SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1543953
A FIRE DEFENSIBLE SPACE The Latest In Fire Suppression Systems By Dan Sanchez When a fire breaks out in a race vehicle, there’s no time for pit crew members or chase teams to find and get to you and extinguish it. Fires spread quickly, and it’s one of the reasons why having an immediate fire defense system is mandatory. Racing fire safety experts and manufacturers of fire suppression systems say that the proper placement and routine maintenance of fire suppression devices and systems are key to putting out a vehicle fire as quickly as possible. They have also demonstrated that when in-vehicle fire defense systems are working properly, occupants remain safe and vehicles often continue racing and finish. CLEANER IS BETTER When it comes to the various suppression agents used in hand-held and in-vehicle fire systems, most safety experts believe those using gas (or clean agents) are best. Some of these include Fluoro-K and Fluoro FS. Both are gases and expand quickly when in contact with fire. They are environmentally friendly agents that leave no residue to damage electronics or other sensitive equipment. “We exclusively use a clean, non-conductive, non-corrosive agent called Fluoro FS,” says Johanna von Disterlo of Safecraft. “Compared to traditional extinguishers, this agent leaves no residue and is an excellent choice for desert racing.” Other manufacturers like Lifeline USA use Zero FK, which is branded by the company but is essentially Fluoro-K. “Zero FK is environmentally safe and requires low maintenance,” says Tyler McQuarrie from Lifeline Fire. “It’s a liquid in the bottle and when sprayed expands as a gas with no residue, and it doesn’t hurt electronics.” Both these types of agents also work best in automatic in-vehicle systems, mostly because they can easily flow through tubing and nozzles placed in key fire-prone areas such as engine and drivetrain components. While there are other agents available, they don’t necessarily work well in off-road racing situations. Foam agents in fire extinguishers, for example, are good at drawing out heat and smothering a fire. But because of its high water content, it can’t reach some areas, and they leave a residue. Powder agents are extremely effective, but when mounted in a racing vehicle, the powder packs down in the extinguisher from the vibration, making it ineffective. Fire experts say these should be mostly confined to pit crews or safety teams in a handheld unit. AUTOMATED SYSTEMS While some race teams already use full-vehicle systems that have nozzles pointing into the engine and drivetrain areas to disperse the agent, not many of them are fully automatic. These systems work by incorporating sensors placed in key areas where fires could start. When a sensor reaches 170 degrees F, it activates the system and floods the area with a clean agent. In some cases, fires have been put out before major damage is done, and pit crews can make minor repairs and get the vehicle back on the racecourse. “The benefit of using an automated fire suppression system is that when the driver is unconscious or in a panic to get out of the vehicle, the system will activate,” says Wyatt Skaggs of Firebottle Racing Systems. “There is also a scenario, however, that if you see or detect a fire before it reaches the sensors, you should be able to activate the system manually, too. We offer Automatic/Manual systems so you can get the best of both worlds.” HANDHELD EXTINGUISHERS A MUST In the best scenarios, fire safety experts agree teams should have both in-vehicle automatic systems and handheld extinguishers at the ready. “We are racers and have competed in the SCORE Baja 1000 in a Trophy Truck and UTVs,” says Lifeline’s McQuarrie. “Fire suppression needs to be over-the-top because, unlike other motorsports, off-road racing requires you to be self-sustained when fighting a fire. Having an automated system is a great start, but a handheld backup is always great as a secondary line of defense.” Race vehicles with both systems on their vehicles and with pit and chase crews can provide the best outcome to fight any type of fire. “Chase crews should also have at least three to four handheld units on their vehicles at all times,” says Safecraft’s von Disterlo. “Even with a fully automatic system on a vehicle, there’s no such thing as too much fire protection.” Experts argue that handheld systems must be easily accessible on a race vehicle for pit crew members to grab and use. They also recommend testing the extinguisher release mechanisms before a race to ensure they are operational. MAINTENANCE AND REGULATIONS In cases where fire suppression systems failed to operate, experts say that the problems stemmed from a lack of system maintenance. They recommend that every extinguisher in a race vehicle, pit, and chase vehicle should be tested and checked to see if they are still usable. “All systems over 5 lbs. follow the SFI specifications (SFI 17.1), requiring them to be updated once every two years,” says Skaggs. This includes replacing them every six years. “Although fire agents have a shelf life of 30 years, it’s important that the bottle, pressure check, head, and gauge are inspected,” says McQuarrie. As for hand-held units, the manufacturers we spoke with all agree that they should also be checked, and if you’re uncertain, you can consult with the manufacturer. As for most safety items, finding what’s best for your team’s or individual needs depends on the information you can gather on various systems. “I would encourage doing research,” says von Disterlo. “The size of the suppression system shouldn’t be dictated by the bare minimum required. The locations where the likely chances of fire can occur, fluids near those areas, and fuel fires, can help you determine the number of nozzles needed in your particular vehicle. It can impact how much the suppression system would be helpful in the event it is needed.” Lifeline Fire Systems https://www.lifeline-fire.com/ ZERO 360 10lbs Auto + Mechanical Lifeline has created the SFI 17.1 Mechanical + Automatic fire system that is used on many SCORE Trophy Trucks. It’s as simple and light as possible, while maintaining Lifeline’s historic reputation for performance. MSRP $1,179.99 Lifeline Fire Systems https://www.lifeline-fire.com/ Zero 360 FIA 2.25kg Fire Marshal The Zero 360 FK 5-1-12 passes FIA standards and is a plumbed in-vehicle system that is small and lightweight. It provides constant discharge in any orientation and is a great first step for teams looking to incorporate a mechanical in-vehicle system. It is included in the Polaris RZR Pro R from the factory for racing applications. MSRP $749.99 Zero 360 Handheld Designed for motorsports, the Lifeline Zero 360 hand-held unit is perfect for pit crews or strapped to a roll bar for immediate use. Available in 3 and 5 lbs. bottles with a polished or non-polished finish. MSRP (non-polished) $274- $374 Safecraft https://safecraft-inc.myshopify.com/ LT10AA Fully Automatic This 10 lbs. bottle system is used by most professional racers and teams than any other system. Modular design makes it easy to install and it has a wide variety of mounting and activation options. MSRP starting at $819 LM System This fully automatic LM Model system uses thermal sensor and can be also configured with manual activation. Comes with 10-lb. bottle, hoses, (mounting brackets sold separately) MSRP $943 UT5 Safecraft offers a UTV fully-automatic system that is available in 5 lbs. (shown), and 3 lbs. bottles. The kit is easy to install and comes with a thermal sensor and rollbar mounting brackets. Available in white or matte black finish. MSRP $630 -$715 PB3/PB5 Portable With Mount The Safecraft PB3 and PB3 (3lbs. -5lbs.) fire extinguishers are hand-held portable units with a machined billet aluminum nozzle and Fluoro FS agent. Available with or without a billet mounting bracket (roll bar, and flat mount). MSRP $285 - $412