Fire extinguishers are not required for the car, although fire protection and traffic experts have been pleading for a long time. So that a vehicle fire is not a horror scenario, the always handy, good fire extinguisher in the car would be highly recommended. There are specially designed for cars and RVs extinguishers that are incredibly fast. Their handling is also very easy and self-explanatory. Buyers should pay attention to compliance with European standard DIN EN 3-7.

What is important with the car fire extinguisher?

First of all, there are powder fire extinguishers and fire retardants for the deletion of a car rim. Whatever the device, it must be checked by a specialist every two years like every fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers are assumed to have a safe function for over 20 years, only then will they have to be replaced. Within this period they provide reliable security and protection.

Car fire extinguisher and fire retardant

Powder fire extinguishers such as the Gloria FG1 permanent pressure extinguisher (extinguishing agent content: 1 kg) or the Sicli AM 5 P2 (charging powder extinguisher, 2 kg) contain an ABC extinguishing powder. Fire retardants such as the MF50 or the MF100 (both from Mangia Fuoco) use a potassium aerosol as the extinguishing agent. This exits as a smoke mist. Although fire retardants work just as well as fire extinguishers with their extinguishing powder, but the potassium aerosol extinguishing agent does not reach the mass 1 kg, which is the prerequisite for approval as a fire extinguisher in the EU. The fire retardants can be used in cars or mobile homes without any problems. They are not required by law, they are effective (so do not create a dangerous illusion of safety), their extinguishing agent weight must not meet any standard.

Car fire extinguisher in the test

In tests of auto fire extinguishers and fire retardants, a specially prepared car is set on fire in accordance with standard conditions. For such a comparison, the experts ignite a pilot fire to an extent that puts the extinguishers to their limits. The vehicle fire is to reach a stage, as it has an advanced incipient fire. Such a fire can still be extinguished itself, but it produces enough smoke to cause serious personal injury and property damage. The powder fire extinguishers thus extinguish a fire, they bring him very quickly under control. With 2 kg extinguishing powder remain after deletion reserves of extinguishing agents, 1 kg extinguishing powder is just enough. Fire retardants can not extinguish such a bigger fire. Your extinguishing agent jet is too weak for this, in the end, an extensive fire can therefore spread unhindered. Fire retardants are therefore only recommended for minor incipient fires. This could be incipient cable and fuel fires, which sometimes occur when handling sparks in the engine compartment. If the fire is still small and comparatively „cold“, it can also be successfully combated with a fire retardant.

Are fire retardants than Car fire extinguisher to recommend at all?

Many fires in the car are initially very tiny and are also noticed immediately by the smoke. All cable fires are part of it. In such cases, fire retardants are sufficient Car fire extinguisher , the biggest advantage of their small size bring. This is usually around 3 x 25 to 3.5 x 35 cm for standard models, so a device can be easily stowed in the vehicle. Car fire extinguisher With a powder base of around 13 x 27 cm to 13 x 35 cm are significantly larger in the footwell in front of the passenger seat disturb you downright. But they should be placed there, so that the driver has lightning fast at hand. Another advantage of fire retardants is the lack of maintenance. According to the manufacturer, they are completely maintenance-free and are guaranteed to last up to 15 years.