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RE: Fire extinguishers for LBC

To: "'Randall'" <randallyoung@earthlink.net>
Subject: RE: Fire extinguishers for LBC
From: Ed Quinn <equinn@airtreatment.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 07:06:26 -0700
Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net
I believe you can get Halon fire extinguishers at K-Mart fairly
inexpensively, at least they definitely had them about 5 years ago, when I
was looking for several for my house/garage etc.  Whether or not you need a
certain size for racing I do not know.  I have a small halon for the car (a
sample unit from a fire safety supply house).. also be aware that Halon is a
gas, much like the CO2 units and will disperse also, then any combustible
will ignite again if given a source.  Halon is heavier than air and
displaces the oxygen to prevent fire, but you can't breathe if immersed in
the gas.  I think it was outlawed in Europe as people died from suffocation
when the halon system in their building went off.  Check the local Kmart and
see if they still have them, you may be surprised.

Ed


-----Original Message-----
From: Randall [mailto:randallyoung@earthlink.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 11:42 AM
Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Fire extinguishers for LBC


Jerry :

Check with any racer's supply house (Summit, Jeg's, Pegasus, etc.) for a
handheld Halon fire extinguisher.  They are not cheap (last year's
Pegasus catalog has a 2.5 pound unit for $125) but Halon is AFAIK by far
the best in terms of fire fighting ability with little or no damage. 
Also more effective per pound than CO2.

CO2 extinguishers are also not good at putting out Class A fires, like
upholstery and wooden dashes.  The CO2 disperses almost immediately, so
any smoulder will blaze back up, and possibly reignite a fuel spill.

I learned the hard way of an important shortcoming of the chemical
types.  They have to be upright to work, any attempt to use the unit
while horizontal will instantly ruin it.  The only car fire I've ever
had, I wound up putting out with a garden hose.

Randall

Gerald Van Vlack wrote:
> 
> Hello List
> What's the collective wisdom on types and availability of a small fire
> extinguisher for carrying in the LBC or any car? I would like to purchase
> one but would like to get one that does not leave the residue if ever
needed
> to be used. Halon is not readily available in portable containers unless
> it's for use on aircraft so my research shows. Carbon Dioxide types seem
to
> be the right choice. Any opinions ;-), as if I need to ask, and is there a
> preferred supplier?

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