Guard against fire

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34022, 11 December 1975, Page 13

Guard against fire

Fire at sea can be ter-1 rifying. or even fatal,l depending on • how Soon it! can be controlled. ; The first line Of defence - ! obviously is prevention, which means careful attention to aIJ danger sources such as fuel lines, carburettors (flash screens and drip trays) and cooking stoves. It is often necessary to be firm with people who take their shore-based smoking habits (butt dropping and pipe knocking) to sea. In anything but the smallest dinghy, a fire extinguisher, more than one as the boat size goes up. is an absolute must. Not just any extinguisher will do, as some chemicals which der with a fire are high! toxic. Carbon tetrachloridis a case in point. The three main types art Carbon oxygen 2, dry powder and B.C.F. Apart from the chemica differences, the main consideration is between controllable discharge and the one-shot type, with the first by far the better choice. Extinguishers cope with fire by shutting off the oxygen supply or by forcibly blowing the flame out and then muzzling it by chemical action. Carbon oxygen

2 and B.C.F. come into the first category and dry powder into the second. Dry Powder: Some boat owners prefer this type of extinguisher because it is thought to be non-toxic to the user. Dry powder does leave a mess but it is very quick at fighting fires. It is normally supplied for boats with a push button operation. Carbon oxygen 2: These extinguishers contain nontoxic almost . inert gas which kills fires quickly. It: ■is best used in an enclosed space as it disperses quickly in the open. This type of extinguisher normally has a trigger action

and requires a regular weight check. 8.C.F.: This is a relatively new type of extinguisher for boat owners.' Because of the nature ofl the chemical, these units, can be made very compact! and are ideal for a small boat. B.C.F. extinguishers! are available as twin units. I When a recharge is neces- i sary, you can lake one! container away and have it exchanged for another already charged. The other! unit can remain on board in case it is needed.