Many people want to know whether new cars will have fire extinguishers or if they have to add these by themselves.
Do Cars Come With Fire Extinguishers? Cars do not come with fire extinguishers because manufacturers are not interested in increasing the vehicle cost for a rarely used product. It helps reduce the cost and maintenance efforts to refill the cylinder every 3 to 5 years and inspect the nozzle and seams for leakages. Furthermore, the absence of extinguishers improves sales as it gives a safe image of the vehicle; otherwise, customers feel unsafe and avoid purchasing it. You can add it to ensure peace of mind and a sense of safety while driving.
They provide a sense of safety to some people, while a few usually get conscious about the safety of vehicles after finding them inside.
It is better to add a safety device by yourself because you never know when a mishap is going to occur, and you need to get control over it.
Moreover, you have to be knowledgeable about operating and pulling the lever so that you can act in the situation quickly without wasting time.
Can you have a fire extinguisher in your car?
Fire extinguishers can help protect you from severe damage caused by smoke and flames in vehicles. Many people like to have a fire extinguisher in their cars.
The frequency of vehicle fires is increasing on a daily basis, and almost 150,000 to 165,000 cars catch fire every year. These are responsible for around 330 to 360 deaths in a year.
Mechanical failure, smoking, and faulty electrical system are commonly responsible for massive destruction leading to severe burning of vehicles.
Moreover, keeping this safety device in an automobile is recommended to follow quick safety measures.
It can help overcome smoke as the foamy material forms a layer on the burning fuel to reduce contact with oxygen. It gives a sense of safety that can be counted when having such outbreaks.
Why do manufacturers avoid adding fire extinguishers in cars?
Many automobile manufacturers do not prefer to add extinguishing devices in their vehicles for multiple reasons. They think that its presence can negatively affect the value and decrease sales.
Decrease cost
Adding this gadget in automobiles increases its overall cost; that’s why manufacturers try to avoid placing it inside.
It helps cut off the cost as this device can cost around $20 to $145, depending on the size and type.
A small-sized device weighing 2 to 4 pounds can help alleviate the fire and is available at almost $28 to $40.
In addition, a large size weighing 8 to 10 pounds can cost around $70 to $99. The cost of refilling after 2 to 5 years makes it more expensive than it requires $20 to $60.
Ideally, cars contain such devices of 2 to 4 pounds weight due to their compact size, low weight, and easier placement.
Less maintenance
You have to make some extra efforts to maintain it if is present inside the vehicle. The seals and pins can get damaged over time, so you have to check them after a short time.
Moreover, the nozzle and hose can also show signs of aging and obstructing. It requires essential servicing every 10 to 12 months to ensure safety as it can explode due to broken seals.
In addition, the technicians can charge you for inspecting the condition of these devices by using their skills and tools.
It is recommended to test a wet fire extinguisher every 3 to 5 years and check a dry one hydrostatically after almost 10 to 12 years.
It is better to ask a certified company for testing or consult the manual provided by the owner. Look at the label that mentions the estimated time for testing the device.
Rarely used
It is one of the car components that are used only during the onset of fires. You will not use these devices frequently, so their rare usage is responsible for their absence in vehicles.
It helps save automobiles when unexpected incidents occur due to faulty electrical systems that can produce a spark. In addition, using these devices, you can quickly tackle rising smoke and fires.
However, it is not a device that frequently remains in use; it depends on whether you want to add it separately.
Safer appearance
It is essential to make buyers feel safe about using the car for the long term with lower risks of accidents.
Therefore, newer models have safety features that help gain interest in a particular automobile.
The absence of fire extinguishers indicates that the car is safe to use. Many people feel suspicious about the vehicle’s safety when they see these devices and move to the next option while buying.
So, manufacturers leave this decision of adding this device on your end. You can keep it for additional safety to protect the vehicle from severe damage and explosion.
It reduces the liability issues for manufacturers when these devices do not work during car fires and explode.
Where to keep a fire extinguisher in a car?
You have to wisely choose the location for its placement to reduce efforts for accessing it.
Therefore, it is essential to search for a suitable location to access it quickly and avoid an explosion.
Use a mounting bracket to fix them at a particular place to avoid unnecessary movement that can cause a massive explosion.
You can keep it either in a vertical or horizontal position because the material is under pressure that will not leak when you put it horizontally on the floor.
You can place it in the trunk, but it takes time to get out of the car and take it out of the trunk. So, keeping them under the passenger or driver seat is better.
It becomes difficult to access it when no one can take it out from under the passenger seat.
Therefore, keep it under the driver’s seat to access it quickly while driving alone without your family.
Things to consider when choosing a fire extinguisher for your car
The manufacturers will not provide a suitable fire extinguisher for your automobile, so you have to consider certain factors before making a final choice.
Its size is of primary importance as a small device can be placed anywhere in the space present on the front end. At the same time, you have to keep the larger ones in a trunk to avoid interference.
Bigger ones require large-sized brackets and holding apparatus to store them properly, so it is better to choose the smaller ones with a capacity of 2 to 4 pounds.
Moreover, the smaller ones can easily fit inside a small space and require no large setup for storage.
You have to check the discharge time of material from the cylinder when you allow it to release out of the nozzle. It should take 5 to 10 seconds to get out of the cylinder.
Therefore, choose products that are small in size, easier to fit in a small space, and have a quick discharge time.
What type of fire extinguishers are used in cars?
Its selection depends on the type of fires that can possibly initiate inside vehicles. There are different classes of devices that can be used under different conditions.
Class A extinguishers are suitable for fires that occur due to the presence of combustible material like paper or cigarettes.
Moreover, Class B types can be used for those incidents involving the ignition of liquid material like gasoline that is highly flammable.
You can use Class C extinguishers for the fires that occur due to faulty electrical components.
It is good to choose a multipurpose extinguisher that can be used for different types of fires. For example, you can get a device labeled ABC or BC that can act on three different varieties.
Ideally, a dry type of extinguisher is recommended to keep in the vehicles to help overcome such scenarios due to electrical sparks and liquids.
Is it safe to keep a fire extinguisher in the car?
They are meant to provide safety to the drivers and passengers whenever automobiles catch fire. It becomes manageable to deal with a spark that can lead to severe inconvenient circumstances.
It is good to keep them inside, but you have to secure them properly to avoid the onset of inconvenient situations.
Use straps to fix them in one place or mount a cylinder holder that can be used to hold it with a better grip.
Proper storage and maintenance are essential when you have such devices in the car; otherwise, they can cause a massive explosion.
Moreover, chemicals inside the cylinder can efficiently tolerate a temperature of -42 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
The material can freeze when the temperature is below -42 degrees Fahrenheit, while it gets warm if the temperature exceeds 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
It can be of no use when the weather changes and the material freezes at low temperatures, but there will be no bursting of material.
Is it legal to have a fire extinguisher in your car?
Many accidental fires are commonly seen on the highway leading to the death of drivers. It is reported by NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) that almost 10 to 15% die due to car fires.
Keeping this safety device in an automobile is recommended to avoid severe accidents and vehicle damage and for peace of mind.
Moreover, it is not illegal to keep them in your vehicles due to their safety feature. For example, you can mount them under seats to ensure your safety.
In addition, it is essential for vehicles made for racing purposes to have fire-controlling devices with BC labels and 3 to 5 pounds weight as these are more prone to damage.
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