GC8

Or perhaps youve just set a lot of them off..... Im trying to establish whether conventional full sized dry powder and AFFF (blue and cream flashings respectively) extinguishers will operate correctly if they are laid horizontally? I need to know whether theyll discharge fully and consistantly please.

Any information would be appreciated.

DCI Gene Hunt

Yes as they are pressurised .......... now can we ask why?

GC8

Gene, I appreciate you contribution, I really do: I but I was hoping for something a little more compelling. An aerosol is pressurised, but they only work in one position, dont they?

DCI Gene Hunt

Goes to test aerosol release......

DCI Gene Hunt

*cough*

Nope... I'm now choking on Hugo Boss..... it sprays in all variants

*cough*

Alan-G

Heavy curry last night, going to test a*$ehole release - imminently ...

DCI Gene Hunt

Alan-G

GC8

It doesnt though, thats why Im asking..... Im particularly interested in the AFFF extinguishers as they discharge for an extended period and you benefit from cooling too. I have to mount them horizontally though.

DCI Gene Hunt

For a car then?.... if so the trouble with AFFF (foam) is that it needs to lay a blanket to suffocate the chemical reaction (fire) from air.... releasing under a car bonnet won't provide a blanket effect and will probably reignite.... or did you mean CO2??

GC8

I meant AFFF. Its commonly used for plumbed in cars extinguishers and I prefer it to powder (for the extended discharge and the cooling. as mentioned). You mount the nozzles at opposite corners: one on crossmember/slam panel and one on the bulkhead. They should cover all of the engine bay when they discharge.

The cooling effect is nothing like CO2 of course, but its way better than dry powder.

Chelspeed

Liquid extinguishers like AFFF designed for use in a car have a flexible dip tube inside with a weight on the end. This means that whichever way up the car is (an upside down car is probbably more likely to need an extinguisher....) the dip tube will fall to the bottom and pick up the liquid rather than just the propellant.

Mind you for all the good AFFF is you may as well just try and blow the flames out. Find an old BCF extinguisher and tuck it away somewhere, not good for the environment perhaps but **** hot at putting fires out.

GC8

Appreciated.

P1SWRT

iTrader: (2)

Lifeline in Coventry can answer this for you
Very helpful mob - 024 7671 2999

HTH
Rob

GC8

Im trying to avoid a Lifeline system though! I cant find a manual system with a great enough capacity and Im happy to trade a few kilos for a much larger discharge...

Thanks though Rob.

P1SWRT

iTrader: (2)

GC8

Just how big a system are you after! - I set off the my 4 litre AFFF system in the rally car by accident - plenty of foam in the footwells (handy to stop your feet burning) and under the bonnet. I guess it would have done the job if there had been a real fire

Useful point that the nozzles of a plumbed in system only spray into the immediate area of the nozzle - when we blew the engine up the oil dripped onto the exhaust headers heat wrap and started a small fire. the plumbed in system would have been useless as the nozzles are at the bulkhead. The hand held extinguishers proved there worth and could be aimed directly at the fire.

Car was saved

GC8

Cost and discharge time are both factors. Id like either 6 or 9 litres (probably 6l) for this very reason. You should have the second engine bay nozzle (assuming two under the bonnet and one on the drivers footwell) diagonally opposite the first on the slam panel, but this wouldnt have made any difference with your manifold. As you are aware, every extra nozzle reduces the discharge time and it reduces the effectiveness of the others unless the volume is increased. Thats why Ive been looking at using seperate components and an adapted large bottle. The fixed dip tube is going to stop me though...

Simon

P1SWRT

iTrader: (2)

Simon
If you need a bigger set up why not use two 4.0l systems with 2 nozzles per system? - What form of motorsport are you doing?

GC8

Cost mostly: Im trying to get better for less. Im building a hillclimb and track day car out of an old no sunroof 944.