[200q20v] Re: fire extinguishers/engine compartment fires

[Larry C Leung]

The gaseous extinguishers worked by displacing oxygen fire supporting air
with heavier (hence settling on the fire point) inert (therefore flame
stopping) gas, so it could be sprayed right under a hood until the hood
filled with the inert gas (means alot, since the underhood region is
hardly sealed.). In the passenger compartment, the problem would be not
only suffocating the fire, but suffocating the occupent. BUT, at least
the interior would still be clean and sharp for the next body!

The BIG problem, is that the current heavy inert gases used are ozone
depleting. Don't know if there's a suitable replacement.

LL - NY

On Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:44:25 -0500 Brett Dikeman <brett at cloud9.net>
writes:
>This is more for V8/200q20v owners than anyone else, but Home Depot
>seems to have a good stock of foam fire extinguishers.  These units
>have extremely high ratings for class B(grease/gas/etc) fires and a
>decent class A(wood/paper/etc)...not appropriate for C class
>fires(fine for bose speaker fires, since we're talking low
>voltage/current etc; once the radio is off, power's completely cut to
>them anyway.)
>
>I can't really say how appropriate it would be for an engine
>compartment fire, since I would fathom a guess that the foam has to
>be sprayed directly on whatever is burning; this isn't a "stick in
>the front grille and squeeze" kind of agent.
>
>Problem is, I just can't see how effective a small gaseous unit would
>be either, same with dry chemical.  Any volunteer or pro emergency
>personel or track workers who have actually had experience with
>engine compartment fires and the best agents to use/how to use them
>for the layman?  I've always been told "never, ever open the hood
>unless you want your face melted off."
>
>Brett
>--
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