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Topic: Engine Fire Suppression Installation (Read 2697 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Engine Fire Suppression Installation

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
FWIW any of the AFFF systems are water based and will freeze.
Good to know!  I saw a couple of youtube videos where the tank is mounted in the engine compartment.  Seems like a plus to mount it inside the coach from a freeze protection point of view.
Quote from: Protech Racing –
Only the race systems needs to be  re certified every few years.
Also good to know.  Thanks!

Re: Engine Fire Suppression Installation

Reply #21 –
An automatic shutdown can be a good idea as well as a bad one too. Consider driving down a freeway and the coach shuts down due to a fire while you are in the middle lane of the road. Now you must exit the coach onto the highway. Just cause there is a fire going on, do you think the motorists are going to all stop in all lanes or look for ways to go around you? Now here you are in the middle of road, trying to get out of the coach with cars flying seriously close to you. Better off with an alarm where you can steer the coach to side of the road and escape safely. Automatic shut offs are great for boats where you have lots more room.
Bob

Re: Engine Fire Suppression Installation

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Mark Duckworth –
Good to know!  I saw a couple of youtube videos where the tank is mounted in the engine compartment.  Seems like a plus to mount it inside the coach from a freeze protection point of view.Also good to know.  Thanks!

I have had all three of my foam units either have been mounted of the engine or in compartments for over ten years now. We have been in very cold weather and never had a freeze up. Last year, we had all three tanks removed and refilled. It was exciting to see these units in action as we discharged them outside the coach for a refill.
Bob

Re: Engine Fire Suppression Installation

Reply #23 –
Quote from: floridarandy –
Interesting system shuts engine down and provides alert at detection and deployment of extinguisher.

Great comments about automatic shutdown.  I did note the item on the link I posted addresses the issue via:

Override switch for restart or control of auto-shutdown

This would appear to address the "middle lane of the expressway" concern which would certainly be real!

Re: Engine Fire Suppression Installation

Reply #24 –
Maybe the aircraft and commercial bus units have some sort of antifreeze solutiion. That would make sense  as frozen stuff wont  eject. Check the man and get back to us.  The racer units have a  warning  about freezing. 

Re: Engine Fire Suppression Installation

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
Maybe the aircraft and commercial bus units have some sort of antifreeze solutiion. That would make sense  as frozen stuff wont  eject. Check the man and get back to us.  The racer units have a  warning  about freezing. 

Great point about freezing. When we refilled our foam units for their first recharge, the agent did include a chemical to prevent freezing. I had never in the first five years of use in our coach finding these units freezing up. I am coming up to my next five year cycle in a few months - equalling a total now of ten years our foam system has been in our coach. Never a problem with them and I found my units similar to the ones we used in our buses. I think since these units are never exposed directly to cold windy nights and tucked up high enough from the ground, they do not freeze up. Naturally the foam unit in the hydro hot cabinet is keep toasty warm with the hydro hot running.
Bob

Re: Engine Fire Suppression Installation

Reply #26 –
Quote from: Protech Racing –
Maybe the aircraft and commercial bus units have some sort of antifreeze solutiion. That would make sense  as frozen stuff wont  eject. Check the man and get back to us.  The racer units have a  warning  about freezing. 
No manual came with the unit but here's an email convo with the Amazon vendor:

[Mark]: Can this unit be mounted where it is exposed to freezing temperatures?  Will it still work below freezing?

[Vendor]: Yes, there is room in the container for freezing expansion.  The foam inside turns slushy when it is exposed to freezing temperatures. Heat of engine running will warm it up and it will thaw.  The unit will deploy once the ambient temperature near the heads reach 286 degrees.

[Mark]: For 24/7 protection should it be kept from freezing?

[Vendor]: Yes