fire extinguisher

[Maker]

The Military still use Halon

I think the channel tunnel does as well.

This is the other option.

Apparently you can drown in it.

 

[brightspark]

I think the channel tunnel does as well.

This is the other option.

Apparently you can drown in it.

just make sure your not a dwarf or trip up on your way out

 

[Parm]

A

The Military still use Halon

lso widely used on commercial planes

 

[daleyd]

The Military still use Halon

Royal Navy ships had halon drench systems for engine rooms, as far as I know they still use them.

 

[Maker]

Royal Navy ships had halon drench systems for engine rooms, as far as I know they still use them.

Wouldn't that stop the engines running as well as putting out the fire?

 

[Robotstar5]

We had automatic Halon extinguishers on the conveyor control panels in the roof at Longbridge, but replaced the Halon for CO2 in the substations & switchrooms, you just made sure they were locked out before entering!.

 

[bongo neil]

thanks for all the replies,
co2 it is then,
cheers,
neil

 

[Maker]

I seem to remember hearing about someone who set up a CO2 welding tank upside down on a trolley with a hose to use as a fire extinguisher. Anyone heard of this? It doesn't sound too safe.

 

[daleyd]

Wouldn't that stop the engines running as well as putting out the fire?

Halon was always a last resort, generally they would try and fight the fire with more conventional methods if possible eg AFFF etc but making a re entry into a machinery space down hatches and vertical ladders is not easy!

I've never seen it used in anger but the main engines (Gas turbines) and auxillary machinery (Generators) had intakes from outside so I wouldn't have thought it would stop them. There were 3 separate main machinery spaces (Gas turbines, and 2 aux machinery spaces), so there was some redundancy anyway.

 

[garethp]

I seem to remember hearing about someone who set up a CO2 welding tank upside down on a trolley with a hose to use as a fire extinguisher. Anyone heard of this? It doesn't sound too safe.

Sounds safe enough, the only difference between using a co2 for welding and fire fighting is the rate at which you use the gas, extinguishers also have a dip tube to draw liquid co2 so you get more gas much quicker than drawing just the gas from the bottle.

Down side using one tank for both is Sod's law says you'll use most of the gas for welding and when you have a fire the tank is nearly empty..

 

[Bill Edwards]

It won't be the same cylinder used for both!

Turning it upside down should mean that you draw off the liquid, not gas. This would make it no use for welding.
Also, the regulator that is needed for welding would make it useless in a fire as you'd have to remove it first to get the gas out at a useable rate.

I think that a ball valve and a suitable length of hose (suitably insulated, it'll get cold to hold onto) with an upturned cylinder is probably a very cheap extinguisher and much larger than most ordinary ones - it might then give enough out to actually put out all the fire!

 

[Maker]

It won't be the same cylinder used for both!

Turning it upside down should mean that you draw off the liquid, not gas. This would make it no use for welding.
Also, the regulator that is needed for welding would make it useless in a fire as you'd have to remove it first to get the gas out at a useable rate.

I think that a ball valve and a suitable length of hose (suitably insulated, it'll get cold to hold onto) with an upturned cylinder is probably a very cheap extinguisher and much larger than most ordinary ones - it might then give enough out to actually put out all the fire!

That's what I meant, Though I can't imagine a normal ball valve would stand up to nearly 600 psi. I don't know the weight of a welding CO2 tank but a 20kg extinguisher is £580. You could get the same effect using the volkzone deal for less than a quarter of that.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Finally found a use for 'pub' bottles of CO2!

Wouldn't opt for one for welding but as a cheap extinguisher...


I'm sure it isn't too hard to get valves that'll take the required pressure. My thoughts are just that you wouldn't want to have anything that took too much time to undo.

 

[brightspark]

Finally found a use for 'pub' bottles of CO2!

Wouldn't opt for one for welding but as a cheap extinguisher...


I'm sure it isn't too hard to get valves that'll take the required pressure. My thoughts are just that you wouldn't want to have anything that took too much time to undo.

heres a good browse for gear http://www.dualpumps.co.uk/groups/HPBALLVL__High_Pressure_Ball_Valves# might be worth adding to the supply lists on forum

 

[Bill Edwards]

Sorted, cheap extinguishers available with just a length of hose to add on and the right fittings!

Not that I need one, I'm a real man. Just pick up the burning item and carry it out to where it'll do no harm, or to the hosepipe.

Or run hell!

 

[Robotstar5]

Not that I need one, I'm a real man. Just pick up the burning item and carry it out to where it'll do no harm, or to the hosepipe.

I saw a brave (or stupid) bloke drive a burning fork lift truck out of a building to stop it setting fire to the place.

 

[Maker]

I saw a brave (or stupid) bloke drive a burning fork lift truck out of a building to stop it setting fire to the place.

Sadly, you cant drive a washing machine out of a building.

 

[mr migwire]

i love the fact you stopped to take a pic before fighting the fire...

 

[dunk]

Sadly, you cant drive a washing machine out of a building.
View attachment 47646

is that what is called a boil wash

 

[MattF]

There's some slight amount of irony when you see something which is permanently connected to a water pipe, in flames.