Fire Extinguishers

An on-board extinguisher gives the driver, or a marshal, the means to put out a fire before it takes hold in the engine bay or reaches the cabin. The range holds foam and clean-agent extinguishers, parts for plumbed-in systems from aluminium tubing to a control box, and FIA inspection services.

Two extinguishants appear here. Foam cools the burning surface and blankets spilled fuel, which helps stop it re-igniting, but it leaves a residue to clean up. FK-5-1-12 is a clean agent: it absorbs heat and interrupts the flame, then evaporates without residue and does not conduct electricity, so it spares wiring and electronics.

A hand-held bottle has to be released from its clamps and aimed by hand. A plumbed-in system discharges through fixed nozzles into the cockpit and engine bay, and the driver can fire it while still belted in, by pull cable or electrically. An outside trigger lets marshals fire it too.

Choose by these points:

• Extinguishant and size: a 2 kg FK-5-1-12 extinguisher, or 2.4 kg of foam in a 132 mm steel bottle. The foam unit comes with aluminium brackets and stainless steel quick-release clamps.
• Brackets: listed for 130 and 160 mm bottles, or for a named bottle model.
• Plumbing: 8 mm aluminium tubing in 4 m lengths, with straight, T, L-shaped and three-way connectors for 6×8 mm pipe, including a three-way piece with quick couplings.
• Activation: a pull cable for mechanical release, a valve, and a control box with a 1.5 m cable for electrical firing.
• Service: FIA inspection services, listed by system code, for extinguishers already in use.

Mount bottles low in the cockpit, on the floor or cage, with brackets bolted through backing plates. Route tubing clear of exhaust heat and sharp edges, and clip it at intervals.

For events run to FIA rules, Appendix J Article 253 asks hand-held mountings to withstand 25 g, with at least two metal quick-release fixings and metal straps. Each hand-held bottle also carries a filling or check date, and the rules limit how old it may be, so check it before every season. National and series rules can differ, so check the current text for your events.