Best fire extinguisher for garage?

[Turbo]

There is a plumbed in system used in modern works rally cars that uses a gas to suppress a fire. It is supposed to be as good as halon but it is environmentally friendly. Downside is that it is very expensive and I'm not sure if you can get it in a handheld version.

 

[Turbo]

It appears there are handheld versions.

https://www.msar.co.uk/motorsport-h...3m-novec-1230-gas-hand-held-extinguisher.html

But it's over £400 for a 2kg unit!!!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I have a nu swift Halon .
Halon is banned now but I believe the RAF still use it as it works .
As has been mentioned CO2 or foam .
Powder is the last resort as it makes such a mess but is very effective .
A old fashioned bucket of sand works well .
Fire blankets have there use as well .

Halon is no longer used anywhere.

Buy fire extinguishers from a fire extinguisher supplier not screw fix…far cheaper.

Nowt wrong with screwfix units.

 

[oldbikedavey]

CO2 extinguishers are my go-to source of considerable chilliness when doing interference fit work.
Seldom short on the things .....

 

[waddycall]

I got one of these for shrinking stuff. Works a treat -

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I got one of these for shrinking stuff. Works a treat -
View attachment 509067

That is a refurb unit.
Not all of them are the same.
we never use used refurb units.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I'm considering to buy several 2kg Co2 extinguishers, but would appreciate a recommendation as to a reputable Supplier to purchase from ?
I see various prices on the internet, ( that well known auction site ) but not sure about who in the zoo would be most trustworthy.

I got one of these for shrinking stuff. Works a treat -
View attachment 509067

The above was one of the vendors I was considering.

That is a refurb unit.
Not all of them are the same.
we never use used refurb units.

That answers my question. Buy new.

 

[Mick Annick]

These people do the same 2kg Co2 extinguisher as Screwfix but a good bit cheaper:

https://www.thesafetycentre.co.uk/f...isher-2kg-fxc2-supply-with-80-x-200mm-id-sign

FireChief CTX CO2 Fire Extinguisher

Product | FireChief CO2 Fire Extinguisher Steel Overview The Firechief CTX Steel CO2 Fire Extinguisher is used for situations involving flammable liquids and electrical hazards. This CO2 is one of the best-selling and more affordable extinguishers in the FireChief CTX range and the CO2...

www.fireprotectionshop.co.uk

There are four different versions of this extinguisher - you’d need an expert (if only we knew one @The_Yellow_Ardvark ) to explain the differences.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

At work, in a ten storey building 40+ years ago, one of the jobs we had to do was check fire fighting equipment. The hose reels were clogged up with rusty silt and some of the water extinguishers had lost their pressure so inoperative. This was a government department where the building had "Crown Immunity" so checks hadn't been done for many years ! Needless to say changes were implemented

 

[JOEPRO]

At work, in a ten storey building 40+ years ago, one of the jobs we had to do was check fire fighting equipment. The hose reels were clogged up with rusty silt and some of the water extinguishers had lost their pressure so inoperative. This was a government department where the building had "Crown Immunity" so checks hadn't been done for many years ! Needless to say changes were implemented

I was employed to do Liquor Licensing for a new cafe / conference refit in an existing council building. Large historic premises but modern refit inside most of it for years prior. Liquor licensing in NI means court appearances and I was expert witness to present their building fot for purpose.

As it turned out, they were not maintainig their own fire systems and fire drill log books etc! It was all a bit of a mess so they had to come up with "records" quickly.

 

[Islander71]

The owner who used to run the local hotel told me of a time they had a bad fire in the kitchen, he grabbed a Co2 beer keg bottle opened the valve wide, threw it into the kitchen and shut the door. Said it was very effective! Might be an option of last resort if things get out of control.

 

[ukracer]

At work, in a ten storey building 40+ years ago, one of the jobs we had to do was check fire fighting equipment. The hose reels were clogged up with rusty silt and some of the water extinguishers had lost their pressure so inoperative. This was a government department where the building had "Crown Immunity" so checks hadn't been done for many years ! Needless to say changes were implemented

We stopped many many years before I retired doing section 9a and Hi rise inspections officially.
As a watch we continued doing familiarisation visits but with no legal power to get things fixed. Thats progress for you)

 

[addjunkie]

The owner who used to run the local hotel told me of a time they had a bad fire in the kitchen, he grabbed a Co2 beer keg bottle opened the valve wide, threw it into the kitchen and shut the door. Said it was very effective! Might be an option of last resort if things get out of control.

That would work providing the volume of co2 was in xs of 43% by volume, for a fairly well sealed space. There are calculations for extra co2 for leakage areas, but it was 30 years ago and I cant remember them, was all part of BS5306 pt4 if my memory serves me correctly.

 

[Bsmith]

You need a few but it depends on what your setting fire to.
Electrical - co2, oil - foam, wood - water.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

You need a few but it depends on what your setting fire to.
Electrical - co2, oil - foam, wood - water.

You need what the risk assessment tells you.
1 x 13A unit will cover 200m2

 

[addjunkie]

You need what the risk assessment tells you.
1 x 13A unit will cover 200m2

I concur, but over kill is better than under kill and a pile of ashes. Having witnessed extinguisher testing at the old Chubb Ferndale site, its actually quite impressive what a water extinguisher will put out.

Im a big fan of 1%AFFF un aspirated through a Macron branch, or a twin agent skid (powder and foam), but neither is really suitable for the home workshop.

 

[ukracer]

You need what the risk assessment tells you.
1 x 13A unit will cover 200m2

I can understand that but I have yet to see a 2 litre bottle of Aldi Xzero coke specified.

I put a fire out in a remote location which was a saddle battery pack in the boot of my Renault 25.. Touch and go for a few seconds till I rememberd my coke.
My sone remembered this and 2 years later at an RC meeting some guys set something in fire in they awning attached to their van. Quick as a flash he ran and grabbed a bottle of coke and copied what I had done. After that the BRCA added risk assesments to their venues for racemeetings. This included Fire extinguishers.

5 years later the dip stick whos van we saved banned me from a racemeeting for things that were alleged and never proven(As I never did them) but hey it helped us retire from a sport we loved at the time but my son was into fast cars and girls. I could not afford to race now

 

[oldbikedavey]

That is a refurb unit.
Not all of them are the same.
we never use used refurb units.

I'll bet it worked though....

 

[Smallfry]

Halon was the best. I still have one in the garage, and a couple of dry powder ones.

I imagine argosheild would be quite effective.

 

[Mick Annick]

I concur, but over kill is better than under kill and a pile of ashes. Having witnessed extinguisher testing at the old Chubb Ferndale site, its actually quite impressive what a water extinguisher will put out.

Im a big fan of 1%AFFF un aspirated through a Macron branch, or a twin agent skid (powder and foam), but neither is really suitable for the home workshop.

Dad used to go there a fair bit in the 70’s, he was a Director for Pyrene and then Chubb. I worked at the Feltham factory the summer after I left school.