Automatic Fire Extinguishers - any one use them?

[Guest]

I'm talking about these type of things -

http://www.mfs-fire-extinguishers.co.uk/acatalog/Optimax.html
(scroll down the page a little)

Let me know if any of you safety concious growers out there are using them, or your thoughts on using one to keep your growroom safe from fire.

pb

 

[SuperToker]

sounds like a good idea. i know commercial models that use halon and such are very expensive.

 

[I.M. Boggled]

yes, we do. It's a new generation water based cistern zoned system.

yes, we do. It's a new generation water based cistern zoned system.

We have no fire department to call where I live, so your basically on your own if the house burst into flames.

 

[Rodriguez]

We always have a little red extinguisher on the ready in the house, cant hurt

 

[SuperToker]

we aren't talking about water based systems boggled, those are NOT effective against electrical fires. They only create a larger problem in electrical and chemical fire situations from my knowledge. co2, halon, et cetera is the only option for this situation. Just think about it, do you want regular water sprinklers going off in your grow room? Do you know what that would do to the complex electrical systems used in large scale grows? What about ballasts? ouch.

 

[Guest]

hey guys, thanks for all your input, I reckon I'm gonna get a 1kg automatic extinguisher...

 

[Harry Gypsna]

I wonder if using C02 would work....to smother tha flames because every1 was taght that fire needs three things.....fuel, heat, and oxygen......maybe Co2 based extnguishers are what we need.
nice Pittbull....I have been wonderng about the same sort of things....I just have a normal foam one on hand for now but those automatic ones are a good idea man....

 

[SuperToker]

yes co2 will work fine. you could always just dump a bunch of baking soda on it (vaporizes into co2 @ 150 degree's or so). don't use a foam extinguisher if its the kind that has water with foam in it. pure foam is fine, halon, halcon, co2, and most any other dry agent is good for this type of fire. there are 3 types of sources of fire which are electrical, chemical, and combustible i think. each has a class a b or c. you need the one for electrical. anything you buy will be clearly marked. you could always call a company to install your system before you set up your grow. $$ but safe. with a halon system you wouldn't even have to do anything other than remove the fried equipment and turn your lights back on because it leaves no residue or anything. there are both automatically triggered systems and manually controlled systems that can be perm installed in your spot. i don't think it would be that hard to do yourself either.

 

[Guest]

Good idea. I have to look into it but I've heard that some homeowners insurance co's won't cover any loss if an indoor garden is involved. Off to do some research....

 

[twister]

Halon is great but depending on where you are and how much you can spend puts strict limits on halon. The EU banned halon in 2003 in accords with the 1986 Montreal Protocol on CFCs effecting the ozone layer so if you live in Europe no fire protection company is going to install a halon suppression system for you but there are other "clean agent " systems available. Dry chemical(dry powder in Britain) systems are effective and relatively inexpensive but ABC dry chemical is hard to clean up, mildly corrosive and will stick like a gauze to a hot bulb and hot electrical equipment. Co2 is effective on electrical fires and some flammable liquids but not on wood, paper, carpet because of the re-ignition(smoldering) problem. As with most electrical fires, it sets fire to other things that Co2 by itself is not totally effective and you must ALWAYS de-energize the power when fighting an electrical fire. I have a Halon 1301 system in my room. Also water can be used on an electrical fire BUT only if it is a type called a Water Mist fire extinquisher which uses de-ionized water and a finely atomizing nozzle which does not carry an electrical current. Your best bet is a ABC stored pressure fusible link suppression system.

 

[Guest]

Although this link doesn't provide a ton of information, these automatic extinguishers would work in cabinets as small as 25 cf:

http://www.fireboy-xintex.com/fe241_cg2.htm

It seems this company hasn't gotten web site design down too well, but some of their dealers provide better information than the manufacturer.

Credit for this link goes to Ben TTech from over at OG...

KCC

 

[ben ttech]

ya that was a klunky site!!



say folks, bc and abc dry chemicals extinguishers are the affordable route... if your grow is without paper and wood combustables go with the bc as its a broom clean up afterwords compared to the abc which turns to gunk after exposure to heat.

also, check rv enthusiast places... engine rebuilders, boat supply places. they occasionally have small models for a hundred buckish... designed to mount inside an engine compartment of in a cabinet with a generator...

some are really small and slick!

peace