Fire extinguisher ????

[Highbanked Hauler]

 I was talking with a guy at a Mopar meet and he told me about a  " C " body he was driving home  from a meet and was having carburetor problems and stopped at a rest area fortunately not to far from a big truck that had a fire extinguisher on board. When he started it up it had a serious engine fire and the truck fire extinguisher did put it out. When he started rebuilding he said the chemicals in the extinguisher ate into anything that was aluminum to the point the valve covers and  transmission case and whatever else were destroyed by holes eaten into it.

   Now my question,  Do all fire extinguishers have this chemical  or  are there others that don't ?  Its much better to have the aluminum destroyed than the car burn to the ground no question but  is there a better system ?

[68X426]

Halon is the type that you want for car fires.

http://www.h3rcleanagents.com/support_faq_2.htm

[bakerhillpins]

   Now my question,  Do all fire extinguishers have this chemical  or  are there others that don't ? 

No.  That's the standard ABC dry chemical extinguisher and yes they are corrosive. When discharged they get into everything just drywall dust.    You could use one suggested or even a CO2 based unit.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Halon is the type that you want for car fires.

http://www.h3rcleanagents.com/support_faq_2.htm

Thats what I have in the trunk...its an older real Halon unit

[polywideblock]

halon has been banned over here since 1995       I'm guessing that a co2 would be the next best thing 

[ws23rt]

halon has been banned over here since 1995      I'm guessing that a co2 would be the next best thing  

Halon has been banned over/down their?   I was led to believe it robs a fire of oxygen effectively.  It's used in many places to do it's job without causing useless damage.

Is the ban because one can perhaps put out a PERSON with it faster then using a co2 extinguisher?--I say cheers to that. It means it works better for what it is intended for.

We have other devices for putting out people.

Hey what happened to the right tool for the right job?

[polywideblock]

its an "ozone depleting substance"            read for yourself    https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/halon/halon-disposal

[ws23rt]

its an "ozone depleting substance"           read for yourself    https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/halon/halon-disposal

Duh - -I forgot all about the "ozone" thing. --So Halon is taking over for hydrofluoric's as being our current potential demise for the "ozone" that we all have grown to love and fear the loss of.  

I always was amused that soon after an ozone layer was observed a hole was identified. And of course the hole had to be caused by us.--This is a very human thing--

If we could only get a handle on the greatest (by far) green house gas of all--water vapor -- We should collect our breath and condense it to water the plants. They would (as a thankful gesture) also consume our expelled c02 and give us a few gasps of oxygen and the world would be forever green.

I just hope for additional global warming which is what we need to feed the huge number of humans and their/our basic needs.

Sorry--this was about fire extinguishers.---I got carried away.

[68X426]

its an "ozone depleting substance"            read for yourself    https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/ozone/halon/halon-disposal

What's the status on Halotron?  In the US it's a quality substitute for Halon that's non-ozone depleting.  http://www.halotron.com/index.php

" Halotron I is a fire-extinguishing agent based on the raw material HCFC-123 (93%) mixed with tetrafluoromethane and argon as propellants. It was originally introduced in 1992 to replace the severely ozone depleting halon 1211, or bromochlorodifluoromethane (BCF). "

There's disadvantages to Halotron versus Halon (weight) but is it legal down under?

[68X426]

I found also that Halotron 1 is specifically approved by the US EPA due to it's "healthy characteristics for the environment".

Amerex and Buckeye are huge manufacturers of those Halotron 1 and 2 types, readily available in many sizes.

[polywideblock]

some interesting reading   https://www.environment.gov.au/search/site/halotron

[ChargerST]

While Halon is an excellent fire extinguishing agent I would NOT use it. In Europe it is illegal to even possess Halon extinguishers (fines for using/discharging Halon are horrendous - up to 60k$).
The ozone depletion wouldn't be me immediate concern but the toxicity of Halon. A 3% to 5% concentration in the air can lead to serious nerve damage and problems with your heart function. Above 5% death is possible to due respiratory paralysis and/or heart problems. So be very careful when using one especially when indoors.

There are Halon replacement agents such as FE-36 or FM-200 which are less toxic.

[ws23rt]

While Halon is an excellent fire extinguishing agent I would NOT use it. In Europe it is illegal to even possess Halon extinguishers (fines for using/discharging Halon are horrendous - up to 60k$).
The ozone depletion wouldn't be me immediate concern but the toxicity of Halon. A 3% to 5% concentration in the air can lead to serious nerve damage and problems with your heart function. Above 5% death is possible to due respiratory paralysis and/or heart problems. So be very careful when using one especially when indoors.

There are Halon replacement agents such as FE-36 or FM-200 which are less toxic.

  Now that's a good reason to not use it as a personal extinguisher.

[RECHRGD]

While Halon is an excellent fire extinguishing agent I would NOT use it. In Europe it is illegal to even possess Halon extinguishers (fines for using/discharging Halon are horrendous - up to 60k$).
The ozone depletion wouldn't be me immediate concern but the toxicity of Halon. A 3% to 5% concentration in the air can lead to serious nerve damage and problems with your heart function. Above 5% death is possible to due respiratory paralysis and/or heart problems. So be very careful when using one especially when indoors.

There are Halon replacement agents such as FE-36 or FM-200 which are less toxic.

In the early '80's I worked for a company that installed halon systems in computer and data storage rooms.  Upon a trigger from the fire alarm system halon vapor would be released into the rooms.  Depending on the size of the rooms, you could have several hundred gallons released.  Part of the testing included a full operational test and gas release by the system.  We would remain in the rooms, along with any customers that wanted to and breath the gas.  It had the opposite affect of helium on you're voice, but nobody died.  At least not yet......


 Now that's a good reason to not use it as a personal extinguisher.

[Highbanked Hauler]

 What do they use in stock car on board fire systems?  That is halon isn't it ?

[ChargerST]

The toxicity depends on which type of Halon is used. The newer ones (like Halon 1211) are generally safer than older ones such as Halon 1400 (still not healthy to inhale too much of it).