Fire Suppression Systems

[Mo-n-Sally]

What are your recommendations for an engine Fire Suppression System on an R-27?

 

[Andrew Custis]

On a diesel fire suppression system you have to make sure you install an automatic version that will also shut the engine down in case of discharge. We used this brand along with part numbers for a Volvo installation. If you have any questions about the system, I would suggest a call to Fireboy directly as we really haven't done a ton of them as only required when shipping boats overseas.

Fire Suppression Sys. HFC-227 25 cu.ft.-1500 cu.ft CG20025227-B FireBoy
Engine shut down Fire sys Engine shut, 3 Circuit ELS-3510-01 FireBoy

Thank you,

 

[Toki]

Andrew, are you saying R27's are supposed to have this fire suppression system installed out of the factory? Or are you saying this can be added later by the owner?

During the survey of my 2016 R27 it was noted that the engine bay contained no fire suppression system. The surveyor thought it was odd, and maybe not to code, for the boat to come out of the factory this way.

How about the rest of you R27 (or other model) owners? Do your tugs have engine bay fire suppression systems?

 

[allanrs74@gmail.com]

Toki,

My 2016 27' C diesel does not have an automatic fire suppression system. My response to an engine room fire was to add an extra fire extinguisher located inside the cabin door entrance and use the opening/cap intended to fill the engine coolant just outside the cabin door to manually release the fire extinguishers. The risk of an engine compartment fire on a diesel is quite low. Inboard gas engines are a bit different.

Regards,
Bob Allan
Annie M

 

[tugnnaweigh]

I’ve installed fire suppression systems and vapor detectors but only on gas boats because gasoline vaporizes into an explosive cloud whenever it’s not contained. Gas boats also come with fans you’re supposed to run for a copla minutes prior to engaging the starter motor. Gas boats still blow up every now and again.

Spilled diesel smells but does not form an explosive vapor cloud that's ignitable by electrical arcing such as a starter motor. Fire on a Ranger is likely to be an electrical fire, you could mount a bottle of Halon with a “sprinkler head” style discharge that dumps the whole bottle but Yeah you need an engine shutdown system.

While I don’t have any idea what breathing Halon might do to a running internal combustion engine I do know breathing dry chemical extinguisher, (monoammonium phosphate) pretty much destroys an engine.

 

[Retirement Dream]

My 2015 R27 does not have an automatic fire suppression system. There are several other Ranger Tugs near me in the harbor and, as far as I know, none of them do either.

 

[Red Raven]

We do not have a fire suppression system on our R27 Classic. I don’t know of any Ranger tug that does. I suspect Andrew was talking of an optional install or maybe the new R41. I never felt there was a need with diesel. We have the 2 required fire extinguishers.

Curt

 

[NorthernFocus]

I don't think folks are reading Andrew's post thoroughly. He said they've installed them for sales outside the USA. CG regs/industry standards don't require fire supression for small private vessels.

...Spilled diesel smells but does not form an explosive vapor cloud that's ignitable by electrical arcing such as a starter motor....

Well... yes and no. Spilled diesel isn't a big deal assuming it's spilled in the bilge. Spilled onto hot exhaust components(like a turbo) can be another matter. Diesel actually has a lower temperature of ignition than gasoline. And any liquid hydrocarbon is highly combustible if atomized into a fine vapor. Such as due to a small leak from the high pressure tubing in a common rail fuel system which are part of all of the engines used in Ranger tugs.