Looking at a firefighting system for my 15m3 engine room and it is
looking like a choice between a HCF-227ea Halon type system, as he
http://www.fireandsafety.co.uk/automatic%20marine.htm

or Fire Pro - a compound - SBK - forming an aerosol that interferes
with the fire at the molecular level, as he
http://www.marinefiresafety.co.uk/firepro1.html.

HCF is just a gas and Fire Pro leaves a fine residue - my only real
concern is that the residue may not do electrical equipment and circuit
boards any good - but then the fire smoke may do the same amount of
damage.

Both are about the same price, and whilst not cheap at least prices
have halved over the last couple of years

Was also considering fitting a oil central heating type shut off valve
in the fuel line. Several types available - a simple handwheel valve
that shuts at 70C, a valve with a capilliary heat sensing tube and
probably the best a valve with a large spring to close and held open
with a meltable/fusible link. This could also be rigged so that the
valve could be easily tripped from the helm position, giving a manual
operation sometimes required.

All can be seen he http://www.bes.ltd.uk
Handwheel - item 10809
Capilliary sensing - 10810
Fire valve kit - 10815

Also, a 24v solenoid is also an option.

Any thoughts????
Thanks.

My only comment is just make sure the "halon type" really does comply
with latest environemental regs. Certainly Halon is no longer allowed.

Tony Brooks

In article .com,
writes

Any thoughts????

Avoid anything that leaves a residue - it's likely to wreck a running
engine.
--
Marshall Rice

(Put the bin out to email me)

Halon displaces oxygen. When we used to use it at work we had to evacuate
the room and then hit the Halon on the way out. If you were in there they
always told us we would die. Might want to think about that. In the Navy
we use AFFF and I was amazed how well that foam worked on oil fires. Maybe
a firefighting boat builder can help with advice.

Scott


"Marshall Rice" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
writes

Any thoughts????

Avoid anything that leaves a residue - it's likely to wreck a running
engine.
--
Marshall Rice

(Put the bin out to email me)

sailct41 wrote:
Halon displaces oxygen. When we used to use it at work we had to
evacuate
the room and then hit the Halon on the way out. If you were in there
they
always told us we would die. Might want to think about that. In the
Navy
we use AFFF and I was amazed how well that foam worked on oil fires.
Maybe
a firefighting boat builder can help with advice.

Scott


"Marshall Rice" wrote in message
...
In article .com,
writes

Any thoughts????

Avoid anything that leaves a residue - it's likely to wreck a
running
engine.
--
Marshall Rice

(Put the bin out to email me)

Here in the states halon is still legal, I beleave it's all recycled,
no new manufacturing. And in a small engine space that do not have
people in it it's not a problem. As far as the other types with the
powder, they will chew up a running engine. I had a fire on an old boat
of mine and put it out with a hand held unit. I ran back on the other
engine, and by the time we got back (40 miles at 6 knots) the other
engine had very little oil pressure. I had more damage to that engine
than I did to the one with the fire. With halon I would have had very
little damage, but my halon unit was automatic only, and it hadn't gone
off yet, and, when you see smoke and flames, you want to put it out as
soon as possible rather than sit back and wait and see how the halon
unit works (I ripped the hand held extinguisher right off the wall,
mounting bracket and all, when I went to grab it). If you go with a
halon unit, get it with a manual release as well.

In article . com, Capt
John writes

If you go with a
halon unit, get it with a manual release as well.


Good advice.

Believe it or not, a lot of boat builders and non-specialist installers
fit manual extinguisher releases using standard control-type cables
which in the event of a fire can (and often do) melt or seize before
it's noticed.

Make sure yours is fitted using heat-resistant cable.
--
Marshall Rice

(Put the bin out to email me)

On Thu, 19 May 2005 20:20:08 -0600, "sailct41" wrote:

Halon displaces oxygen. When we used to use it at work we had to evacuate
the room and then hit the Halon on the way out. If you were in there they
always told us we would die. Might want to think about that. In the Navy
we use AFFF and I was amazed how well that foam worked on oil fires. Maybe
a firefighting boat builder can help with advice.


Not quite correct see http://www.halonmarketing.com/mall/prod01.htm

As for you loosing your life in a halon flooded compartment, I know from
personal experience this is incorrect.
However if Halon is exposed to surfaces at high temperature, Phosgene type gases
are produced, which will kill you.
If you are in a space where CO2 has been released , it will kill you.
CO2 is flooded at about 35% into a space and it displaces the oxygen,
Halon flooding is about 5.5% of the volume and sufficient oxygen remains to
live.


If you use CO2 to flood a space you must ventilate it properly before re-entry
the same as with Halon but for different reasons.
At sea IMO it is always good to have an automatic system with manual override.


--
Steve Barlow

THis is why I wanted an expert. I just saw the tanks and apparently
repeated an untruth. We were always told to hit the button as we left. As
to what the percentage would be when the halon discharged I have no idea.

--
R. Scott Carroll
"Steve Barlow" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 19 May 2005 20:20:08 -0600, "sailct41" wrote:

Halon displaces oxygen. When we used to use it at work we had to
evacuate
the room and then hit the Halon on the way out. If you were in there
they
always told us we would die. Might want to think about that. In the
Navy
we use AFFF and I was amazed how well that foam worked on oil fires.
Maybe
a firefighting boat builder can help with advice.


Not quite correct see http://www.halonmarketing.com/mall/prod01.htm

As for you loosing your life in a halon flooded compartment, I know from
personal experience this is incorrect.
However if Halon is exposed to surfaces at high temperature, Phosgene type
gases
are produced, which will kill you.
If you are in a space where CO2 has been released , it will kill you.
CO2 is flooded at about 35% into a space and it displaces the oxygen,
Halon flooding is about 5.5% of the volume and sufficient oxygen remains
to
live.


If you use CO2 to flood a space you must ventilate it properly before
re-entry
the same as with Halon but for different reasons.
At sea IMO it is always good to have an automatic system with manual
override.


--
Steve Barlow

I have hand held AFFF extinguishers. I would like an autosystem as this
stuff (water) is a really effective fire fighter as it cools the fire as
well as extinguishing it.
We used these on the railway and as the foam is made up of tiny separated
droplets of water they were safe to spray on third rail (750 volts) Although
it took some convincing to do it!
Peter