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It is important that you carry the best car fire extinguisher in your car at all times, as you never know when you might need it. Car fire extinguishers have the same capacity as normal fire extinguishers, with the only difference being that they are more compact so they don’t take up vital space.
Cars are not the only place where you should carry an extinguisher. You should also keep one handy in your van, truck, camper, caravan, and even in your rally car. Petrol heads should be sure to have the correct type of fire extinguisher accessible when taking part in any type of motorsport.
What Fires Should It Be Able To Deal With?
The three major types of fire in a car, caravan, camper or similar are:
Class A Fires – wood, paper, fabrics etc.
Class B Fires – petrol, grease and other highly inflammable/combustible liquids.
Class C Fires – flammable gases.
Dry powder fire extinguishers are suitable to deal with all of these types of fires, so it makes good sense to have one with you wherever you go.
How Big An Extinguisher Do You Need?
A small powder fire extinguisher is all that’s required for most car fires – 1 kg or 2 kg size extinguishers (or less) are adequate and extremely affordable. And sometimes, they’re supplied with a mounting bracket which prevents it from rolling around and getting damaged.
Larger cars and vans should carry a 2kg powder fire extinguisher. But please note that there are specific ADR regulations for the provision of fire extinguishers in trucks and lorries. Storage solutions include vehicle fire extinguisher brackets and fire extinguisher boxes.
In your standard car, the advice is to store your car fire extinguisher in the boot. This forces you to get yourself out the car, meaning you’re in a better position to react quickly if things don’t go to plan. And when it comes to extinguishing a fire, you shouldn’t fully open the bonnet as the flow of oxygen would cause the fire to quickly escalate. Instead, just pop it open and spray the extinguisher through the small gaps.
What Should You Look For In A Car Fire Extinguisher?
According to the RAC, the best type of car fire extinguisher uses dry powder and has a rating of BC or ABC. The extinguisher should also carry the BS Kitemark to prove its certification, as well as a CE Mark.
Options include the compactly-shaped extinguisher from brand Kidde or the budget-friendly Thomas Glover model.
It may not be the law for private motorists to carry this piece of safety equipment in the UK, but it sure makes good sense. Some European countries do have laws about carrying fire extinguishers so if you’re planning a trip across the channel, check out the laws of the countries you will be visiting.
For just a small price you can help to save thousands of pounds worth of damage, as well as potentially saving the lives of yourself and your passengers. This makes good sense, don’t you think?
