs of racing but I'll give you an ananology. In the aircraft I fly we have multiple safety related devices. Amongst these are numerous fire detection and suppression systems. In the fwd and aft cargo holds for example we have two bottles. One small immediate high intensity release for both holds that is meant to stop the initial raging inferno and one large bottle for slow release over 60mins to prevent any further spread. Each engine has two bottles. One to put out a fire, the second a backup in case the first doesn't work.

I suppose if you wanted you could use one extinguisher for the engine bay and the other for everything else or you could use one bottle for everything, and then if that doesn't work you could fire the other. All this assuming it's allowed in the regs.

Food for thought anyway. Cheers :grin:

Re: Plumbed Fire Extinguishers

PostPosted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:46 pm
by bmw02rally
In my experience and what I've seen going on in rallies all over the world these new greenhouse gas friendly fire systems won't put a match out in a hurricane so i would concentrate on the minimum requirement for the rules then carry a good BCF bottle ready in the car to save your ass or car when the @#$% really hits the fan........

just my opinion mind.