2010 - Fire extinguisher rule clarification
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 1:41 pm
Current technical rule:
4.B. Fire Extinguisher
1. 2.5-lb minimum A-B-C type or 1.25-lb Halon or approved substitute; must be fully charged; must have a gauge.
2. Shall be securely mounted with catch to side or rear. No plastic straps, catches, or brackets. Must not be mounted behind the driver and should be mounted as low and as far forward as possible. Should be mounted within reach of the driver.
3. Onboard fire system may be used, and is required in any car with a nitrous system. Must be SCCA approved. A hand held bottle is also required.
Discussion:
1. At Philo a new competitor was certain that a hand-held extinguisher was not required if an on-board system was installed. I believe it has been our intent for some time to require competitors to carry the capability to quickly extinguish or contain a fire external to the vehicle that may be or create a brush or grass fire in addition to vehicle damage. I think that is one of the (if not the primary) reasons the A part of the A-B-C extinguisher is specified in B.1. An on-board system will not meed this need. We need to clarify in 4.B.1. that in addition to the A-B-C rating and size the minimum extinguisher requirement is specifically a handheld.
2. Don had proposed last year or the year before, and I believe it was accepted, that extinguishers larger than 2.5 pounds, be mounted with no fewer than 2 straps. This requirement is not in this set of rules regarding extinguisher requirements.
3. In 4.B.2, what exactly does "catch to side or rear" mean? Is the "catch" the latching mechanism on the restraining strap(s)? I assume the first somehow relates to the orientation of the extinguisher and mount as seen in the car as opposed to the catch as it relates to the bracket. If so I think we have a number of extinguishers on cars right now that do not meet this. For example there are extinguishers in cars today that are mounted to the floor and where the catch is opposite the mounting bracket or UP, not the side or rear. I personally dont feel this last orientation (Up) presents any more risk to the bottle coming out than if the bottle were mounted such that the "catch" is on the side or rear.
Proposal (except for discussion 3. above which probably needs some work too):
Reword section 4.b as follows:
1. Portable or hand-held 2.5-lb minimum A-B-C type or 1.25-lb Halon or approved substitute; must be fully charged; must have a gauge.
2. Shall be securely mounted with catch to side or rear. No plastic straps, catches, or brackets. Extinguishers over 2.5 pound rating must be mounted with a minimum of 2 straps. Must not be mounted behind the driver and should be mounted as low and as far forward as possible. Should be mounted
within reach of the driver.
3. Onboard fire system may be used, and is required in any car with a nitrous system. Must be SCCA approved. A hand held bottle meeting 4.B.1 and 4.B.2 is also required.
4.B. Fire Extinguisher
1. 2.5-lb minimum A-B-C type or 1.25-lb Halon or approved substitute; must be fully charged; must have a gauge.
2. Shall be securely mounted with catch to side or rear. No plastic straps, catches, or brackets. Must not be mounted behind the driver and should be mounted as low and as far forward as possible. Should be mounted within reach of the driver.
3. Onboard fire system may be used, and is required in any car with a nitrous system. Must be SCCA approved. A hand held bottle is also required.
Discussion:
1. At Philo a new competitor was certain that a hand-held extinguisher was not required if an on-board system was installed. I believe it has been our intent for some time to require competitors to carry the capability to quickly extinguish or contain a fire external to the vehicle that may be or create a brush or grass fire in addition to vehicle damage. I think that is one of the (if not the primary) reasons the A part of the A-B-C extinguisher is specified in B.1. An on-board system will not meed this need. We need to clarify in 4.B.1. that in addition to the A-B-C rating and size the minimum extinguisher requirement is specifically a handheld.
2. Don had proposed last year or the year before, and I believe it was accepted, that extinguishers larger than 2.5 pounds, be mounted with no fewer than 2 straps. This requirement is not in this set of rules regarding extinguisher requirements.
3. In 4.B.2, what exactly does "catch to side or rear" mean? Is the "catch" the latching mechanism on the restraining strap(s)? I assume the first somehow relates to the orientation of the extinguisher and mount as seen in the car as opposed to the catch as it relates to the bracket. If so I think we have a number of extinguishers on cars right now that do not meet this. For example there are extinguishers in cars today that are mounted to the floor and where the catch is opposite the mounting bracket or UP, not the side or rear. I personally dont feel this last orientation (Up) presents any more risk to the bottle coming out than if the bottle were mounted such that the "catch" is on the side or rear.
Proposal (except for discussion 3. above which probably needs some work too):
Reword section 4.b as follows:
1. Portable or hand-held 2.5-lb minimum A-B-C type or 1.25-lb Halon or approved substitute; must be fully charged; must have a gauge.
2. Shall be securely mounted with catch to side or rear. No plastic straps, catches, or brackets. Extinguishers over 2.5 pound rating must be mounted with a minimum of 2 straps. Must not be mounted behind the driver and should be mounted as low and as far forward as possible. Should be mounted
within reach of the driver.
3. Onboard fire system may be used, and is required in any car with a nitrous system. Must be SCCA approved. A hand held bottle meeting 4.B.1 and 4.B.2 is also required.