Too hot for fire extinguisher?

It appears the most readily available fire extinguishers have a rated maximum storage temperature of 120F. I hadn't noticed this before, but it's clearly much less than a closed vehicle might experience in hot weather.

Are there extinguishers with higher ratings?

Do people just not worry about how much hotter the interior might get?

 

Maybe these will work for you.

 

Thanks, that's interesting. I like how compact it is.

 

I've carried a fire extinguisher in my work van for years, had one in my tacoma and one in my current vehicle. To be honest It never crossed my mind about the heat and it not being able to withstand it.

 

According to Kidde, the discharge time may be reduced at higher temperatures: https://www.kidde.com/home-safety/e...cles/articles/storing-fire-extinguishers.html This is probably why the labels on my two Kidde extinguishers specify -40F to 120F as the "intended use" range:



The cylinder and valve are tested to much higher temperatures and pressures in UL testing, so the extinguisher will not rupture in the vehicle interior due to heat. This particular Kidde model I bought from Home Depot is filled to 100 psi, but is tested to 300 psi according to the label. Just make sure your mounting bracket doesn't have damaging features like a screw head digging into the cylinder wall.

You'll need 2-3 E100 sticks at a cost of $250-360 to equal the performance of a single 2.5lb extinguisher. Plus you need to be uncomfortably close to the fire to use it: https://www.4runners.com/posts/429058 Though it's better than having no extinguisher at all (e.g. you're backpacking on foot).

 

I kept one in my Tacoma also for the entire time I owned it. It was stored in the cubby behind the drivers-side rear passenger seat. I plan on mounting the same one to a molle panel in my new 4 Runner.

 

Car temp is not an issue, but it will effect the fire extinguishers performance.

Always had to have a UL listed fire extinguisher in my commercial vehicles (FMCSA requirement) and the trucks didn't even have AC. Just think about it, all commercial vehicles are required to have a fire extinguisher, how many have been reported to blow up?

 

Yes, it seems uncommon anecdotally. Although I can't find it now, there's at least one report on the forum of a fire extinguisher that released contents while unattended. It's good to know that the temp specs are about performance rather than containment failure.

 

If i recall there was one that was not UL listed in another country that discharged.

 

The FESA5 fits in door cup/bottle holders and after a few years of baking the pressure checker still reads good. Once I grab a couple replacements I'll do a hot test discharge, for science.

 

Make sure to take video and post!

 

Hey 3JOH22A,

I hope you’re right for most folks. But a few years ago I was driving through town for work, about 2 pm. 4R had been sitting in the sun all morning. The extinguisher I had mounted on a Molle panel in the back window just started unloading randomly. I had no idea what was happening at first but rolled all the windows down and pulled over. Everyone probably thought cheech and Chong went nuts the way my truck was smoking. Smells weirdly like burnt chemicals. Cleaning up was a chore. I’m not keeping one in my truck over the summer anymore.

 

Just installed one in the garage. I have 4 included one installed in the boat. I had to use the boat one because my grill grease caught on fire years ago.

 

The "flare" style is a great design.

 

The house I bought 10 yrs ago had an old fire extinguisher left in the garage, about the size of the one in your photo. A couple yrs ago my neighbor across the street fired up his old Alpha Romeo and went back into his house while it warmed up. A couple of minutes later and I hear this "WhhhHUUMPPfff while I was puttering around in my garage. Looked across the street to see flames under his ride and surrounding his car. Yelled "FIRE", grabbed the old FE and ran over to his car and discharged what seemed like the better part of the FE under and around his ride, putting it out while he ran out of his house, jumped in and turned off the engine. Turns out something had disconnected in the fuel line and gasoline was ejecting into the engine compartment, so fortunately he turned it off. Damage wasn't too bad since I was on it quickly. The lesson learned , ALWAYS keep a FE handy, and always make sure its ready to go. I feel we got lucky that this old extinguisher had some life left in it.