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Garage/Pole Barn Safety: Fire Extinguishers?

2K views 26 replies 18 participants last post by  kp99xj 
#1 ·
Now that my shop is semi-setup, I need fire extinguishers. What are you guys keeping in your garages or barns?

I have a 30x48 barn, wood structure/metal siding & roof. Its unfinished now, but will eventially get finished. I do cutting/grinding/welding in there, so there can be sparks. At the present, I do not have water run to the barn. The nearest hose at the house is about 120ft away.

I've been looking at 10 - 20 lbs extinguishers, I'm thinking I would like 2 of them. Are the CO2 ones worth the price upgrade over an ABC Dry chemical? I know the CO2 won't make a big mess.

Or should I have 1 of each? Or is there another type useful for this type of environment?

Anywhere local (to norther Oakland County) that has good prices? I'm seeing $70-$100 for a 10-20lb dry chem, and like $200-$300 for a 20lb CO2 online.

:beer:
 
#2 ·
I've had 2 fires out there in the last few months, both little and easily dealt with, but made me think that I definately need some safetly items out there.

1) Sparks hit some tissue paper packaging material, that stuff lit and burned extermely quick. Stanped it out with my foot.

2) Carb backfire ignited a paper air cleaner that had some starting fluid soaked into it. I just tossed the air filter out the door.

Don't want to count on being so lucky next time...
 
#3 ·
I have a 10 lb ABC and 50 ft of hose always connected to the faucet.

Additionally- If I'm doing any kind of welding I fill a 5 gallon bucket at least half full of water and toss a couple rags in there. Dropping a soaked rag on whatever is burning usually puts it out pretty quickly.
 
#6 ·
Bucket and water, and a small ABC for any oil/grease that might catch.

Looked into a sprinkler system when I moved in in 96, due to having 1600 sq ft to cover.

City would not issue a permit since it was residential, and overhead sprinklers were zoned for commercial/industrial. Then found out my insurance would not cover anything anyway if I was welding in the garage.
 
#7 ·
My barn and house is excessive I have 5 in the barn 3 in the house 2 in the garage....only because, my father inlaw bought a room at an auction last year and it had a ton of fire extinguishers in it so he gave me a bunch of them. They are nice... not sure of the tank size, but they are big probably 30-40lbers ?? they stand about 22-24" tall. I really like the size of them.
 
#8 ·
My barn and house is excessive I have 5 in the barn 4 in the house 2 in the garage....only because, my father inlaw bought a room at an auction last year and it had a ton of fire extinguishers in it so he gave me a bunch of them. They are nice... not sure of the tank size, but they are big probably 30-40lbers ?? they stand about 22-24" tall. I really like the size of them.
Check the inspection dates on them, from what I've heard if they are past date they may not work even if the gauge shows pressure. Contact an extinguisher company to verify.
 
#14 ·
My .02

I like having a CO2 extinguisher and a chem extinguisher. I'll fire the chem if I have to but anyone that has ever fired one for real knows it sucks afterward. I have water and a hose right outside the door but I also have a large dish soap bottle full of water that I use to put small bushing fires and stuff like that out. Squirts right where you want it. Closes nice and fits on a shelf.
 
#16 ·
Oh my. My favorite subject.
20 lb halon
Two 2 1/2 gal water pressure fire extinguisher (used to keep afff charged)
Plus I have a bunch of ABC of different sizes
I also keep an Indian backpack pump handy.

In my experience, I have used water pressure 10 to 1 compared to all others.
ABC is great but has no cooling or penetration, makes a great mess and tastes like shit.

If you are prone to starting fires or blowing shit up water is cheap and plentiful and extremely effective 99% of the time.

Extinguishers should be at the exits and no one should have to travel more than fifty feet to access a fire extinguisher.
 
#20 ·
I have three 3lb ABC and two 8lb ABC in the house. Another 3lb ABC in the back porch. Two 8lb ABC in the detached garage. One 3lb ABC in the basement garage.

I keep a 5 gallon bucket of water about half full in the detached garage. I use it for cooling when grinding parts but it's also good for putting out fires. In the winter time I keep windshield washer fluid in it to keep it from freezing.

I've never had to use an extinguisher on my own stuff but I have used the bucket of water a bunch of times. I do not recommend welding in nylon shorts, even if it is "just for a minute". haha.

Make the bottom 2' of a pole building steel or aluminum. Way cheaper than a new building.
 
#21 ·
Whatever you get, make sure its in a easily accessible area that is also easy to explain/identify in a panic.

A while back while working on a friends xj my buddy got to close to the plastic fuel line with the plasma (knew it was there but didn't realize it was plastic)...it melted, big fire, jeep was on the hoist....he's yelling that the extinguishers are by the window, but there were multiple windows so i'm running like a fool from window to window trying to find them.
 
#22 ·
I have a single fire extinguisher in my garage, which probably isn't enough. Getting more has been on my "to do" list for a long time but never gets done. My 100ft garden hose is 10ft from the door, but that wouldn't be the quickest option by the time I turn it on and drag it in there. Definitely gonna have to use the bucket idea too.
 
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