Fire Extinguisher
Hi, We recently bought a fire extinguisher for our van, only to be told it was out out date at the annual service, we had only had it three weeks. Now the extinguisher is dated 05/18, we have got back to the suppliers and they say it needs to be commissioned by a fire safety officer annually. Would just like any bodies thoughts on this, I have contacted the Fire Service and am awaiting their reply.
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The "Commisioning" appears to involve nothing you couldn't check or do yourself.....
https://www.marsden-fire-safety.co.uk/resources/fire-extinguishers/fire-extinguisher-commissioning
We had a Fire Ext course in work yesterday, got to try 5 different types of fire ext on various types of set up fires. Great fun and informative.
As a result I am going to ditch my dry powder ext, which makes a helluva mess and buy a CO2 ext for the van. They seem to be available on Amazon for around 30 quid.....
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I wonder how many extinguishers are actually used in anger. If there is a fire in the van the first reaction is surely “panic” then “exit”? How many people would be level headed enough to locate the extinguisher and remember how to use it? Anyway, I thought the advice was not to fight the fire but get to safety?
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"I'm struggling to thing of 5 types? AFFF/foam .... CO2 .... dry powder .... ? .....?"
Keep up MM......
Foam, Dry Powder, Water, CO2, Wet Chemical.....
https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/different-types-of-fire-extinguishers/
Time to enrol on some fire safety training.....
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BCF Extinguishers are still available - if one stocked up before the SALE became banned, but not the USE.
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Carrying an extinguisher in a caravan is surely to assist with getting people out. How many of you reading this have an evacuation plan? How many have tried it? How many have actually rehearsed dropping out of a window?
A broken ankle can be painful but can be repaired. Death cannot.
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Well, the extinguisher has to be in the right place in relation to where the fire starts. If it’s quicker to dive out of the window than figure out how to get to the extinguisher and remember how to use it then surely that’s the best option? Are you supposed to stand there reading the instructions whilst your clothes catch light? I struggle to see a situation where you would use the extinguisher to fight the fire rather than escape and this would be contrary to official advice anyway. I suppose that there could be a situation where there is a small local fire which is safe to tackle (as long as it isn’t a frying pan!) but I just can’t picture it.
I know it sounds like I am trying to make light of a safety feature, it’s just that I cannot see how a fire extinguisher can actually help in a caravan or motorhome and nobody has come forward yet with any actual experience.
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A fire "extinguisher" is unlikely to do anything of the sort, but it MIGHT be able to knock back flame enough to get someone past, and out the door. The "out the window" could well be the best option though, especially if there are a number of people in the caravan all trying for the door at the same time. Many studies have shown that in an emergency situation people want to leave by the route by which they came in - even to the extent of passing-by emergency exits!
It is interesting to see where people keep their fire fighting object. Beside the door seems pointless as it will be the last thing you pass on the way to safety. I keep mine at the rear of the caravan, beside the bed.
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I think I could dive through the flames and out the door a whole lot quicker than wriggling out of the bedroom window which, on our fixed bed, is six feet off the ground.
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One thing that puzzles me is why do certain caravanners put a red bucket of water - sometimes marked "Fire" outside their caravan? I suspect that it is more a badge of office to signify they are 'ralliers' but have they ever seen fibreglass catch fire? Yes, it takes a while but once the resin is hot, it more or less explodes. Fat lot of use a bucket of water is going to be and I certainly wouldn't want to be anywhere near!
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There are fires and fires. The first priority is obviously one of protecting life, and immediately disconnect the electric cable at the EHU. Then quickly decide if it is a minor blaze that can easily be DIY dealt with. If not, call the fire brigade and help to get other movable properties clear of danger as quickly as possible.
I asked at our local fire dept which type of extinguisher was best - CO2 or dry powder. I was told dry powder as, in a caravan, light materials such as fabrics or paper would be blown about as they burned, probably spreading a minor blaze beyond control. So I chose dry powder extinguishers - one in the car, and one in the van, fitted to the cupboard adjacent to the door.
I have noticed that some people still keep the 'regulation' red bucket with water outside their caravan/awning. DO NOT use this until you are certain that the mains electricity has been disconnected from the caravan. Thankfully, though, caravan fires are not a common occurrence.
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