FireNet Community
FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: Fire Monkey on May 12, 2021, 12:58:12 PM
-
Hi,
Just seen a YouTube video regarding an extinguisher fitted to a consumer unit and a test fire being created within the devise. The video does not explain how the unit works or what the extinguishing media is. Have a look - I would be interested in peoples comments. It is is CO2 then this may remove the flames in the first instance but retained heat could lead to re-ignition. I could no see any foam or water coming out following it going off (water on electrics????). Apart from the occasional Wylex, Crabtree or Volex board with dodgy MCBs just how common are consumer unit fires? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXcE63iyxtY
-
https://www.firetrace.co.uk/applications/firetrace-systems-for-fume-cabinets-and-laboratory-equipment?gclid=CjwKCAjw-e2EBhAhEiwAJI5jg0wn-jq4dmNqAl2zieUJMs9GeYQTKjKzqArs5RPwHwwiMO3zqBfNfxoCWi0QAvD_BwE
Looks similar to Fire Trace that's been around for donkeys years..... sealed tubes full of one of a number of extinguishant gasses and when the tube ruptured due to heat the gas is released directly on the flame. Were used in trunking and distribution boards etc and also around engine compartmets and similar. As the installations got bigger you could add a cylinder on the end of the tube to give you more gas .......
-
It's the same methodology as Firetrace yes, it sounds like it's filled with Novec 1230 or similar although the suppliers MSDS gives nothing away.
This is the system: https://envirograf.com/product/enviroburst-automatic-fire-suppression-system/
-
Ah yes Fire Trace - this is coming back to me now. I have seen that installed in a basement, where the wooden floor was too uneven to be underscored with fire rated material and the solution was a an extinguishing system. My concern though is people using them to avoid having to remove MBCs from the board to check their manufactories date (when recall is suspected).
-
How common are consumer unit fires asks Fire monkey. Well LFB persuaded the IET that they were common enough to have the national standard for electrical installations in the U.K. altered to prohibit plastic consumer units in domestic properties. The IET then pushed out the rhetoric that lots of lives would be saved by this new regulation.
I cannot attack or defend for I have no evidence on which to base my judgment.
Careful location of the consumer unit and perhaps a well placed ASD would seem a better choice than this contraption. Still, you can?t knock enterprise!