Fire Port

[agallant80]

Has anyone used one like the one in the link below? I am going to be spending many nights on the boat. I don't want to invest the $600 in an auto system for the engine compartment. Figured this would be a good fit. Also has anyone put a smoke detector down there? I mean its closed off and protected. Can I just put a home detector down there? They sell them now with 10 year batteries built in to them.

MARINE EAST Fireport at West Marine

 

[Ned L]

Re: Fire Port

My first question would be 'what kind of boat do you have'? As for a detector, they're cheap & replacable so I see no harm in that. The "Fireport" I think would be more dependant on what sort of boat, how the engine compartment layed out, & where could you install it. - I understand your concern about spending nights on the boat, but I suspect that if you looked into it you would find out that the overwhelming majority of engineroom fires occure while the boat is underway, and not while when things are shut down.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Fire Port

2013 Bayliner 255CR

 

[babbot]

Re: Fire Port

I don't know about the fireport but a house smoke detector is probably not spark resistant for an engine compartment. I would only put marine approved electronic devices in any boat engine compartment.

 

[boatpoker]

Re: Fire Port

A smoke detector is far too sensitive for an engine compartment and will go off constantly. The Fire Port is an ABYC requirement if there is no automatic discharge system fitted. The fire port must be mounted in a position that allows the extinguisher to be discharged in a vertical orientation. I believe fire ports should be mandatory as 55% of all boat fires start in the engine compartment.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Fire Port

This fire port is only to allow you to see if you have a fire. It won't alert you in case of fire. It's basically a window, if you will.

 

[boatpoker]

Re: Fire Port

This fire port is only to allow you to see if you have a fire. It won't alert you in case of fire. It's basically a window, if you will.

Sorry but that is incorrect. A "Fire Port" is a discharge port like this one from West Marine. the scores in the clear part are for easy breaking to insert a fire extinguisher.

 

[supersoaker548]

Re: Fire Port

Sorry but that is incorrect. A "Fire Port" is a discharge port like this one from West Marine. the scores in the clear part are for easy breaking to insert a fire extinguisher.

i agree with GA_Boater it's basically a window NO alarm you need to be awake and looking at the fire port/window to see the fire.
that needs to be mounted vertical
break the fire port window to insert fire ext.

just spend the $275 install this and sleep safe. JMO



FIREBOY XINTEX
MA2 Manual/Auto Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers

 

[Ned L]

Re: Fire Port

Hmm, .. not disagreeing, but how is a 'smoke detector' too sensitive for an engine room/compartment? I'm wondering what I'm missing & always want to learn.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Fire Port

A "Fire Port" is a discharge port like this one from West Marine. the scores in the clear part are for easy breaking to insert a fire extinguisher.

My Newer Bayliner came with one of these port installed from the factory.
The "Window" is Opaque White Vinyl with sealed score lines. (Beak in case of fire!)
There is NO visibility through the port. Others may be "Transparent". ???
The only alarm feature will be the vinyl melting from the fire behind it!

Bear in mind that the area directly behind the window will likely NOT be where the fire is.
A Dry Powder extinguisher will be very ineffective in extinguisher a fire if discharged though this type of fire port.
The powder is just going to pile up against the side of the engine block.
You will not be able to direct the powder at the fire! :grumpy:

To be effective, you will need a Gaseous Type Extinguisher; Think CO2 or FM-200 type extinguishers.
The CO2/200 gas will spread out and smother the fire.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Fire Port

Hmm, .. not disagreeing, but how is a 'smoke detector' too sensitive for an engine room/compartment? I'm wondering what I'm missing & always want to learn.

Too sensitive like having a smoke detecter outside of your bathroom always going off after a steamy shower or one in the kitchen that always goes off from burnt toast or steam from boiling something on the stove. A simple engine backfire, gas fumes while fueling or slight CO2 would probably set it off etc.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Fire Port

Hmm, .. not disagreeing, but how is a 'smoke detector' too sensitive for an engine room/compartment? I'm wondering what I'm missing & always want to learn.

Too sensitive like having a smoke detecter outside of your bathroom always going off after a steamy shower or one in the kitchen that always goes off from burnt toast or steam from boiling something on the stove. A simple engine backfire, gas fumes while fueling or slight CO2 would probably set it off etc.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Fire Port

Hmm, I hear what you are saying, and I'm definately thinking that ANY one of those situations is one that I would want to know about. "Burnt toast" = products of combustion, .... in an engineroom / compartment(?) - that's exactly why one would be good. "Gas fumes while refueling" .... - !!!!! There absolutely should not be any, if there are you've got problems! "CO2", where's that coming from (do you mean CO?) - either way, not in an engineroom / compartment. "Steam", ... maybe not am imediate emergency, but again I'd really want to know about it (that would most likely mean a cooling hose let go & is dumping water onto the engine). "Engine backfiring", doesn't (shouldn't) really happen that much if at all, and if it does there isn't that much in the way of fumes kicked back out of the engine. ---------- Have you ever sat in an engineroom while underway? Other than screaming loud sitting there between a couple of hard working engines (and a bit warm, but not hot) the air is fresh and clean. Much nicer than 5 - 10 minutes after shutdown.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Fire Port

Though I understand that typical 'smoke detectors' are not USCG approved, I suspect they have to meet pretty good requirements for NOT emiting sparks or anything that could ignite fumes, The last thing the NFPA or fire fighters would want is for smoke detectors to possibly be igniting thick dense smoke inside a smoldering house (talk about a flashover initiator!)

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Fire Port

Being as I have been in the business for over 35 years, I can say that I would not put a "normal" smoke detector in a small engine compartment. All engines will emit a small amount of products of combustion, such as from a small oil spill, engine paint etc. There are desensitized detectors that can be used in these enviroments but are hard to find and expensive. What is readily available and is stable is a heat detector. These typically are available in 135F and 200F ratings and come in two types, rate of rise and fixed. Heat detectors have no electronics in them and do not require any power to operate. Basically, they work on the same principle as the auto shut-off on an electric kettle, a bi-metal strip.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Fire Port

My boat came with one and I have not had to use it, hopefully never, but I like the idea. I would like to install a C02 extinguisher also.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Fire Port

OK, .... I guess what tazrig & jeepman say makes sense. This evening I was working in the basement and using a heat gun to carefully stripe varnish off parts for my 70 yr old Jersey speed skiff (have owned that for 35 yrs now), and to my surprise the 'smoke detector' in the basement started 'chirping'. There was nothing but a slight 'varnish' smell in the air, but obviously enough to make the smoke detector not happy. Thanks guys, lesson learned here.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Fire Port

Hmm, I hear what you are saying, and I'm definately thinking that ANY one of those situations is one that I would want to know about. "Burnt toast" = products of combustion, .... in an engineroom / compartment(?) - that's exactly why one would be good. "Gas fumes while refueling" .... - !!!!! There absolutely should not be any, if there are you've got problems! "CO2", where's that coming from (do you mean CO?) - either way, not in an engineroom / compartment. "Steam", ... maybe not am imediate emergency, but again I'd really want to know about it (that would most likely mean a cooling hose let go & is dumping water onto the engine). "Engine backfiring", doesn't (shouldn't) really happen that much if at all, and if it does there isn't that much in the way of fumes kicked back out of the engine. ---------- Have you ever sat in an engineroom while underway? Other than screaming loud sitting there between a couple of hard working engines (and a bit warm, but not hot) the air is fresh and clean. Much nicer than 5 - 10 minutes after shutdown.

I didn't mean those examples literally. To transfer examples from house to boat. Burnt toast= a back fire or puff of smoke coming out of the flame arrestor. It would set of the alarm but you wouldn't want to know about it. Many times you get gas fumes in your engine compartment when re-fueling. Gas is heavier than air so it sinks to the lowest point it can find. Thats why you run your blower for several minutes after refueling. It would set off the detecter before you ran the blower. Again, a situation you don't need to know about. The steam examples were just to show how house detecters go off when they don't need to, and finally, yes, co2 was a typo I meant CO.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Fire Port

I'll now agree that a home 'smoke detector' may be too sensitive for use in an engine room / compartment.
I'm still having a real hard time with "Many times you get gas fumes in your engine compartment when re-fueling." If that is happening, and you are relying on the blower, you've got a real problem with your boat. The bilge blower should be there to clear any fumes IF something is wrong and you end up with gas fumes there. Fumes in the bilge from refueling are NOT typical or normal, something is wrong if they are there.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Fire Port

I'll now agree that a home 'smoke detector' may be too sensitive for use in an engine room / compartment.
I'm still having a real hard time with "Many times you get gas fumes in your engine compartment when re-fueling." If that is happening, and you are relying on the blower, you've got a real problem with your boat. The bilge blower should be there to clear any fumes IF something is wrong and you end up with gas fumes there. Fumes in the bilge from refueling are NOT typical or normal, something is wrong if they are there.

I agree if there are fumes down there you have a larger issue. After reading what people have to say I think I will pony up the money for an auto fire system.