Fire extinguishers for the shop

Dave Sherburne NY · Nov 9, 2013

My son is moving his business into a larger shop Jan 1 and I want to get him a couple of fire extinguishers for Christmas. What type and how big should I get. He does mechanic, painting and restoration work? I think I can get them from the Fire Dept and will ask them to.

Brad Buchanan · Nov 9, 2013

Hi Dave.

I have carbon dioxide extinguishers with abc dry chemical for backup.

The co2 extinguisher will put out a small fire in one shot with no residue.

The dry chemical extinguishers make a terrible mess.

Brad

Mike (WA) · Nov 9, 2013

Its the fire department that inspects, to see if you have extinquisher and that its up to date, so I'd ask them. There is also a requirement for one every so many square feet, so have that info when you go.

I didn't have a fire extinguisher in my law office- didn't know it was required. Did some work for a woman who sold and serviced fire extinquishers as a side line, and she gave me one as part of my fee (she never got around to paying the rest, either).

Fast forward 6 or 8 years- she came back in for an office conference, looked at the extinguisher and said "its several years overdue for service", took it with her, and I haven't seen her since.

As someone on this board once said, "If some guy owes you 20 bucks and you never see him again, its probably worth it."

dustycoal · Nov 9, 2013

Nice gift, We have 10 lb abc types at every door way. Even have some mounted on the tractors. Never have enough when needed. Call your Fire department will tell you what is needed in your part of the country. Need to check them every month make sure they show charged. They do get used. Had couple times already it save us. Once when the wife saw a glow out in the barn during thunder storm, lighten had hit the barn and started small fire and another time during engine fuel leak out in the middle of field.

Wile E · Nov 9, 2013

I would do some research on what size handles a set size of fire. I have 2 in the house and 3 in the garage. But they are all small extinguishers. Getting a couple of small ones is better than nothing.

Dick2 · Nov 9, 2013

First, I would get recommendations from the nearest fire department, at least to get some ideas.

Costco sells 2 different sizes; for a business open to the public, I would buy an assortment of large, medium and small to locate in appropriate areas.

There is one company that makes a small pressurized spray container that the company claims has more fire extinguishing ability that two of the common medium size. This might be a case of "believe what you want to believe", but I have one of each in the house and in the garage.

buickanddeere · Nov 9, 2013

Does the shop drop below freezing temps?
The Class ABC is a one size fits all that is fine on burning liquids "B" or electrical "C" . Not worth a darn on class A.

2-1/2 gallon pressurized water with AFFF handles class A and liquid hydrocarbon fires best.

GeneMO · Nov 9, 2013

A lawyer that doesn't get his moeny? You need to find another profession.

Gene

Mark6005 · Nov 9, 2013

A couple things I might mention as learned from running a fire extinguisher business for over 30 yrs, don"t buy the smallest one out there. Nothing is worse than nearly having a fire out and the unit go empty. The box stores sell ones that have poor quality chemical and most companies won"t recharge anything with plastic valves. A good 10 lb abc will meet nearly all codes and insurance requirements. My .02

Hay hay hay · Nov 9, 2013

I was going to do some research, but could not decide what size fire I was going to have. Still thinking about it.

Royse · Nov 9, 2013

I think it would be a great gift Dave. Could be the gift of life.
Checking with your fire department and local codes is obvious.
I have several dry chemical extinguishers in the shop and house.
If you can find one, the old water filled type is great to have
around too, just for those little incidentals.
You fill it with water then charge it with air from the air compressor.
Use it over and over, fill it yourself for free. Works great on small stuff.
It's the only one I've ever used in my shop thank goodness.
But if the fit ever hit the shan, I'd want the good stuff!

johndeere720GA · Nov 9, 2013

I used to think that a dry chemical would be a good all around extinguisher. They do extinguish the flames but...if there are embers then it will not stop a rekindle. I was traveling through Tennessee and a young guy drove into the same fuel station I was using. I noticed that his car was smoking, grabbed an abc extinguisher and put out the fire (clothes) in his trunk. 5 seconds later the breeze rekindled the burning embers in the cotton clothing and things were on fire again. Put the flames out again and began unloading the trunk trying not to get burned. Finally got the clothes out of the car and ran them under a hydrant (no hose) only then was the fire out. So just because the flames are out doesn"t mean the fire is out.
His recently repaired muffler ended up being installed too close to the floor of the trunk.

RalphWD45 · Nov 10, 2013

I had a fire on a 75 ford LN 800, last week. The old ford had been sitting for at least 5 yrs, without being started. I put a new battery in it and 5 gal of new gas, and it started up ok. I had noticed some gas seeping out around the linkage shafts on the carb, wetting the manifold, but dismissed it, in my hurry to get it running. While sitting there warming up it caught the top of the motor on fire, I jumped down out of the cab, and tilted the Hood foreward, and then ran to the house for water and my son to help. by the time we got back with 5 gal of water and put it out, it had burned all the wiring off the firewall, and melted the holly carb. Now reading this post, it reminded me that I had a large dry chemical extinguisher under the seat, that I put in there 5 yr's ago.

FBH44 · Nov 10, 2013

Got the biggest one I could find in the shop, one in each tractor, and numerous ones by the back door of the house, one in each p/u, one in the crawlspace, etc.

NoNewParts · Nov 10, 2013

after the FD says what you need or are required to have,
get a few more.
In my shop....and house, I have them mounted here and there,
but have a few more that can be right next to me on the floor when I'm doing something sparky.
I also mount an extra one right by the entrance so it's right there,
if I see a glow out there at night.
Don't neglect to have enough water hose on your shop spigot,
and roll it out when doing torch work. It's a pain, but worth it.
seconds matter.
And in the house, kitchen, heaters, of course, but another in the bedroom will help you fight your way OUT

Elmers Grassman · Nov 10, 2013

Extinguisher size and placement are based on hazard classification. If he"s in NY I would talk to the local codes guy not the FD. Many FDs don"t have a clue about extinguishers. I agree with the 2.5 gal foam water even if it is not required. I would use one with Class A foam however.

Dr. Walt · Nov 10, 2013

Buy your extinguishers from a shop that deals exclusively in fire extinguishers, NOT from your local discount store.

You'll want 3 types, 20 pound ABC's filled with "Purple K", - not the standard cheap filler powder; a 2 1/2 gallon pressurized water with AFFF (Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam), as mentioned by buickanddeere; and a large CO2 extinguisher.

dpendzic · Nov 10, 2013

thats all an great if you are there when a fire breaks out--in my 50 years of fire fighting most fires occur after hours when no one is there. I good fire alarm hooked up to an automatic dialer is a great asset.

Fire extinguishers for the shop

Dave Sherburne NY

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Brad Buchanan

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Mike (WA)

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dustycoal

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Wile E

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Dick2

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buickanddeere

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GeneMO

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Mark6005

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Hay hay hay

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Royse

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johndeere720GA

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RalphWD45

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FBH44

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NoNewParts

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Elmers Grassman

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Dr. Walt

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dpendzic

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