Hello,
I believe our members that regularly compete in CCV & Speed events are up to date on the current fire extingusher requirements, but ALRC have just issued this re-clarification.
Note - this the current rules as per the start of the year 2022 - nothing new has changed at this time.
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Dear All
Following confusion that is still happening when vehicles are presented for scrutineering by members at club events can the following regarding fire extinguishers please be circulated to all your members. This has been requested for by scrutineers who are having to deal with members turning up with non-compliant fire extinguishers at interclub events.
This information below, which appears in the Motorsport UK Yearbook 2022 was highlighted in the ALRC November EGM minutes and all should already be aware of it as it has been widely publicised before implementation. The change came in on 1st January 2022.
Motorsport UK Yearbook 2022
Section K – Competitors: Safety
3.2. Hand-held extinguishers
3.2.1. Where a hand-held fire extinguisher is required the vehicle must be equipped with at least one fire extinguisher in compliance with 3.2.2 to 3.2.7 hereunder or with FIA Standard 8865-2015 (Articles 3.2.2 to 3.2.5 hereunder do not apply in the latter case).
3.2.2. Permitted extinguishants:
AFFF, Clean Agent, powder or any other extinguishant homologated by the FIA.
3.2.3. Minimum quantity of extinguishant:
• AFFF foam (includes: FireSense, Zero 2000, F-TEC etc) 2.4 litres
• Gas (includes: Novec 1230, FX G-TEC/N-TEC, Viro3, Zero 360, Extreme etc) 2.0 kg
• Powder 2.0 kg
3.2.4. All extinguishers must be pressurised according with the manufacturer's instructions. Powder extinguishers must be pressurised to 8 bars minimum, 13.5 bars maximum. Furthermore, each extinguisher must be equipped with a means of checking the pressure of the contents.
3.2.5. The following information must be visible on each extinguisher:
• Capacity
• Type of extinguishant
• Weight or volume of the extinguishant
• Date the extinguisher must be checked, which must be no more than two years after either the date of filling or the date of the last check, or corresponding expiry date.
3.2.6. All extinguishers must be adequately protected. Their mountings must be able to withstand a deceleration of 25g. Furthermore, only quick-release metal fastenings (two minimum), with metal straps, are accepted. Anti-torpedo tabs are required. It is prohibited to mount bottles outside the main
structure.
3.2.7. The extinguishers must be easily accessible for the driver and the co-driver.
Event types that require a fire extinguisher has not changed.
What has changed is that where required, the quantity of AFFF has been increased from 1.75 to 2.4 litres but there is now also a much wider choice of permitted extinguishants of which the acceptance of dry powder is significant.
Also note that extinguisher bottles are of similar sizes - such that a 2.0kg powder will fit where an AFFF of 1.75l did. The latter invariably actually 2l bottles. Some will even fit the same brackets.
As far as Motorsport UK is concerned these are the changes, to capacities and permitted extinguishants and not to requiring extinguishers where previously they were recommended. Both RTVT / CCVT are run under a same grade if permit from Motorsport UK but they only mandate for fire extinguishers for vehicles in speed events.
It is an ALRC regulation that asks for a fire extinguisher in CCVT vehicles and recommends it for RTVT vehicles and this is not a Motorsport UK one. The ALRC regulations E.4.1. and F.4.1. do refer to the specification as listed in the Motorsport UK Yearbook (see above).
Servicing is seen as an important necessity. Proof is shown by stickers on the fire extinguisher and this should be checked at scrutineering.
Kind regards
Simone
