[Spridgets] fire extinguisher?

[Guy R Day]

Fire Brigade standing orders are to open them on a weekly basis and 
physically stir the powder to ensure free flow.

The vibration in a vehicle does pack dry powder down and in previous 
scrutineering safety talks I've set one off, then stripped it down and it 
will typically show around 50 to 70% of the powder unused and compacted 
inside the bottom of the container.  In many motor-sport arenas vehicle 
mounted dry powder extinguishers are prohibited.  You WILL need to loosen 
dry powder up FAR MORE often than 'every few months'. At least weekly if all 
you are going to do is give it an external shake and bang.  One thing to try 
is to unscrew the top and remove it and the attached gas cylinder, put them 
to one side and pour the contents of the extinguisher into a large jug. 
Then look in the fire extinguisher and you'll see how much is left behind! 
Chip that loose and stir it up with a stick then pour that out into the jug 
as well, stir again.  If you can, get a plastic pipe around the same 
diameter as the gas cylinder (plastic waste water pipe, broom handle?), hold 
that vertically in the centre of the container and pour the powder back in 
around it.  Carefully lift the pipe out and that will leave a hole to slide 
the gas cylinder and top back in, screw it up and you have a dry powder 
extinguisher without a compacted core where problems can start.

BCF is no longer used in UK but it was good stuff for fires, bad for lungs 
and the atmosphere.  Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam (AFFF) has turned into the 
standard choice.

If something is on fire you need to be able to get to the fire extinguisher 
quickly  - as Kent correctly says - and you don't want it 
clamped/bolted/clipped in that well you can't get it out!

Guy R Day

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CosmicMag1380" <cosmicmag1380 at gmail.com>
To: <ryan.kubanoff at comcast.net>
Cc: "Spridgets" <spridgets at autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 5:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] fire extinguisher?


> On Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 7:36 PM, <ryan.kubanoff at comcast.net> wrote:
> I am now VERY interested in fire protection.B   What are you using and 
> where
> do you store it?
>
> Ryan,
>
> A dry chemical extinguisher (standard ABC) should give you piece of mind.
> Spend a couple of dollars more and get the kind with a pressure gauge on 
> the
> neck. That way you will know if it is good at a glance. Also, every few
> months take it and turn it upside down, sideways, etc., and tap it with
> something heavy to prevent the powder from caking up. Mount it where you 
> can
> get to it from the driver's seat!
>
> Kent
> 1960 Bugeye
> 1967 Sprite - following in the 73's footsteps to the boneyard...