We pay attention not only to mandatory car accessories, but also to those that, although not…
Car fire extinguisher – what is worth knowing?
(photo Moje Auto)
A fire extinguisher is a very important thing because... it is a mandatory part of the car's equipment, so you will receive a fine if you don't have it. A separate issue is whether we can use it correctly. And whether we will have time for it, because where it will be transported, is another, equally important matter.
Regulations regarding a fire extinguisher in a car
When it comes to road safety, a lot of attention is paid to first aid skills. And that's a good thing, because sometimes minutes decide about the health or life of the injured. In my opinion, a necessary element is a car first aid kit - its contents have already been discussed in one of the blog entries. Unfortunately, it is not a mandatory part of the car's equipment, unlike a fire extinguisher. Failure to do so is punishable by a fine - at your discretion - from PLN 20 to PLN 500. The upper limit is therefore very high.
However, the police check the fact that you have a fire extinguisher, not its technical condition. Besides, apart from those with a pressure gauge, this cannot be done without physical use. Therefore, the obligation to legalize it every 12 months was introduced. In practice, it comes down to periodic technical inspection of the vehicle. Therefore, every year my car is equipped with a "foreign" fire extinguisher with a "new" expiration date.
Owners of new cars are in a seemingly better situation, because their inspection will take place only in three years. By the way, this conflicts with the annual legalization obligation. But no one, apart from the diagnostician at the vehicle inspection station, will accuse us of this.
Think about safety
This is what the situation looks like from the legal perspective. It must be admitted that in this case the regulations are mandatory and should be complied with. On the one hand, it is the policeman who decides on the amount of the fine with which he will punish us for not having a fire extinguisher. Probably, if he finds that it was just an accidental oversight on our part and he thinks that he is dealing with a prudent person who takes road safety seriously, he will treat us leniently. Then we will probably receive a fine of one of the lower amounts specified in the tariff for this offense. It will be very good if we treat it as an instruction and immediately after receiving it, we will take steps to ensure that our car is equipped with a fully functional and legal fire extinguisher.
However, if during the inspection we rudely downplay the fact that we do not have a fire extinguisher, the policeman may assume that he is dealing with an ignorant person. This will involve a mandate that will be a lesson learned and at the same time a costly lesson. However, every driver, regardless of which of these situations he finds himself in, should draw the same conclusions. Equipping your car with a fire extinguisher is not long-lasting or complicated. Everyone is aware of how important it is to be safe while driving and the current traffic intensity, which in many cases leads to unpleasant accidents such as collisions or accidents. You never know when having a fire extinguisher will actually prove beneficial and save someone's health or life. Regardless, it is better to travel in such a way that the fire extinguisher in the car will never come in handy.
What should we know before buying a fire extinguisher?
We should pay attention to the presence of a fire extinguisher when purchasing a used car. Even if it is, to be sure - because it is still a small expense - buy a new one. We can find it in every automotive accessories store, hypermarkets and, of course, gas stations. In passenger cars, a 1 kg powder fire extinguisher is sufficient, but a 2 kg fire extinguisher will be more effective. When choosing it, however, check the production date; usually, manufacturers provide a warranty - thus setting the date of the first inspection - for a period of XNUMX years.
Car fire extinguishers have markings B and C, which determine their intended use. In short, these two letters mean suitability for extinguishing fires of liquids, solids and flammable gases. There may also be the letter A, i.e. the extinguishing agent will be effective on materials that can glow - such as rubber (e.g. gasket) or wood (which can be found in the cockpit finishing in higher class models).
(photo: My Car)
One more note - don't be guided by the price of a fire extinguisher. Let's choose a product from a well-known company, which will guarantee that its structure and content are suitable for its intended use.
In this case it is extremely important. Every driver should be aware that some things cannot be saved. A fire extinguisher can certainly be included in such a group. It has a significant impact on improving safety standards when traveling. Although a car fire extinguisher is a product that is used rarely and usually in difficult situations that are better to be avoided, its presence in the car is mandatory. No person, even the best driver in the world, can predict when he will be forced to extinguish a fire that occurred in road traffic.
Let's keep a fire extinguisher within reach, but...
While we are obliged to have a fire extinguisher in our car, the regulations do not specify where it should be located. Nevertheless, the answer seems logical, i.e. in an easily accessible place. Some manufacturers install them in the passenger compartment at the factory, usually under one of the front seats. Most, however, choose a rack, but it does not always have the form of a secure attachment.
This is very important because such a fire extinguisher - like any loose item in the car - will be affected by the laws of physics during a collision or accident. This means uncontrolled movement and poses a very high risk of seriously injuring us or another person. Moreover, with the speed at which we were moving, it would gain additional mass. For example, a liter bottle of water - which is lighter than a metal fire extinguisher bottle - can weigh 50 kg at 60 km/h, and over 90 kg at 200 km/h!
I choose the trunk to carry the fire extinguisher. You can mount a suitable fire extinguisher holder in its wheel arch or simply use the organizer to store various accessories. Its advantage is sewn-in Velcro that easily sticks to the upholstery. However, this does not guarantee quick access to a fire extinguisher.
How to efficiently extinguish a car fire
Statistically, the most common cause of car fire is an electrical short circuit, which is why we use powder fire extinguishers. Occasionally, it may be caused by fuel igniting, but spectacular fireworks are the domain of action movies. Nevertheless, they do happen and in this situation it is better - together with the passengers - to take action!
An electrical short circuit occurs in the engine compartment, which is manifested by heavy smoke from under the hood. Our first instinct is to open it and make an irreversible mistake. Providing a large amount of oxygen becomes an excellent medium for starting and spreading a fire.
To put it very simply, after noticing smoke in our car, we should immediately pull over to the side of the road, then turn off the engine and remove the fire extinguisher. Holding it in a vertical position, remove the pin securing the valve and shake the contents. If the source of the fire is under the hood, we gently open it and use short "shots" to introduce the extinguishing agent. The powder, in contact with air, will extinguish the fire and after a few minutes we will be able to open the hood. Be careful, it will be hot, so you need to wear gloves or use a cloth. Yes, I know it's easy to write such instructions while sitting in front of the computer.
(photo: My Car)
We should follow a similar rule in the event of a car interior fire. However, due to many flammable materials - covers, seat fillings or headliners - the fire extinguisher we have will be ineffective. Therefore, it is worth showing solidarity with other drivers and, seeing such a situation on the road, stop and try to help by using your fire extinguisher. It's true that no one will pay us for it, but remember - money is not everything and karma comes back. Hopefully only in a form other than assistance in a road accident.
Conclusions
- A car fire extinguisher is a mandatory element of car equipment.
- You may be fined for not having a fire extinguisher.
- There are type B and C fire extinguishers.
- A basic car fire extinguisher weighs 1 kg, but it is a good idea for your car to be equipped with a 2 kg fire extinguisher as this increases safety.
- The fire extinguisher should be attached under one of the front seats, this protects it against the laws of physics and facilitates access to it.
- Moje Auto's offer includes professional car fire extinguishers.
- Each car fire extinguisher is designed to extinguish fires both outside and inside the car.
