Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 22:27:44 -0500
Reply-To: JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Fire Season
In-Reply-To: <CAMuoOU4wpnoS0Y_Mu==8bTvHLs2hDtWbgTV19bxEeGGfcV-9wA@mail.gmail.com>
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John, that's a great bit of instruction on how to approach and then
control an engine bay Vanagon fire. Thanks.
And thanks too for posting the source for those halon extinguishers.
That Halon is great stuff.
When working for the US Army Corps of Engineers back in the early
eighties, we built a huge computer complex for the Air Force, part of
their northern early warning network. The computer room itself had
flooring mounted on pedestals about 30 or so inches tall. The computers
sat over holes in the floor and cooling air went from the room through
the computers and out the bottom into that void under the floor. Over
head - and under the floor were discharge nozzles for halon. They were
everywhere. To test the system, we used CO2, 'cause naturally halon was
to expensive. But there were a sequence of events that hsd to happen
prior to an actual halon discharge in case of fire. When we tested, the
system worked flawlessly. But I was impressed by the volume of inert gas
that went into that huge room in just seconds. We had three minutes to
get out of that huge space - about 20 ft tall - before suffocation would
catch up with us. Nobody dragged their feet getting out during the test
- and I'm sure it was/would be the case with the halon. And of course
forcing all the air out of the room - or engine bay as the case may be -
is what kills the fire. If a fire can't breath - it dies. With the
exception of magnesium - but that's another story for another time.
John Rodgers
On 6/1/2012 1:05 PM, John Meeks wrote:
> Just as important as fuel line maintenance is having at least one 2.5#
> fire extinguisher easily reachable from the driver's seat. Halon is
> the absolute best for a rapid knockdown of an engine compartment fire.
> A first shot down the driver's side rear vent will remove most of the
> oxygen from the engine bay. A second blast through the license plate
> door should make it safe to remove the lid and kill the rest. This
> assumes the fire has not melted through the engine lid. If that's the
> case, after a shot down the drivers side rear vent, open the hatch and
> work the fire from above. Disconnect the battery as soon as the fire
> is managed.
>
> A new halon 1211 2.5# stainless bottle is available from
> www.safecraft.com for $145 plus ~$20 shipping (much less expensive
> than a new van). Halon leaves no residue on the engine.
>
> Stay safe...
>
> John Meeks
> '91 Vanagon MV Phoenix
> Northern Michigan
>
> Vanagon Rescue Squad
> www.vanagonauts.com
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 10:10 AM, Robert Keezer<warmerwagen@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Summer Vanagon fire season is here . Vanagons burn so often the word Vanagon can be substituted for the word fire, as in, I had a Vanagon in my fireplace last night.
>>
>> It can never be mentioned too often, that the fuel line and adapter on the right side firewall and behind it need to be inspected. The plastic adapter on the firewall should be eliminated . Here's why:https://www.iaai.com/Vehicles/VehicleDetails.aspx?auctionID=0&itemID=12723628&RowNumber=1#
>>
>> Only you (or someone who works on your Vanagon) can prevent Vanagon fires.
>> Robert1982 Westfalia
>
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