Fire Suppression System

[slomove]

I am considering the installation of a small fire suppression system (5 lbs AFFF) after I found the fuel rail front connection oozing over the alternator on a recent trip.

Also reading up on the requirements for track days I was reminded that AROSC for time trial requires an "automotive BC extinguisher (min 2.5#) within driver's reach". I believe Shelby Club is similar while NASA does not care.

I can not imagine something else but just to make sure....I suppose the fixed suppression system will be as good or better to fulfill the extinguisher requirement (Clark?)

Gert

P.S.: Anyone considering the Alfa Club event in February?

[Elv15]

Gert,

It would be ideal to have an onboard fire suppression system, but they take up a lot of boot space and I'm not sure they are that much more effective than a hand held unit. I'd love to see someone with some real experience talk about this....

Also, have you thought of switching to aircraft AN hoses for the fuel? I would think that they would be much less likely to leak/split.

Cheers,

Tom

[moosetestbestanden]

I can see it all now... a fire supression system made of plywood, baling wire, chewing gum... the siren's call to add more lightness has struck again eh Gert?:D

[slomove]

Nah....that one, not too expensive at $300 and you can recharge it yourself.


Last year another Seven owner had the the fuel pressure regulator crack somehow and before he could turn off the engine/fuel pump a nice camp fire developed inside the engine bay. The result was a well annealed chassis.

Obviously I am doing that only to compensate for my sloppy workmanship with the fuel plumbing ;-)

With my less than extensive track driving I probably won't need it there but who knows....

Gert

[slomove]

Gert,

It would be ideal to have an onboard fire suppression system, but they take up a lot of boot space and I'm not sure they are that much more effective than a hand held unit. I'd love to see someone with some real experience talk about this....

Also, have you thought of switching to aircraft AN hoses for the fuel? I would think that they would be much less likely to leak/split.


Cheers,

Tom

No, won't take any boot space...this one fits across in front of the seat (probably the driver seat). In itself they are probably not more effective than a handheld of same size/technology but if the engine bay should be up in fire how do you get a handheld to smother it? You are probably not going to lift the bonnet at that point. Shoot it through the louvers?

After all, it is one of the insurance things. If you install it you will never need it. If you don't install it you will probably never need. Or maybe you do. But then maybe not.....

Otherwise I am just doing it because I ran out of other things to upgrade (barring an engine change that I am not going to do until it breaks).

As for AN hoses they may be pretty but all of the fuel hose hookups in my car (feed line, regulator and Raceline fuel rail) just have beaded/flared ends or hose barbs. I don't see an advantage here for the AN stuff. My problem was that I used a shitty hose clamp. Obviously the screw/band-type clamps that are supposedly made for injection systems are not suitable for single barbed nipples. I swapped this to a regular worm-drive clamp and the problem went away. Otherwise I believe a good quality high pressure fuel hose should be ample safe.


Gert