Fire surpression procedure
 

I just installed this 2.5 lbs baby to replace the big 3 pounder that I carried around on the track. It will have Halon 12 in it

This got me thinking about proper fire suppression procedure for.....let's say engine bay. I am not sure I know the correct steps. I have seen a older 911 go up completely from the engine bay and it left an impression for sure. It was the kind of event that one had to almost run from.

For the engine bay I would get in the rear wheel well in front of the wheel and shoot up towards the fuel rails on either side. A big bottle may not even get in there; one should test this ahead of time.

That's all I have ....don't think it is good enough. Any thoughts?http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1589904855.jpg

When these cars burn, it is almost always inside the engine bay, which you cannot quickly gain access to. On serious race cars, there is a halon bottle with lines running into both sides of the engine bay, where nozzles spay the gas in an optimum pattern to suppress the fire. Unfortunately, a hand held unit is almost useless against a fire in the engine bay.

Thanks JFP, sobering for sure. Yes I was hoping that there was something one could apart from a fire suppression system fired from the cockpit. I guess we should all just make sure we don't have fuel leaks (what are critical inspection points?) or P/S fluid venting on top of the engine.

.....perhaps change over to electric P/S

Have you seen the "Blazecut"? A hose placed on the inside of the engine hatch that bursts in case of a fire, releasing some kind of gas to put out the fire. I have been considering that one..

It isn't just fuel leaks, oil and hydraulic fluids are flammable as well, particularly when they get hot.

I have little to offer except for an opinion. If your engine compartment has a fire, get away from the car and let it burn until proper equipment and personnel arrive on the scene. That 2.5lb bottle? Use it for egress or to buy time for egress if you are ...delayed. The cost of the car is nothing compared to the cost of having your body burned.
Fire happens fast in cars. Here's an article from GRM: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/how-i-became-human-torch-and-survived/

Here's a video:
Escy posted some info on his build on this forum, but most of it is detailed elsewhere. Here's his video of the car burning.
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Robert,

Thanks for this!!! I had not seen this at all. I will go do some research. When I get to Stockholm I will look you up and check out your installation.

The burst time is too long but looks very promising overall

"Blazecut" is a conventional fire suppression system that uses a heat sensitive hose to release the Halon in the bottle rather than a simple driver pull cable .

Appears to be worth the ~$170

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iePku-2jh7Y

I would agree. I plan to modify my engine cover to incorporate this....

Having used remote fire system in the past, I would prefer manual control.

For sure but I imagine the expense and installation requirements maybe prohibitive for a street car. Definitely would love a fire handle

@jaykay, I don't have the Blazecut, at least not yet. However if/when you go to Stockholm do look me up!!! I have some great twisty roads where you may testdrive my S!

Sounds good, will let you know!!! Thanks for the product information!

Man that was sad to watch that Boxster go up in flames. Seemed like it took yrs for the fire dept to get there.

I use my clear glass engine cover on my CSS when I'm on the track. I figure the fire guys could whack it with an axe to get to the top of the engine.

I have Halon in my 986 mounted to the front of the passenger seat, I always figured I would spray it through the side intake vents and hope the Halon does it's job in the enclosed space of the engine bay. If I tracked the car regularly a fire suppression system would probably be a good idea. That said, I don't think engine fires are all that common. The video above was someone that retrofitted an Audi V6 turbocharged engine, I think I have only heard of one stock 986 catching on fire.

These are Porsche's not Ferrari's, catching on fire is less of a concern. ;)

Or Corvettes - seen quite a few of them go up in flames unfortunately.

Very sad video. One good takeaway is that they had more than ample time to get out.

Yeah frustrating you just want to able to do something

I wonder if a small piece of metal tubing could be installed in the rear trunk on the front wall . Maybe 3/4 " diameter and up high . You sense a fire/smoke you pull over and grab your extinguisher . As you exit the car you pop the trunk and place the nozzle of the extinguisher into the tube and empty it . Either the fire goes out or you walk away knowing you at least tried . A simple rubber plug would keep under hood dirt and grime from getting in the trunk . Crazy idea ?

Lets keep some perspective. Engine fires are exceeding rare in a street or track driven Boxster.

The Audi motor transplant probably had a dodgy fuel set up or the extra heat from turbos ignited something flammable. Porsche certainly didn't engineer the engine compartment for that set up.

If you want to put a racing fire system in your street car just in case, do it.

Awesome idea....very impressive

rfuerst - I was wondering the same thing, but was picturing in my mind that the distribution tube would pass through and be attached to the front engine cover, so that a fire extinguisher in the passenger compartment could be used even if egress from the vehicle was impeded. Seems like an easier install, and if you decide you don't like it for whatever reason just swap in a new used cover.

Broken Linkage I think most firemen would say get out of the vehicle first , that's why I suggested the rear trunk . But anything is possible .

Some sort of stylish fitting eminating from the right side vent might be feasible as well.

I have an extra engine cover for the cost of shipping any need to experiment....may be prohibitive as I am way up in Canada and its big

Yes crazy idea, you don't run back to a vehicle that is on fire.

The hand held is just to put out the field you just lit up.

The car burns.

Running back? You smell a fire... quickly you're going to exit the car. If I had the trunk setup, as described, and I smell a fire... I'm going to stop the car... open the door to exit hitting the trunk release on my way out... going to the back of the car... positioning the extinguisher into that, what, 3/4 inch pipe... activate the extinguisher... then getting the h ell out of there.

Running back? Nope. Once, and done.

7 seconds.

:cheers:

One of my parts car Boxsters was an engine burn car and I have seen plenty more over the years on Copart and IAA. It happens. It is not rare. I do not see many scenarios where an engine compartment fire would not be considered a total loss by the insurance company, even if you have a system to extinguish it. I'm all for fire suppression as a safety measure. A good system can keep you from getting severe burns and keep more of the car salvageable. Just don't risk harm to yourself to 'save' a car that's going to be totaled anyway.

Burnt 986s Currently on the salvage market at Copart and IAA:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1590696357.jpg

I think my suggestion of a tube mounted in the rear trunk on the front wall facing the engine has merit . First and most important get out of the vehicle . While you are unbuckling and setting the parking brake grab your extinguisher . As you exit pop the rear trunk . If you have a cap on the tube pop the cap off . Pull pin on extinguisher place the nozzle in the tube and let it rip . That entire scenario is what 10 - 15 seconds ?

The trunk lid is open so it somewhat shields you . Lets face it this scenario is successful only if you catch it early , if it's fully engulfed after you pull over it's too late . Just speaking for myself while I would love to save my car it's my 25K Jake Raby engine I REALLY want to save ............. for the next chassis :D

Fire is dangerous business and has to be taken very seriously . But this thread was started over concerns on how to put it out on a Boxster . From the comments it's obvious in stock form there is no easy way to do so . So in that scenario there are two camps . Just get out and let it burn or be inventive and have at least a chance of saving . I think I will explore my option and see what I can come up with . This thread has made me realize I carry a fire extinguisher in my S but it's a false sense of security , if I had a fire I would have no way to expel the goods into the engine bay .

I have seen two Boxster fires at the race track - both were the result of the power steering rubber line melting and leaking power steering fluid onto a hot engine which ignited.

In both instances it was hopeless to try to put out the fire with a handheld extinguisher (and both cars had a handheld extinguisher). By the time the driver noticed what was happening, slowed to a stop and exited, it was time to stand back and wait for the professional fire team to do the firefighting.

My recommendation is if your car is ever on fire, get out and to hell with the car. Your first, second, third, fourth, and fifth concerns are the safety of yourself (and your possible passenger).

If you really want to have a chance of saving your car, invest $1500 in a remote bottle fire suppression system that has hard lines going from the bottle to the engine compartment. Then you hit the remote release button as you exit and hope that it does the job while you wait for the fire dept to show up.

Is there a steel braided ps line upgrade that needs to be done on these cars? Tom any other OPEX on the susceptible lines? Yeah I have seen a 911 go .....there were seconds and then 10 feet plus of flame. All moved well back in hurry there was nothing that could be done

The most common fix is to install an under drive pulley. That slows the power steering pump pulley which seems to reduce the temp of the power steering fluid. The under drive pulley won't affect the power steering.

When I had to replace the power steering lines (due to going off track, hitting debris, and ripping them out from under the car), I don't remember any SS upgrades available. That doesn't mean that they're not available but I couldn't find any. I suppose someone could fab them or have a shop custom fab them.