Fire Extinguisher Installation

J

journeyon1

New member
Does anybody have a comment on installing a fire extinguisher in a horizontal position? I want to put the extinguisher by the back door, and horizontally, over the door is the only place it would fit. Note that this is a C-25.

Any suggestions?

Boris
 
Boris, typically, they are installed upright, primarily because the dry powder in an all purpose extinguisher tends to cake up and could clog/block the discharge. I would think if you remove it frequently and give it a good shake, a horizontal stowage should work just fine.

I'm not sure how a USCG inspection would view it though. I think they just want them there and the mounting may not be part of their checklist. Any USCG Aux current inspectors want to comment?

Charlie
 
There should be enough room to install one vertically between the door and port aft window, or on the inside bulkhead of the head aft. See my installation in the Thataway Album (on page 11, #47 photo)--mag light right below the fire extinguisher. (this is a TC 255, but the room in the 25 looks to be about the same. If necessary you can make a starboard block to bring it 1/2" off the surface for better clearance. I am not sure I would mount in horizonatlly above the dooor.
 
Why not just use the existing screw from the window frame as in my album? Vertical is best according to my fire extinguisher servicing company at work. Also shake or pound with a rubber hammer every season to loosen things up.
 
Hi Boris,
I carry 3 fire extinguishers at this time on Sea Angel (CD25). Similar to THATAWAY, my first is placed to the port side of the door as pictured in my pix album, page 2 of 3, pix #34, centered by the window frame, and with the supplied hardware, screwed into the bulkhead between the window and door frames..

The second is on the head bulkhead, outside forward, toward the keel line, above Wallas/Galley cabinet, centered with the inside head window.

The third is presently not mounted, but plan to place it near the helm, outside of the V-berth, on one of the bulkheads. All extinguishers are 2# units.

These three positions should give me immediate access to cover a galley or electrical fire inside and out. I choose to have my extinguishers mounted upright for two primary reasons. First is the speed of having my hands and extinguisher in the proper position when I grab it. Second is the possibility of having some of the soda/agent clog the discharge port if stored horizontally. And, yes do shake them several times a year - I try to do this at time changes, around July 4th and News Years. By setting a schedule like this I am sure to get it right at least a couple times a year; like changing the smoke alarm batteries. I also note this in my log book and 'things-to-do' note book.
 
Horizontal instillation shouldn't alter the extinguisher performance. However the brackets are usually engineered for vertical mounting.
Ask yourself if the bracket will hold under a repeated jarring shock. :crook Do Mount it near an exit.

Keep in mind all a portable extinguisher does is keeps small fires small. :(

I have been on a couple boats that were burning with me in it. :shock: Each were a result of poor wiring. Keep your electrical stuff tip top and prevent the most common cause of small boat fires.

Breakers and fuses are good.

Chris Bulovsky
 
Boris, I used to service fire extinguishers for a living. :sad I presume that you are using a standard good quality (not Kidde) dry chemical extinguisher w/ a pressure gauge. If you are, the mounting position will not matter. :thup

All stored pressure extinguishers have a tube that goes to the bottom of the inside of the unit. The dry chemical inside of any unit will pack with gravity and pounding (like making way through waves). When the extinguisher is mounted vertically, the chemical will pack to the bottom. When mounted horizontally, the chemical will pack on the side. When mounted vertically and the chemical is packed, the stored pressure will have to overcome all of that upon initial activation. Even when packed, the chemical will discharge evenly and without incident, unless the unit was improperly serviced or moisture was introduced to the chemical. :crook

Any dry chemical fire extinguisher that is discharged, even a tiny bit, must be serviced. The chemical gets into the valve assembly and allows all of the pressure to leak out. :cry

The bottom line really is to get a good quality unit (Amerex, Ansul, Sentry) and make sure that the unit has not been tampered with, is well secured in the approved vehicle bracket and the gauge is in the green. Mount it where ever and however you want and Check it early and often. :smiled
 
Goodness gracious, thanks for the replies. I 'll go down to the boat and look at everything again with the comments above (and I'm sure that they'll be some below.)

One thing about C-Dories (and their owners.) A lot of them are willing to give opinions. And that's good.

Thanks, the southern Boris
 
Show me someone that's not willing to give you an opinion, and I'll show you someone that doesn't have a C-Dory (yet). He if he/she doesn't have one now and is on this site, he/she soon will.... :lol:

Hope everyone appreciates the he/she part. It's PC these days.... :thup

Charlie (with a Sally oversight)
 
Boris – some of us are willing to give our opinion, even if we don’t know what we are talking about... By the way, what is the topic of this thread?
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
I think the biggest thing is just purchasing the extinguisher and having it aboard. This almost guarantees you will never need it!
 
Sam Walker,
OK, I'll fess up--I think that all of my extinguishers (exept one automatic FC 227 which I had for a large boat's engine room) are Kiddie.

Kiddie is what WM, WalMart, Boaters World, Pep Boys etc sell.

What do you recommend?--and what is wrong with Kiddie (I'll have to ask my fire chief friend in the AM).
 
Bob, In addition to having been a fire extinguisher technician, I am currently a Fire Captain with the California Department of Forestry (CDF) in California. I have also been a CA State Fire Marshal Deputy and a local jurisdiction Fire Inspector. :disgust

Kidde Fire Extinguishers are the cheapest quality. :thdown The reason that they are sold at retail outlets is because of their cost. However, like most things, the initial price is only the beginning unless you are going to use them once then throw them away or replace them when a service is needed.

The Kidde units have serviceability problems when recharged. The cheap components like the plastic siphon tube on the interior break. :amgry This can cause the unit to not work properly when needed. I had the gauge assembly on an older unit fly off during recharging. The flimsy retaining clip failed. Fortunately, the gauge which separated from the unit at over 100 psi missed my face and all I got was a face full of dry chemical agent. :cry :cry :cry :cry

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) recommends that every portable fire extinguisher be inspected once per year and serviced internally every 6 years. Bob, you would know better if the USCG has a more frequent requirement. :embarrased

You folks should take a look at what brand of extinguishers the larger commercial establishments in your area are using. I would be surprised to find very many companies that have to have the units serviced regularly using the Kidde.

I myself prefer Amerex brand. :thup If I remember correctly they are headquarted in the South somewhere. Alabama, I think. Amerex has better quality and are still reasonably priced. They make several different vehicle type brackets for their units. Sentry (a division of Ansul) are also good quality. They used to be more expensive than Amerex. The top of the line is Ansul. They are heavily used in the oil industry. Ansul units are very rugged and durable. They do have the sticker shock price tag however. :unlove

One more point. In Kidde's defense, there is a case to be made for the "buy it cheap, use it once and replace it" idealogy. I think the last time that I saw it on this site was a battery comparo. As always, it comes down to personal choice and comfort level. :rainbow

Having said all of what is above, I would not own a Kidde Fire Extinguisher and I sure would not have one on my boat where my life might hang in the balance. :wink
 
Thank you!

I have been one of those who buys a new one every year or so. I have not considered them as rechargable units. I remember we used to have a truck which came to the Long Beach Marina every 6 months and we used to get the FE serviced--I don't know if that sort of thing still happens or not.

Interestingly surveyors will accept a fire extinguisher which has a tag which says it has been inspected--or a new cheap fire extinguisher.

I'll have to admit I have never had to use a fire extinguisher on any of my boats...and Hope I never have to!

My Friend has long ago retired--but he was with Anaheim CA.
 
Bob, no problem. You have contributed so much in the way of technical expertise to the site, I am happy to get a chance when a subject falls into my realm. The local jurisdiction that I was a fire inspector for was Santa Ana and I grew up in Whittier.

It sounds like you are on the right track w/ the annual replacement. :thup You know, since you are a test it out kind of guy, it would be interesting to find out whether the Kidde FE's that you are retiring each year are functional at the end of a year of pounding on a boat. :smileo
 
Sam,
I, too, replace my extinguishers, abt every 3 years, unless the gauge indicates a leak. I try to time their replacement with my flares. I do, however, keep my old flares as backup; but both are set aside for training for the USCGAUX members. It sure doesn't take long to have a big collection of flares around.

I admit that my units are Kidde units.

Thanks for your advice. I will have to revisit my methods and change out my 3 units to another brand. ???
 
Sam,
We have tested our extinguishers at the replacement time--and all have been functional. We only buy extinguishers which have guages on them (I realize that they are not very accurate)--and if the guage shows low pressure, discard the unit.

I did discuss this subject with my friend who retired 18 years ago, after 29 years with Anaheim Fire Dept--perhaps you interacted with him at some point. He was heavily involved with the OC firefighters, took surplus equptment to La Paz, Involved with Torguta Tours, organized the fireman's regatta, and some of the other things that fire fighters do...We had some great trips with the OC firefighters--Rafted the Colorado, Ski trips in the Canadian Rockies etc.

I was aboard his boat today--and he does the same thing that I do--uses Kiddie, Shakes them up regularly, checks the guages regularly etc. He also pointed out that one needs A B C extinguishers (which I carrry). Also that Kiddie makes a number of levels of fire fighting products--some of which were carried on Anaheim fire trucks--at least they were 20 or so years ago.

This individual crossed the Atlantic with us--and he was the best crew I have ever had. When he came off watch, I knew that every system on the boat had been inspected properly. He is still known as "911 Tom".

Thanks to the fire fighters! The "Good Guys"!
 
Regarding annually retired boat/motorhome fire extinquishers... Like Bob, I accumulate those with the arrow right at the red/green juntion. I just place them around the farm and house in areas one would not usually need a fire extinguisher for life-saving needs, barn, garage, basement, tractor barn, pump house, grain bins, hay stacks, etc.... and then fire them when they get red. Amazingly , most seem to work OK even tho in the red.

John
 
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