Element: New type of fire extinguisher - must have in every car
11-01-2018, 02:50 PM
#31
Rennlist Member
Hack,
Thanks for bumping this thread.
I am having all of the extinguishers serviced at our homes and the car cave (Zoo) on Monday. I will talk to the service technician about these devices and try to buy a few.
Regards,
Dave
Thanks for bumping this thread.
I am having all of the extinguishers serviced at our homes and the car cave (Zoo) on Monday. I will talk to the service technician about these devices and try to buy a few.
Regards,
Dave
11-01-2018, 07:20 PM
#32
Rennlist Member
The only time I ever had a fire in a 928 all I had on hand was half a can of Diet Coke. Happily it did the trick! This would be a pretty big step up.
11-02-2018, 11:30 AM
#33
Rennlist Member
I sincerely hope that nobody here has the misfortune of being able to report back on exactly how well these work...
But they do make good X-Mas gifts for loved ones.. Lol
But they do make good X-Mas gifts for loved ones.. Lol
11-02-2018, 11:50 AM
#34
Burning Brakes
11-02-2018, 07:58 PM
#36
Rennlist Member
Here is a link to a pdf fact sheet with details on how they work - the chemistry.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/30...67154874779486
11-03-2018, 08:29 PM
#38
Rennlist Member
You're welcome Bertrand, this is a neat product. Funny thing is, it is a Toronto based company that imports these from Italy, I believe. Ironically, we have to buy them with Trump $$$ There was no option to pay with our Canadian Pesos, go figure.
12-18-2018, 06:19 PM
#41
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Over the years, I 've had several fires in my shop....always from someone being stupid. Some have been small, some have been bigger, and one was really, really big. They have all been estinguished with one very short blast of Halon. There's never been enough Halon used to warrant refilling the estinguisher, but I send them out to be topped off, regardless. Amazing stuff. Once you've used Halon to put out a gasoline/oil fire, that's all you will ever carry or use...until something else, better, comes along.
When I viewed the video on the Element website of them putting out that bowl of gasoline, my first thought was that I really had no desire to ever get that close to any "real" fire (like the guy who put out the tiny bowl of gasoline did.) My second thought was: "That's a cute little thing that just put out a cute little fire."
"BTW, none of the fires I've had were contained in a neat little bowl....fuel/oil was in a much larger area."
In terms of a "real demonstration" they would do better to buy an old car, spray some fuel around, and start a real engine fire, count to about 30 (which is how long it takes to go get a fire estinguisher), and show some real life results.
I did go back and watch Leno holding the Element Fire "stick" and there was eventually a pretty big cloud of their agent....but that was in a very controlled area....no air movement, at all.
I like the idea....I just want to see something realistic.
So, am I ready to sell the Element product to my clients and tell them that this will absolutely save their car, from burning.
Not quite yet....
I'll continue to stock and sell Halon Fire estinguishers, to my clients, until I see some "real life" proof.
I do know, without any reservation, that even a small Halon Fire estinguisher will instantly put out even a big gasoline/oil fire. Like magic. Instantly.
When I viewed the video on the Element website of them putting out that bowl of gasoline, my first thought was that I really had no desire to ever get that close to any "real" fire (like the guy who put out the tiny bowl of gasoline did.) My second thought was: "That's a cute little thing that just put out a cute little fire."
"BTW, none of the fires I've had were contained in a neat little bowl....fuel/oil was in a much larger area."
In terms of a "real demonstration" they would do better to buy an old car, spray some fuel around, and start a real engine fire, count to about 30 (which is how long it takes to go get a fire estinguisher), and show some real life results.
I did go back and watch Leno holding the Element Fire "stick" and there was eventually a pretty big cloud of their agent....but that was in a very controlled area....no air movement, at all.
I like the idea....I just want to see something realistic.
So, am I ready to sell the Element product to my clients and tell them that this will absolutely save their car, from burning.
Not quite yet....
I'll continue to stock and sell Halon Fire estinguishers, to my clients, until I see some "real life" proof.
I do know, without any reservation, that even a small Halon Fire estinguisher will instantly put out even a big gasoline/oil fire. Like magic. Instantly.
12-18-2018, 06:58 PM
#42
in the past years I have had to deal with a couple of very minor fires that were put out quickly with generic extinguishers. never
any real damage, but the clean up was always a PITA.
the element system is most attractive because of its claim regarding no residue. does halon leave any residue?
any real damage, but the clean up was always a PITA.
the element system is most attractive because of its claim regarding no residue. does halon leave any residue?
12-19-2018, 01:22 AM
#43
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But there are other test vids of these worth checking out.
12-19-2018, 01:56 AM
#44
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in the past years I have had to deal with a couple of very minor fires that were put out quickly with generic extinguishers. never
any real damage, but the clean up was always a PITA.
the element system is most attractive because of its claim regarding no residue. does halon leave any residue?
any real damage, but the clean up was always a PITA.
the element system is most attractive because of its claim regarding no residue. does halon leave any residue?
12-19-2018, 08:49 AM
#45
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From a Wikipedia dive: There are several types of Halon, but handheld extinguishers have traditionally used Halon 1211 - CF2ClBr. "For use around highly valuable materials" - check.
"... fire is extinguished by cooling and oxygen deprivation at the core of the fire, as well as radical quenching [grabs up free hydrogen] over a larger area. After fire suppression, the halon diffuses, leaving no residue."
It's hell on the ozone layer, so it's been banned since 2009, sorta. I had no trouble purchasing an extinguisher off Ebay, probably sourced from old factories. There's a safer substitute, Halotron I, but it will soon be banned as well.
Based on Greg's experience, my extinguisher is overly large - I should see about getting a smaller version to carry in the car. Or a bunch of Element units since I still have several vehicles that use gasoline.
"... fire is extinguished by cooling and oxygen deprivation at the core of the fire, as well as radical quenching [grabs up free hydrogen] over a larger area. After fire suppression, the halon diffuses, leaving no residue."
It's hell on the ozone layer, so it's been banned since 2009, sorta. I had no trouble purchasing an extinguisher off Ebay, probably sourced from old factories. There's a safer substitute, Halotron I, but it will soon be banned as well.
Based on Greg's experience, my extinguisher is overly large - I should see about getting a smaller version to carry in the car. Or a bunch of Element units since I still have several vehicles that use gasoline.