Fire supression system installed

Chuck Moreland · 05-05-2002, 08:10 PM

After watching a 914 combust at a recent DE I decided I need a fire supression system. I bought a "fire bottle" 5 pound halon system. At around $300 it cost little more than a similar sized hand-held halon extinguisher.

I decided to put the bottle under the passenger seat. It fit very well and this put it low and near the center of mass for the car. The bottle weighs about 10 pounds.

This system has two nozzles. I put one in the engine compartment near the throttle body and one set to spray directly on the driver. The system uses aluminum tubing between the bottle and the nozzles.

You can see the aluminum line routed back from the bottle towards the engine in the picture above.

In the following picture you can see how I routed it through the firewall. The line is completely hidden and protected by the carpet.

Here is the nozzle inside the engine compartment. The black thing is the nozzle and it passes right through the firewall, sprays on the fuel injection system.

The other nozzle sprays on the driver. I mounted it under the dash beneath the steering wheel.

I chose a pull-handle type system. The handle is mounted under dash beneath the radio. I can reach it while strapped into the harness, yet it is away from where my hands would be during normal driving. I fabricated a bracket to hold it securely.

The head of the bottle pokes out from under the seat. This makes it easy to check the pressure dial without removing the seat.

Overall the system is fairly inconspicuous, important to me since I use this car on the street as well. The pull handle is most obvious but not obnoxious and doesn't look out of place.

All in I am pleased with the setup and feel much safer. I can deploy this much faster than a hand-held extinguisher and I don't need to pop the engine lid to shoot. I'd recommend this for any car that goes to the track.

old_skul · 05-05-2002, 08:19 PM

Nice, Chuck. Are there risks involved with having that nozzle pointed directly at the driver? I'd hate a lungful of that stuff.

Chuck Moreland · 05-05-2002, 08:31 PM

The manufacturer recommends spraying directly on the driver. I figure being covered in halon beats hell out of being covered in flame.

It will impair breathing so you need to get out fast.

claptrap · 05-05-2002, 08:47 PM

Elegantly designed and nicely documented.

Scott

Paul Thomas · 05-05-2002, 09:23 PM

What brand and where did you get it?

Thanks,
Paul

Chuck Moreland · 05-06-2002, 07:35 AM

The system is made by Safety Systems, Inc.

Since Pelican doesn't sell fire supression systems, I had to buy it from Summit Racing.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Clean install. Did you consider having a nozzle in the trunk near the gas tank?

Your pull handle made me think you could have one, two or three pull handles for the trunk, engine, driver - or is there some rule against this? You could focus the halon where it is needed the most, or avoid spraying it where you don't need it. Just a thought.

Thanks for the info,

Don

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

Very nice installation. If you ever have to use it just be sure to hold your breath. That stuff can take the air right out of your lungs and cause some pretty severe lung problems. Because of this, I like Don's idea of two handles which focus on the engine or passanger. But like you said, I too would rather be covered in Halon than flames.

SprintStar · 02-08-2004, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
After watching a 914 combust at a recent DE I decided I need a fire supression system. I bought a "fire bottle" 5 pound halon system. At around $300 it cost little more than a similar sized hand-held halon extinguisher.

I decided to put the bottle under the passenger seat. It fit very well and this put it low and near the center of mass for the car. The bottle weighs about 10 pounds.

Chuck,

Does it matter if you mount it vertically or horizontally? A local dealer in fire supression recommended no more than 45° from vertical. I can't remember the reason but I think it's the same why we can't use rattle can paint at an angle?

Sprint.

Chuck Moreland · 02-08-2004, 03:54 PM

Instructions with the product shown acceptable mounting angles. The key is keeping the internal pickup tube submerged.

SprintStar · 02-09-2004, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
Instructions with the product shown acceptable mounting angles. The key is keeping the internal pickup tube submerged.

Got that! Chuck, I'll ring ya tonight.

Sprint.

Jadams1 · Jadams1's Garage

Nice install, hopefully you will never need to activate it.

collier · 02-09-2004, 05:21 AM

As a suggestion:

Wouldn't you want to have the T-handle accessble to the outside of the car, and the appropriate "E" sticker in case of a roll-over accident and you were relying on track workers for help??? Just a thought....I hope that never happens

My only fear would be that in a situation that I needed external assistance, the lay-person would NOT know where my suppression discharge handle was ? ? ?

chris