Refrigerator fire

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Refrigerator fire

February 10, 2021, 09:52:14 pm

What is all the causes of all these refrigerators catching fire and when should a refrigerator be replaced I'm not interested in putting a residential refrigerator I like the option of propane or Electric I've had campers or RV for over 30 years and never see a refrigerator fire just heard about them should they be replace after so many years or can you just have it inspected my coach is the oldest RV I've ever owned .

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #1 – February 10, 2021, 09:56:31 pm

ARPRV controller is well worth the money for helping prevent a fridge fire. Want to Solve your Dometic & Norcold Cooling and Safety Issues?

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #2 – February 10, 2021, 10:22:48 pm

The one we are very familiar with was caused by the ammonia-based refrigerant leaking and catching fire when the LP burner kicked on. This was on a bright, sunny day but the shore power was intermittent due to some work being done on the grid, so the fridge switched to LP when the power went out and POOF! A Country Coach went up in smoke (and caused damage to the surrounding area. Years later, a storage facility we had moved out of had a unit catch fire under the same circumstances - failed/leaking refrigerant caught fire.

So - some form of extinguishing device at minimum. Shut off LP and the fridge if you are storing. Always shut off main LP valve if stored indoors and only turn on the fridge if you are able to monitor the coach in visual distance (e.g. stored at home within view)

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #3 – February 10, 2021, 10:36:26 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 10, 2021, 09:52:14 pm

What is (possible) cause of RV refrigerators catching fire?

RV Fire Cause and Prevention

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #4 – February 10, 2021, 10:38:53 pm

Rick the ARP site has a lot of very important information. I would recommend everyone at the very least understand how these systems work. There controller will prevent the damage and resulting fire. I to very much wish to remain with the ammonia system. The system must be operated within its operating level requirements. If exceeded it will prevent the ammonia from returning to its boiler and once it runs out of ammonia the boiler will overheat and lead to failure. Overheating also destroys the anti corrosion lining and will cause it to rust thru from the inside. I've got nothing but good things to say about there product, BUT I had a terrible time figuring out there website,
Scott

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #5 – February 10, 2021, 10:42:42 pm

There was a LP gas fridge fire in a Forum members FT, contained quickly so not too much damage and then a couple days later we saw a coach burned to the floor line, nothing left. When we got our coach we added a fire suppression system. The shut off system mentioned above is a good way to go.

You can switch to a 12v refrigerator, plan on an extra 1500 to 2000 watts per day of power demand. More solar, more battery capacity is usually needed unless you are almost always plugged in.

We switch to a Samsung French Door (3 doors) residential and are happy we did. Way more room. It works very well for us as we travel. Something to consider.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #6 – February 10, 2021, 10:44:06 pm

I put the ARP System in after hearing stories at Quartzsite last year. Had a few problems on the install but was actually able to get someone on the phone to walk me through it with no issues.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #7 – February 10, 2021, 11:04:05 pm

But we all saw a bad fridge fire photo on the forum where the highly rated extinguisher failed and the coach burned. Spend a little time rather than $$ and make your fridge compartment fire resistive. The real world is a lot different than a glossy brochure.

Pierce

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #8 – February 11, 2021, 12:55:55 am

Barn Dog's coach burned down with the ARP system.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #9 – February 11, 2021, 08:04:09 am

Quote from: craneman – February 11, 2021, 12:55:55 am

Barn Dog's coach burned down with the ARP system.

It would be interesting to know the details, as the ARP system turns off power (propane or 120 VAC) if boiler temperature rises above a safe level.

Of course, propane can leak and 120 VAC wires can fray or be chewed by rodents and those could be fire sources not controlled by the ARP system.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #10 – February 11, 2021, 08:27:56 am

If boondocking is not your cup of tea, a residential refrigerator will be a great upgrade. Lots more volume. And I haven't heard of one catching fire.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #11 – February 11, 2021, 09:15:31 am

The Dometic Royal Designer Series RM 4804 refrigerator in our RV leaked all of its ammonia and hydrogen and did not catch fire. I replaced the cooling unit with the JC Refrigeration unit. If you want to count all of the fridges that caught fire, you also need to count all of them that leaked and never caught fire. Then you need to separate out those that burned because of the ammonia-hydrogen mix, and those that burned because of leaf filled chimneys.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #12 – February 11, 2021, 09:41:55 am

There is a post on Foretravel owners group on Facebook. Ken Boyett's coach burned to the ground, apparently from fridge fire. 1/29/21

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #13 – February 11, 2021, 09:56:11 am

Quote from: golfnut – February 11, 2021, 09:41:55 am

There is a post on Foretravel owners group on Facebook. Ken Boyett's coach burned to the ground, apparently from fridge fire. 1/29/21

Yes, so sad to see! Prayers to all involved!

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #14 – February 11, 2021, 10:39:21 am

My fridge caught fire while running on electric. If it leaks hydrogen gas and finds a spark, it will catch fire. My fire was small and easily put out. Only damage was to the fridge cooling unit. We replaced with a marine 12 volt SeaFreeze refrigerator. This has served us well for seven years now.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #15 – February 11, 2021, 10:50:45 am

Installing some kind of automatic device that prevents or limits a fire does seem like a quick and easy fix to the RV fridge danger. You don't have to remove the fridge to install it in most cases and once installed, the dark cloud of uncertainity is swept away leaving the owner free to concentrate on other things.

An RV fridge is not the Hindenburg, it has a very limited amount of hydrogen that can leak out and only for a very limited time. The back, and sides of the fridge are metal and won't burn. But since there are no building codes for the RV to comply with, the area around the unit are combustible. Highly combustible in the case of early Foretravels and only a bit less on the later models. Dust bunnies and/or rodent infestations give the fire a little fuel for those extra seconds it takes to ignite the foam, wood, plastic, etc.

Lining the fridge compartment with backerboard (see my earlier posts and photos) gives the coach protection for those seconds needed to spread to the walls. You can put a cutting torch to the backerboard without any damage so during those seconds, the fire can't find anything to support further combustion.

So, you DO have to remove the refrigerator into the passageway and you DO have to spend at least a half day and about $50 to completely line the compartment sides, floor and ceiling including the duct work to the roof. And, you can repair the rotted wood under the edge of the outside access door and also repair the sloppy job Foretravel did on the Romex wiring in the compartment, including replacing the two plastic outlets with metal boxes and metal plates.

Anyone with a little DIY ability can do the job and you don't even have to make a mess or get dusty. If you are traveling to Puerto Peñasco for paint, just throw in about 4 sheets of Hardibacker in the compartment and have them do it. https://www.homedepot.com/p/James-Hardie-HardieBacker-3-ft-x-5-ft-x-1-4-in-Cement-Backerboard-220022/100183556 That quarter inch thickness is all that's needed to protect your coach.

Pierce

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #16 – February 11, 2021, 01:26:48 pm

Adding automatic fire suppression systems, an automatic LP gas shutoff device or surrounding part of your refrigerator space with a non-fire rated cement board will not stop an Absorption refrigerator from leaking hazardous gasses or catching on fire or dust, lint anything else in the flue from catching on fire.

Do your own research, decide what is best for you and do that. Just because someone else did something it is neither right for you or anyone else or the right thing to do.

HardieBacker will not ignite when exposed to direct flame but it is not 1hr fire rated. That means the that the backer board will not ignite itself but it can get hot enough to transfer enough heat to surrounding structure that it can ignite.

"While JamesHardie® products will not ignite when exposed to direct flame or contribute fuel to a fire, heat will transfer through them. Because of this, the product itself is not 1-hour fire rated."

If you want a 1 hr fire rated containment space use Type X Gypsum board, usually 5/8" and use fire rated joint compound on all joints.

"Because heat will transfer through JH products, they cannot be substituted for Type X, fire-rated gypsum."
Fire Prevention FAQ | Resource Center | James Hardie

Roger

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #17 – February 11, 2021, 02:40:52 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 10, 2021, 09:52:14 pm

What is all the causes of all these refrigerators catching fire and when should a refrigerator be replaced I'm not interested in putting a residential refrigerator I like the option of propane or Electric I've had campers or RV for over 30 years and never see a refrigerator fire just heard about them should they be replace after so many years or can you just have it inspected my coach is the oldest RV I've ever owned .

You asked how long, or when. I see you have a 1999 model. My 1998 model with a late 1997 build date, Dometic, gas/electric had a leak, and I just happened one day in 4/2015, to take a look inside the outside access door. And there, was a 1" tall, cone of yellow, coming out of a lower tube. I turned off the gas valve and then inside the power.

I was lucky, as we were about to leave, and the gas option was going to come on the next day.

I have a residential Samsung 18cf, 33" wide 3 door now, that I loaded thru the couch window with help. Did the new install in 5/2015, and love the unit.

If you have any doubts about how often they catch fire, you might Google Map, satellite view, Colaws RV Sales in Carthage MO, and look at the huge number of coaches in their junk yard with evidence of fire damages to their roofs.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #18 – February 11, 2021, 03:55:34 pm

Roger,

Take a look at the YouTube videos for the Hardie backerboard. The hydrogen will burn off in a minute or so. Why in the world would to need a one hour fire rating?

Pierce

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #19 – February 11, 2021, 04:29:16 pm

I wouldn't have propane in any of my sailboats, and would have removed it on my coach if it has already done by the previous owner. I too have a seafrost marine refrigerator and while it's a costly upgrade from a scratch and dent Samsung at a Lowe's in my opinion it's well worth it. Doing away with propane also does away with propane cooking of course which means electric and I have two electric induction hubs plus an instant pot. And the convection microwave all running off of lithium batteries and a victron inverter charger. That's how I deal with the risk of fires on board to coach. Too many boats and coaches have exploded and burned to the waterline due to propane.
It's my opinion and I'm sticking with it.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #20 – February 11, 2021, 06:28:52 pm

I switched over to Jc refrigeration LLC in shipshewana Indiana. Used our dometic box and took the gas/electric crap off the back and put on the 110/12 volt HVAC system. 2 hrs later and a thousand bucks we were on our way home. Happy campers.

Re: Refrigerator fire

Reply #21 – February 11, 2021, 07:19:23 pm

With only a few ounces of ammonia in the RV fridge, the fire is going to be very limited in duration. The backerboard will absolutely stop the flame or heat from catching the back side on fire. If you do a lot of dry camping and don't have the batteries to support a residential fridge, this backerboard should give you piece of mind. It does for us.

As a career firefighter, I know how quickly an RV fire can spread and if it occurs at night, it may block your escape route. Good to have an plan on how to get out of the coach plus having a smoke detector in the kitchen area is a must.

Here is a video that shows a house with Hardiboard as the siding and how it did an a brush fire that burned up to the house with wood chipboard directly underneath.

Pierce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pavoMHt98OM

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