So the current floorplan for our MC8 lands the kids bunk room over the engine/trans at the back of the coach.
My wife had asked me about adding some sort of fireproofing to the floor/back wall for safety for the kids.
Any thoughts?
Call Engine Heat Protection. Their material will not burn thru.
http://www.engineheatprotection.com/ (http://www.engineheatprotection.com/)
Ask for Penn Lenson.
Jay Leno uses it in his race car and it saved someones life once.
Standard drywall works well, maybe come cement board on the floor?
Drywall is also good for sound deadening.
If the scenario is "driving down the road and a fire breaks out in the engine bay" I think there are fire suppression systems you can install, like a multi nozzled fire extinguisher.
While parked I'd be most worried about wherever the heat source is for heating, and the electrical bay.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Adding fire retardant materials is good, and provides more time to escape, but don't forget to have escape windows on the sides, and a roof hatch. As long as there are combustible materials in the floors or walls, fumes can be given off because of the heat, and eventually they may ignite. If the kids are younger, can they handle the drop from the window height or the roof without a ladder or escape rope? Consider a smoke/carbon monoxide detector that would notify you up front as well as the kids. ;)
Forget fireproofing. The toxic products of combustion will kill long before the fire gets to you. Install smoke and CO alarms and practice exit drills with multiple scenarios such as the main exit blocked. Learn how to get away from the fire/smoke as fast as you can. The plastics used today can and will kill in a fire
x2 You aren't stopping it.
Spend your time and money on heat and smoke detection. Fire suppression is an attempt to minimize the damage to capital, NOT to save people.
The people get the hell out at the first sign.
One lung full of the smoke from one of our coaches burning and it's all over.
If you want to be thorough, heat detectors in the generator, engine, furnace and wheel cavity spaces. Stand alone smoke and CO detectors, PLURAL inside. with a religious schedule for battery replacement.
Most all fire proofing gives off some wicked poison as the temperatures rise.
Fire prevention is doing all your coach maintenance correctly and using best practices...
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Ok, I get what you are saying. But once you have those couple of layers down why NOT add a layer of protection to slow the fire down? isn't more time better if it means just putting a layer of fireproof material down under the subfloor back there?
It's not the first line of defence, but it a fence at least...
I was wondering if smoke detectors in the engine compartment would work...
ditto the primary tool for fire safety are the detectors and a easy way out that the kids can activate themselves. Them alarms are loud but the second thing I'd do is add some circuit to send the alerts up front and also wire in some emergency flashing lights too. You absolutely do not want to be up front while there is a fire brewing in the back. Time is of critical importance to take action immediately. There is already plenty of metal in the back around the engine. Adding more fire retardant material seems of marginal value.
Except the floor above the engine is 3/4 inch plywood plus what ever they put in over it. Mine has Lead sheet over the plywood floor which a lot of MCI's have and eagles as well.
Dave5Cs
I think that this thread and your thread on electrical systems go hand-in-hand.
Seems like many of the fires we see start from an electrical short or a too-small gauge wire being used for the current it's carrying. I'd be much more interested in ensuring that as many potential problem spots are eliminated rather than installing a fire barrier.
You asked in the other thread if we DIY the electrical system or use an electrician to help. I don't know your skill and knowledge level with the electrical work, but if fire risk is a concern then maybe you should at least find an electrician friend who can go over the plan for your electrical system before you install it to try and eliminate potential risks such as rub points, wire gauge requirements, etc.
I laid two sheets of Firerock sheetrock down over the entire engine compartment floor, ledge area. Slows heat, and has a 90 minute fire barrier. As others have said, if your coach has an engine fire or any other major fire, stinking get out. The toxic smoke will render you unconscious before the fire burns you.
You guys are acting like this is my only answer to fire safety. :(
Of course I have fire alarms co2 sensors and appropriate fire extinguishers in the plan, just trying to give another layer of safety.
As for the electrical thread, same applies. If I was going to go off all half cocked I wouldn't be asking such pain in the @$# questions. :)
I WANT advise, I WANT best practises and your personal experiences. Thats why I come here....
"Fire protection" isn't on my radar. Too late.
Fire prevention is in every maintenance and building activity. Building using the proper materials, wiring to electrical authority standards, engine room kept clean, no aquarium plastic piping used for generator fuel line... annual wheel end disasembly/clean/lube/inspection. Wheel end fires are another busnut favorite. Dragging brakes with high powered engines is really easy...
My thoughts for above the engine would to block the migration of the heat soak into the bedroom, after a long day's drive in the summer...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior