Fire fighting, is this as good as it appears?

[ajlelectronics]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Aut...ng-Wle59HmPRlNKFPg7TGoTSOZg7PEXjbSKXE0C77oXM4

Mini Automatic Fire Extinguisher/ Suppression Ball

 

[ukracer]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Automatic-Fire-Extinguisher-Suppression-Ball-auto-high-risk-secluded-areas/222773142988?hash=item33de5065cc:g:agIAAOSw-3FZB2fF:rk:8f:0&fbclid=IwAR2L87AWMOrTedng-Wle59HmPRlNKFPg7TGoTSOZg7PEXjbSKXE0C77oXM4

Mini Automatic Fire Extinguisher/ Suppression Ball

They do seem quite reasonable for small areas. I am looking at them for protecting my 3D printing area.

I first saw them 10 years ago where they were marketing at room fires. They were mega expensive and the jury was out if we could use them effectively instead of our traditional methods.

I have always been wary of things that can do damage when there is no fire like sprinklers and inert flood systems. I have never liked dry powder as it can cause more damage than a correctly extinguished small fire BUT there is a balance.
Anything has to be better than than a gutted house or garage.

They work well in a fire pit or contained fire but i remain sceptical if they are the best way to tackle a room fire.

 

[ukracer]

I think this shows what i am trying to say.

video

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Not BAFE approved. I would not go near them.
Stick with a decent fire rcextinguish.

 

[Robbie260]

We use hifog now on the ship 300bar water through a very fine nozzle to create a water mist its electrically safe, not got the problems of dcp and dosent kill people unlike co2 and halon which they have band now. Its brilliant but costly i think there is lower pressure systems for shore side which are less expensive that operate at 100 bar or less. They are far more expensive than sprinklers but so much more effective. We had a diesel generator go on fire it was out before we could get up the stairs to look at it as the system came on automatically as soon as it senses smoke or excessive light.

Could see if you could get a nozzel and a 12v pump that made that pressure as its a very low volume system.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

dosent kill people unlike co2 and halon which they have band now

Halon is not 100% banned. Certain industries and the MOD still uses it. but is being phased out. Normally removed during up grades or by end of life disposal.

CO2 suppression is still being used, but it is now becoming less of an automatic system to a delayed operation. To give a chance for people to get out.

As to electricity safe. Yes it will trip the breakers, but the mist is fine enough not carry a full charge
It is fun to watch when a water mist system makes it own lightening.

The best defence to fire is to prevent, detect early and get out.

Buildings can be replaced, you can not be. Cloning of humans is frowned on.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@ukracer
Get yourself a 2kg ABC powder extinguisher.

 

[fizzy]

They have made fire grenades since the 1800s - not much new out there!

 

[addjunkie]

We use hifog now on the ship 300bar water through a very fine nozzle to create a water mist its electrically safe, not got the problems of dcp and dosent kill people unlike co2 and halon which they have band now. Its brilliant but costly i think there is lower pressure systems for shore side which are less expensive that operate at 100 bar or less. They are far more expensive than sprinklers but so much more effective. We had a diesel generator go on fire it was out before we could get up the stairs to look at it as the system came on automatically as soon as it senses smoke or excessive light.

Could see if you could get a nozzel and a 12v pump that made that pressure as its a very low volume system.

Hi fog is interesting, have seen it in action my self a couple of times. The "water mist" inside a gas turbine enclosure is not mist at all, as we used a go pro to observe a test firing.

Any water based system is safe on electrics providing your protection systems work, AFFF is the go to foam, though in some circumstances a FFFP AR is used as it has a longer burn back time, for some spill scenarios.

Marine co2 systems are fully manual, normally a minimum of 3 actions to fire them, the warning siren goes st the first action, which is open the activation cabinet door. It is a class requirment.

In dustrial co2 is automatic, but the system is disabled normally by a castel locking system before entry, control of work should also manually disable for example insert pins to drop weight actuators or disconnect the cylinder metron actuator.

The mod still use halon1211 for explosion supression.

There is a company in the uk makes a small low cost water system to be fixed in rooms for example high rise buildings.

About 3 years sgo I worked with one of the process engineers who was getting it approved and was trying to market it. Its not much more than a pop bottle of water under pressure, the cap melts and a water mist is sprayed cooling a room allowing occupants more time to escape.

I must admit I have 2 dry powders, two foams and two co2 .

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Not BAFE approved. I would not go near them.
Stick with a decent fire rcextinguish.

But that needs someone to notice the fire and trigger the extinguisher.
The ball is a fit and forget and at £24.99 looks good value.

 

[Pete.]

They have made fire grenades since the 1800s - not much new out there!

Carbon tet? Better than burning to death but pretty damn toxic AFAIK.

 

[fizzy]

But that needs someone to notice the fire and trigger the extinguisher.
The ball is a fit and forget and at £24.99 looks good value.

Certainly worth a try - certainly better than nothing.
Perhaps I am paranoid but I keep packs of bottled water on top of my tumble drier!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

The ball is a fit and forget

There is the issue. it gets forgotten.
Not maintained.

Fire equipment is inspected at least once a year.

I know that good units will work if forgotten. I recently did extinguisher what was last serviced in 1979. It would of worked.
That is because it was built to an approved standard.
That unit is not built to any regulations suitable for the UK.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@addjunkie
Marine fire regulations are very different to land stuff.
Better, but different.

 

[addjunkie]

@addjunkie
Marine fire regulations are very different to land stuff.
Better, but different.

I know, between going to sea and working offshore, I used to be the Marine Man for a large house hold name in Fire Engineering. One big advantage of the marine stuff, is they have to comply to multiple standards, for multiple countries, though all very similar. So unless specifically requested systems are designed to the highest, as its common for ships to re flag, and reclassify when owners or charters change.

Land stuff is also quite strict, but the engineered stuff isnt so perscriptive, or wasnt. I used to also get involved in industrial and petrochemical stuff too. It was all quite varied and interesting, but was a long time ago.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@addjunkie
I make a penny or 2 from the fire industry.

 

[Robbie260]

Yes you are right they havent banned co2 (my bad wording) we have it onboard as well have to for the engine room and cargo holds. The RFA is the only merchant vessels still allowed to use halon all the rest of us the phase out date was end of 2010 if i rember though i suspect a few other compaines will have gotten exemption to. And yeah but if the co2 is going to be activated and you are still in there you are pretty much dead anyway as the alarm only rings for a minuet before release as the other 2 of the 3 interlocks only take seconds to activate and that isnt enough time on most ships to get out from some places in the cargo hold or engine room.

The garanade thing looks interesting.

 

[brightspark]

But that needs someone to notice the fire and trigger the extinguisher.
The ball is a fit and forget and at £24.99 looks good value.

it don't look bad if your not there and can complement a hand held unit

 

[ukracer]

@ukracer
Get yourself a 2kg ABC powder extinguisher.

But how is that going to help??

 

[fizzy]

https://www.safelincs.co.uk/small-automatic-powder-fire-extinguisher/

Why not get an auto extinguisher? These are cheap! About £30.