Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36 - NCRS Discussion Boards

Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

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  • Jeff A.
    Expired
    • November 1, 2005
    • 199

    Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

    Hello all,
    I'm in the market for a couple of extinguishers for the Vettes. Based on everything I've read, I decided to go with Halon (and carry a powder backup, just in case). The clerk at the fire & safety shop asked if I had considered FE36 instead. It is currently being produced as a Halon replacement, without the environmental side effects. He claimed that it is as effective as Halon. I left the shop confused and empty handed.
    This evening, after spending an hour looking over FE36 Google hits (most of which lacked factual comparisons), I'm led to believe that FE36 is more similar to Halotron, which is not as effective as Halon.
    Is anyone familiar with how Halon and FE36 compare?
    Thanks!
  • John D.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • December 1, 1979
    • 5507

    #2
    Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

    Jeff, There's a post on here right now about FE's. I just read it. JD

    Comment

    • Jeff A.
      Expired
      • November 1, 2005
      • 199

      #3
      Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

      Originally posted by John DeGregory (2855)
      Jeff, There's a post on here right now about FE's. I just read it. JD
      Thanks John. Good info there, but I didn't want to hijack the thread.
      Jeff

      Comment

      • Thomas N.
        Very Frequent User
        • July 31, 2002
        • 387

        #4
        Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

        Hi:
        My take on this is very analgous to the replacements for Freon. The r134 in my opinion is not as effective a replacement as Freon. It is more environmental friendly but not as effective. The halon/halotron is in the same boat. The Halon seems to be more effective, but not as environmental friendly. Halon has been the standard for quite a while. I am no extinguisher expert, but I usually like to go with the items with the proven track record, which in my book is Halon. FYI, 2.5 lb Halons are available in the $120-$130 range if you shop around.
        NCRS New England Chapter Chairman 2022, 2024
        N E Regional Chairman 2024
        1967 Corvette Convertible Under Restoration
        1996 Corvette Coupe NCRS Chapter Top Flight 99.5, NCRS National Top Flight 100.0

        Comment

        • John D.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • December 1, 1979
          • 5507

          #5
          Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

          I was told my new FE36's were not as effective as the older halon. But I had no other option as had no time to mess around as the insurance company sent me a final notice to shape up. JD

          Comment

          • Terry M.
            Beyond Control Poster
            • September 30, 1980
            • 15573

            #6
            Terry

            Comment

            • Thomas N.
              Very Frequent User
              • July 31, 2002
              • 387

              #7
              Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

              Originally posted by John DeGregory (2855)
              I was told my new FE36's were not as effective as the older halon. But I had no other option as had no time to mess around as the insurance company sent me a final notice to shape up. JD
              John:
              I can understand your plight. With a business, you will probably require periodic inspections, and fortunately, you have the real estate to hang oversize extinguishers on the wall (unlike the small available area in a sports car) to compensate for the lesser effective material. And it still is better than the dry powder stuff, in my opinion.
              NCRS New England Chapter Chairman 2022, 2024
              N E Regional Chairman 2024
              1967 Corvette Convertible Under Restoration
              1996 Corvette Coupe NCRS Chapter Top Flight 99.5, NCRS National Top Flight 100.0

              Comment

              • Gary C.
                Administrator
                • October 1, 1982
                • 17549

                #8
                Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

                Jeff, here's another link on Halon info. Also this link recommends a better cost company in Wichita, Ks - Kansas Fire Equipment Co. Gary....

                Industry leader known for putting customers first and caring for employees. Branches across the U.S. to serve you.
                NCRS Texas Chapter
                https://www.ncrstexas.org/

                https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631

                Comment

                • David H.
                  Frequent User
                  • October 25, 2006
                  • 92

                  #9
                  Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

                  I've just ordered my Halon extinguisher. I was told by the salesperson it is filled with 100% nitrogen? Does anyone know different? I find this curious, if true, in light of being fazed out due to environmental concerns.
                  David Hobby (46447)

                  Comment

                  • Jeff A.
                    Expired
                    • November 1, 2005
                    • 199

                    #10
                    Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

                    Gentlemen,
                    Thanks for taking the time to reply. Gary, those links are very informative. I'll probably end up with Halon, since I still can't find enough conclusive info to convince me that FE36 is comparable. If anyone else has any additional info on FE36, I'm all ears.
                    Thanks again!
                    Jeff

                    Comment

                    • Gary C.
                      Administrator
                      • October 1, 1982
                      • 17549

                      #11
                      Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

                      Did some searching and came up with the attached information compiled from several different sites about Halon vs FE36. Hope this answers some of the questions. Maybe Ridge Kayser or others can provide more info. Gary....
                      Attached Files
                      NCRS Texas Chapter
                      https://www.ncrstexas.org/

                      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565408483631

                      Comment

                      • Jeff A.
                        Expired
                        • November 1, 2005
                        • 199

                        #12
                        Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

                        Originally posted by Gary Chesnut (5895)
                        Did some searching and came up with the attached information compiled from several different sites about Halon vs FE36. Hope this answers some of the questions. Maybe Ridge Kayser or others can provide more info. Gary....
                        Gary,
                        Great info. The last sentence confirms my suspicions about the efficacy of FE36 compared to Halon. Halon, it'll be. I really appreciate your efforts in digging this stuff up.
                        Cheers!
                        Jeff

                        Comment

                        • Dick W.
                          Former NCRS Director Region IV
                          • June 30, 1985
                          • 10483

                          #13
                          Dick Whittington

                          Comment

                          • Jim K.
                            Infrequent User
                            • July 31, 1977
                            • 4

                            #14
                            Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

                            Dick: I concur with your general comments re Halon. In my Navy days I worked in some electronic environments with automatic subfloor Halon discharge. The word was when the fire alarm goes off, get out of Dodge within 3-5 minutes because the Halon displaces all the oxygen thus snuffing out the fire and any lingering humanoids.

                            That said, I used to carry the little 10BC dry chemical extinguishers loaded with Purple K and charged with nitrogen instead of dry air. When our '62 caught fire (fuel) the amount of PK was inadequate. A service station's huge CO2 bottle on a 2-wheel cart saved the car. Also the PK made a big mess in the engine compartment (still better than a total loss....)

                            I soon found that the Corvette could not carry a practical amount of CO2, the 50 pound cylinder. So I opted for Halon which I could get in a small enough bottle to fit in the trunk or beneath the top of our C2. The hope is that the Halon will snuff out the blaze but it lacks dry chemical's ability to smother until the surface temperature drops below the flash point.

                            Never an easy answer, is there?

                            Jim Kalivoda

                            Comment

                            • Terry M.
                              Beyond Control Poster
                              • September 30, 1980
                              • 15573

                              #15
                              Re: Fire extinguishers: Halon vs DuPont FE36

                              I don't think powder will pull the heat out of a hunk of hot material. The burning dry-type transformer I posted about above didn't cool off with the purple powder that was knee-deep. I had the whole building dead, but the FD wouldn't put water on the transformer. The incoming lines were alive at 13KV and the resultant steam would not have been good for them. Water would have pulled the heat out. So would CO2 -- without the mess. Remember the old days when we used to cool The Beast with CO2?

                              The room (about 30K ft square with a false floor. The real floor is about 18-inches down) that I am in now has a sign on the entrance door "WARNING Room Protected by HALON 1304. If alarm sounds exit immediately." The Halon tanks are about 5-feet high, and 3-feet in diameter. I can't remember if there are four or six of them, and the door is locked so I can't look. I can't imagine why they do that.

                              I think the discharge heads are selective and will only discharge where the heat/fire is, but in the 14-years we have been here we have never had a chance to find out. We have lots of drills -- and they all amount to "get out of Dodge." I'll ask the service techs about the discharge heads next time I see them here, but if I ask too many questions they will think I am up to no good. Security, don't you know?

                              I did see a Halon demonstration at a National Safety Congress back in the 1970s in which there was a smoker in a clear plastic enclosure. They discharged Halon into the enclosure and put out the cigarette without harm to the individual. In spite of that vivid memory I follow the exit strategy we have been taught here. Considering all the plastic in the computers, printers, monitors, carpeting, wire, and cabinetry; if there is a fire here I want out.
                              Terry

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