Outside Refrigerator Compartment

[hardy1000]

After another Norcold recall I decided to order the Halon fire extinguisher and after doing that, I thought I would put down some foil tape for some added insulation. Any opinions good or bad on what I did here would be appriciated.

[steelheadbluesman]

Hardy 1000 - I'm very interested in what you are doing, and any preventive measures, but I guess I don't understand what the foil does? Tell us more? Thanks

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelheadbluesman Hardy 1000 - I'm very interested in what you are doing, and any preventive measures, but I guess I don't understand what the foil does? Tell us more? Thanks

The purpose of the foil tape is to cover the exposed wood bottom and side next to the burner to help insulate it against fire. I realize that it would be rare for fire to burn low but just in case.

[Mopar1973Man]

Foil will give a temporary barrier for hot embers that might fall out. Now if you could create a lifted platform that had a air space between that foil now and the platform you would be set...

But the best thing is to deal with the defect of the fridge and get it repaired... If it is repaired then you should be set...

["007"]

Before you place your extinguisher keep track of this thread Sammie is working on placement of his above the refrigerator.
Placement on deck of fridge may not trigger the link of extinguisher as shown in picture of fire to someones coach.

[Dr4Film]

Hardy, it really won't hurt anything by doing it and it looks really great, so don't worry.

I would be more concerned about where and how you intend on placing the Halon tank. You didn't include a photo of that.

I have included a couple of photos of my Halon tank installation. You can see that the nozzle and thermo-sensor is located above the LPG flame, adjacent to the Absorber tank and very near to the 120 volt heaters.

Any questions, let me know.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

[RJay]

I don't know if there are different types of Halon as there are different type of air conditioning refrigerant. I came across this article about Halon and thought I would post it.

[Dr4Film]

RJay,

The Halon RV frig compartment fire extinguishers are made with Halon 1211 not the 1301 which that article references.

Nothing to be concerned about regarding the use of Halon 1211, they are not making anymore of it but there is enough already in supply to last an eternity.

It is very safe used for this application and many race car owners use it for their engines amongst many other uses.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

[RJay]

Richard,
Thanks, I'm not at all familiar with Halon and while I was searching the internet on the subject I came across the above linked article. I thought Halon might come in different types because I still see it being sold on the internet but wasn't sure so I thought I would post a link for comments. Thanks again.

[Mopar1973Man]

More I keep thinking about this mounting issue... I say mount it up high with the nozzle pointed down. But flames and heat will always rise up. Remember is a chimney so even if the fire start out low the flames will always rise...

["007"]

I tend to agree Mopar we are working on it or Sammie is for that matter.

[RJay]

It seems to me that heat rises from the back of the refrigerator up the chimney. If there was a fire back there the heat from it would also draw the Halon up with it. So mounting it low near the source of the fire might be better.

[hardy1000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mopar1973Man Foil will give a temporary barrier for hot embers that might fall out. Now if you could create a lifted platform that had a air space between that foil now and the platform you would be set... But the best thing is to deal with the defect of the fridge and get it repaired... If it is repaired then you should be set...

All recalls have been done and up to date, so hopefully we are done. Thanks for the reply.

[Dr4Film]

I have been corresponding with both Mac-The Fire Guy, who I purchased my coach fire suppression system from, and Ralph, from Fire-Fight where the Halon and AFFF tanks were delivered from, regarding the "Ideal" placement of the Halon tank inside the Norcold cavity.

They are both bewildered by the latest Norcold fire that happened in November to a coach where the fire started up higher than "normal", it totaled the coach and the owners Halon tank didn't even go off because the heat wasn't hot enough for it to trigger the Thermo-release in the head.

See post #18 from this thread: Mounting an automatic fire extinguisher "Norcold Fires"

I suggested to them that an alternative system needed to be designed where the Halon tank head would have two openings to dispense the Halon . One going to a head placed high in the cavity and one with a head placed low in the cavity. Then there would be X number of heat sensors place in strategic locations within the cavity. These sensors would be set to trigger the Halon tank anytime they sensed a fire/heat in that location. The entire tank would then release to both heads at the same time, lower and upper, regardless of where the fire started. Due to the concentration of Halon inside the cavity, it would provide about 20 times what was actually needed to snuff out the fire regardless of the "chimney" affect. The sensor's would need to be rated at an appropriate temperature higher than what would normally be found inside the cavity when operating normally, which I believe would be around 150F or less.

The closest they have come to providing a setup like what I described above is to offer a two headed tank with two 165F heads to be placed in the cavity with high pressure SS hose running to each head. However, both heads may not release depending on whether the Thermo-release had been triggered or not. Somewhat better than just one tank and one head but not enough to fully protect the entire cavity from totaling the coach in a Norcold fire.

Due to the nature of this specific fire, there is an ongoing investigation by the fire department and Norcold to learn more about exactly what had happened. Most of the "normal" Norcold fires have started low in the cavity either with the ruptured Absorber tank or the shorting of the 120 volt heaters.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.