Fire surpression procedure

[jaykay]

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?

[JFP in PA]

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.

[jaykay]

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

[Robert986]

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..

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by Robert986

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..

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

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by jaykay

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

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

[78F350]

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.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by 78F350

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.

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

[JFP in PA]

"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 .

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

"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

[jaykay]

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

[JFP in PA]

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

[jaykay]

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

[Robert986]

@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!

[jaykay]

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

[husker boxster]

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.

[rick3000]

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.

[MaxD]

Originally Posted by rick3000

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.

[thstone]

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.

[jaykay]

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