Fire suppression system questions

#1

I need to get a fire suppression system… I’m thinking about this one:
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spa-firefighter-afff-fire-system---4l-multiflow-steel-p621.aspx
Is this a good one, or any other recommendations? This is my first racecar and this is all new to me.
Are other systems easier to install, or safer?

I’m thinking/hoping I’ll be able to mount it behind the passenger seat (seems like a good place for the weight), but truly, I have no idea what I’m doing. Is the installation something that a person with little mechanical experience could install? Any tips or things to watch out for? :unsure:

I also have a kill switch yet to be installed, but after reading the kill switch thread, I think I’m out of my league. Anyway, I’m getting close to having the car race-legal, just need kill switch installed, fire suppression, and new belts. I plan to do my next TT at Roebling, and if I can afford to get the rest of this stuff done, maybe comp school at RdAtl in August.

Much thanks!

#2

That is an excellent fire system. I have mine mounted in the center of the rear seat bench. With it mounted there I can reach the handle of the fire bottle if the pull doesn’t work.

Installation of the system isn’t difficult. It is best to hard mount the nozzles by welding tabs on the roll cage. When installing the system, route the tubing inside of the roll cage. You don’t want the tubing to get pinched between the cage and the body in an incident. In a like manner, mount the corner worker’s pull (and the kill switch) inside the cage so they can’t get crushed.

#3

As usual, Jim has provided excellent info learned from the school of hard knocks.

I haven’t shopped for a system in a while but one thing I would add is to try to find a system that is refillable at the track. I don’t know if all AFFF systems are user-refillable, but if memory serves SPA requires you to ship it back.

I’ve never had to discharge a system for a fire, but during an enduro our crew set off our bottle when changing a dead battery. Luckily, we were done for the weekend anyway, but it would suck for that to happen early in the weekend and be out for the rest.

#4

I have that system as well. I routed the tubing into the engine compartment through the edge of the big rubber grommet that the cable from the ECU goes through. I drilled a hole through the rubber and pounded in a 1/4" (IIRC) nipple so that the malleable tubing wouldn’t get munged up trying to push it through the rubber. I aimed it at the fuel rail there.

The main point of the fire extinguisher is to give you more time to escape so put a couple of nozzles aimed at the driver but not such that foam will spray in your face area.
bruce

#5

I also have that system - the actual install is simple once you decide where you want the bottle, nozzles, and pull handles.

I put the bottle in the floor area behind the passenger seat - it fits nicely there, but it is a tight fit in my car due to the way my cage is routed.

#6

I have the same system. Steve is right about refill. You do have to send this system off to have it refilled. Pegasus Racing and CDOC office this service with 2 year dating - don’t know if Bimmerworld offers same). You have to discharge to send it back for refill (about $150 IIRC).
Ed