Vehicle fires are a major and often unexpected danger that occurs on highways. Vehicle fires can cause hundreds of fatalities, thousands of injuries, and millions of dollars in damage. They are a constant and serious emergency.
The best way to fight a fire is with a fire extinguisher. However, some drivers are concerned about having a pressure vessel in the car at all times.
Can you leave an extinguisher inside your vehicle? Yes, absolutely. You can only be sure that you’ll be able respond quickly to an emergency vehicle fire if you have one in the passenger compartment. The fire extinguisher must be rated to handle typical electrical and oil fires in motor vehicles. It should also be able to withstand the high temperatures within the car while it is being stored.
There is no good reason to not have an extinguisher that is designed for your car at all times. Before installing one or carrying it, there are some things to think about. I will discuss them in the following paragraphs.
The right mounting and storage is critical for success
The mounting and storage method of the fire extinguisher in your car will play an important role in the success of fighting fires and keeping you and your passengers safe in case of an accident.
Experts recommend that you purchase two extinguishers to keep in your car. Install one in the vehicle’s passenger compartment, where it is easily accessible. You can also keep a second extinguisher inside the cargo or trunk area.
It is possible that your primary extinguisher does not contain enough agent to completely extinguish the fire.
Consider that an extinguisher placed under the seat or floorboard could ricochet and cause serious injuries or death if it is thrown around in the car during high speed impact.
It is illegal to keep an extinguisher in the vehicle’s passenger compartment without a mounting bracket that has been approved by the manufacturer and which is properly installed. The holder should also include quick release system to ensure that you don’t waste time when using the fire extinguisher.
Choose the right type of fire extinguisher
It’s important to choose the right fire extinguisher when purchasing one for your car. Selecting the correct rating will help you fight fires effectively.
In general, an automobile-specific fire extinguisher must have a minimum 5-BC rating. This number indicates the size fire in square feet that the user should be able to handle with the extinguisher. The ‘B’ or ‘C” in this instance are North American ratings that tell us that the agent of the extinguisher can tackle flammable liquids and gases as well as electrical fires.
It is important to note that this also indicates the fact that extinguishing agents are non-conductive.
You will discover that most vehicle fires involve liquids or oils that are flammable, regardless of the cause.
Electrical component failures and friction between flammable substances are the two leading causes of ignition. The ‘BC-rated’ fire extinguisher is capable of handling most situations.
The size of the fire extinguisher should be carefully considered before purchasing one. It is a good compromise for many vehicles, as an extinguisher too big and heavy can be hard to retrieve or handle when needed.
The larger extinguishers can fight fires more effectively, so one may be sufficient to stop the fire or keep it at bay until the professional arrives.
Maintaining Fire Extinguishers is a periodic requirement
Fire extinguishers inside vehicles require more maintenance than those outside.
Fire extinguishers selected for this task are put through much more stress than those we use in our offices and homes.
Extinguishers can be affected by constant vibrations caused by vehicles and cargo. It will wear out the functional parts and cause the extinguishing agents to settle. This will make it less effective when you pull the pin to fight the fire.
This problem occurs because of the design and nature of vehicle-mounted fire extinguishers. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to avoid it.
You can restore the functionality of your extinguisher by maintaining it. To ensure that your extinguisher works properly, a quick check at a dealer of fire safety supplies is recommended every year or two years.
Before giving the extinguisher a clean bill, the dealer inspects all the important components, including the contents, the seals, the actuator and much more.
The Quality of Fire Extinguishers is Important
You would be foolish if you were to buy safety gear that is too expensive.
If you choose a knockoff model or one from a low-cost supplier, your extinguisher may not be up to the job of riding inside your car. The contents and trigger might not hold up well under vibration.
Seals may not be strong enough to resist the extreme heat of a passenger compartment in parked vehicles. All of these things could lead to a catastrophic failure at a time when it is most expensive.
Only a reputable company that tests its fire extinguishers for both high temperature storage and vehicular transport can give me any guarantee of their performance in any conditions. Both your safety and the potential of damaging your car are at stake!
The conclusion of the article is:
Keep a couple of fire extinguishers in your car. It’s a great idea and safe. Fires that start in vehicles are more frequent than people realize. They can cause thousands of injuries, many fatalities, and millions in damage to property.
You can prevent all of the above by installing a fire extinguisher that is rated for vehicles in your own vehicle.