new fire extinguisher

[c9zx]

I got a new fire extinguisher for the car for Christmas. It is a very interesting design and it is small. https://elementfire.com/pages/models

 

[Don C]

Very interesting, for sure, thanks for sharing.

 

[jpaz]

Very cool, might just have to get one of those.

 

[c9zx]

It is a bit speedy at $80.00 but, has 5 times the discharge to of a normal car sized extinguisher and even works on grease fires. Chuck

 

[Don C]

Cheap insurance. I'm thinking about one for our motorhome, I've seen several burned down to the frame, surprisingly most from engine fires, not from a bad cook. Hard to get the powder from a regular extinguisher back into the engine without pulling the cover off inside. Plus, the size of these will make it easy to move around from vehicle to vehicle. Plus 2, don't have to worry about getting them serviced. I've seen people try to use old extinguishers that either had no pressure or the powder had caked up.

 

[goodnigh]

May get me one of those also. Currently have a Halotron unit but can be dangerous.

mike

 

[7173Vert]

UL/ULC tested and certified? Has any accredited testing agency applied their approval mark to these?

 

[73pony]

UL/ULC tested and certified? Has any accredited testing agency applied their approval mark to these?

I would say no. This is from their website.....

"IS ELEMENT CERTIFIED? 

Originating in Italy, Element has been certified for sale in Europe by CE and TUV. Institutionally it has been tested and certified for use by multiple international military and police groups who have adopted it for active use.

In North America, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is responsible for the certification of fire extinguishers. UL does their testing to a standard that contains a form (physical shape) component followed by a performance component. Because Element's form does not fit inside of UL's guidelines of what a traditional fire extinguisher looks like (i.e. compressed gas cylinder with a hose and measurement gauge) it is immediately passed over for performance testing. At present UL is being campaigned to update its standards to recognize the different form offered by Element and allow it an opportunity to be tested and certified.

Until the standards are updated Element cannot be used to substitute extinguishers in regulated environments that require a UL (or UL endorsed) certification. Element can however be freely used as an supplement to the extinguishers used where regulation exists.

There are no restrictions in non-regulated environments (car, home, personal garage, etc.) allowing Element to be used freely.

 

[7173Vert]

UL/ULC tested and certified? Has any accredited testing agency applied their approval mark to these?

I would say no. This is from their website.....

"IS ELEMENT CERTIFIED? 

Originating in Italy, Element has been certified for sale in Europe by CE and TUV. Institutionally it has been tested and certified for use by multiple international military and police groups who have adopted it for active use.

In North America, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is responsible for the certification of fire extinguishers. UL does their testing to a standard that contains a form (physical shape) component followed by a performance component. Because Element's form does not fit inside of UL's guidelines of what a traditional fire extinguisher looks like (i.e. compressed gas cylinder with a hose and measurement gauge) it is immediately passed over for performance testing. At present UL is being campaigned to update its standards to recognize the different form offered by Element and allow it an opportunity to be tested and certified.

Until the standards are updated Element cannot be used to substitute extinguishers in regulated environments that require a UL (or UL endorsed) certification. Element can however be freely used as an supplement to the extinguishers used where regulation exists.

There are no restrictions in non-regulated environments (car, home, personal garage, etc.) allowing Element to be used freely.

I already knew it was not... Personally, I would not install this in my car. 

Interesting that the mfr. is trying to extrapolate the UL requirements by manipulating their wording. Bottom line: UL does not have to update their requirements, the mfr. should build a product that meets the proven intent of the applicable standards.

 

[Don C]

If manufacturers didn't petition UL to update their specifications, and if the UL never updated, we would still be using cathode ray television sets (no flat screens or 60" screens to watch the big game on) and incandescent light bulbs, for a couple of examples. Innovation by manufacturers triggers the need for UL updates. UL does not come up with new ideas.

 

[Jeff73Mach1]

I will get a few of these at some point. I will also continue to carry a standard fire extinguisher in my car. I've had to use one before and they make a huge mess, this sounds promising and worth a little redneck testing to see what it will accomplish.

 

[c9zx]

UL/ULC tested and certified? Has any accredited testing agency applied their approval mark to these?

Yes CE tested and approved and TUV tested and approved. They are made in Italy hence the CE/TUV testing and not UL/ULC. Chuck

 

[mudbilly]

Well, Jay Leno is impressed............

[video=youtube]


But it isn't available on Amazon, so it really doesn't exist.....

 

[goodnigh]

As mentioned above, dry chemicals work but make a big mess.

In comes Halon/Halotron. My understanding is the Halon units

don't affect the electronics of modern cars as would a dry

chemical. What about these?

mike

 

[EBSTANG]

Just bought one after watching Jay Leno's video.

A couple months ago I was cruising, stopped in the DD drive thru for a coffee and smelled gas. As I waited I thought to myself..."gee the carb smells a little rich..." I got my coffee and drove home. When I pulled into my garage I left the car running and popped the hood to check things out while sipping my coffee. As I opened the hood I saw gas spraying (and I mean f*cking SPRAYING!!!) from the braided stainless steel line connecting the front and rear of the beautiful Quick Fuel carb on my beautiful 351 Cleveland stroker motor in my beautiful 73 Mach 1.

That hose was only 3 years old. I do not know how it did not ignite. I sh*t my pants.

Your (and I mean all of you) car is not immune from this happening. If it happened to my car, trust me it can happen to your car.

Buy one! Now!

 

[Don C]

Halon is ozone depleting and remains in the atmosphere for an estimated 400 years. It has been eliminated from use in most countries except for aviation and other critical uses. It can still be used in the U.S., but is not readily available.

 

[7173Vert]

UL/ULC tested and certified? Has any accredited testing agency applied their approval mark to these?

Yes CE tested and approved and TUV tested and approved. They are made in Italy hence the CE/TUV testing and not UL/ULC. Chuck

Approved for use in North America? Does ULI (USA) and ULC (Canada) recognize the testing of these units in Italy (CE/TUV) to satisfy our standards, hence eligible to bear North American recognition for use here? Big difference...

 

[EBSTANG]

I saw it work on YouTube...good enough for me.

Personally, I'm not gonna wait for some governmental agency to approve.

If my car is burning I'm gonna try it first. I do have a regular extinguisher in the trunk, but as they said in the video that'll only last about 10 seconds

 

[c9zx]

UL/ULC tested and certified? Has any accredited testing agency applied their approval mark to these?

Yes CE tested and approved and TUV tested and approved. They are made in Italy hence the CE/TUV testing and not UL/ULC. Chuck

Approved for use in North America? Does ULI (USA) and ULC (Canada) recognize the testing of these units in Italy (CE/TUV) to satisfy our standards, hence eligible to bear North American recognition for use here? Big difference...

It sounds like you may be suffering from "not invented here syndrome". I hope you recover soon. Chuck