Friendly Saftey Reminder - Have A Smoke Detector In Grow Area

[FrostyPelican]

Hey guys, just thought I'd encourage those that don't have a smoke detector in their grow area and a good fire extinguisher at home to get those items.

Having been through two major house fires I'm paranoid about that stuff but anyway, today I was chilling watching TV and one of the oscillating fans I normally have in my grow room caught fire. The thing was maybe a year old and thank goodness I only have a few seedlings outside right now. If it would have been a few weeks in the future the best case scenario would have been that I was home and heard the detector going off and walked into a closet of fire, worst case, I would have been away and who knows how bad it would have been.

Most of the stuff we use to grow is made in China with poor/no QA testing using the cheapest components possible, not very trustworthy.

Although a smoke detector and fire extinguisher can't do much, at least you'll have a fighting chance in the event something goes bad.

 

[Nullis]

I second, and get UL certified products/appliances where ever possible. Kind of funny how many of us are using big light bulbs that produce copious amounts of heat, yet it's the little things that [potentially] kill. Things like fans and CFL bulbs.

I had a CFL failure that could have been bad not too long ago. It was for regular lighting, not growing, but the ballast had obviously gone into failure mode even though the tube was still emitting light. I smelled burning plastic, sniffed around and noticed it was the bulb, which had begun yellowing at the base and was very hot. The plastic that meets the base of the spiral tubing was melting away as pictured below. Luckily I caught it before it got that bad. CFLs are known to fail in this manner and while it's supposed to be rare that they'd catch fire close calls are not that uncommon.

 

[FrostyPelican]

Scary stuff Nullis. Good info on the CFLs.

 

[mc130p]

I have one these hanging above my closet grow....fire is scary!

Flame defender automatic fire extinguisher:

 

[disengaged]

I don't think they are good for electrical fires but the extinguishers which use foam are probably easier to clean up than dry chemical. Not that I've tried cleaning up foam, but the dry powder gets everywhere. The pure CO2 ones should make no mess but I don't see them for sale in stores. May require a visit to fire dept.
I know it really doesn't matter, if you have a fire you gotta do something right away but hesitating for a few seconds because of thinking of the dry powder mess could be costly.
I like the post above with the Flame defender. It just occurred to me that with the cabinet I am working on the electrical components are in a shelf above the light area so it would require opening up the area to allow such an extinguisher to be used or a second one just for the shelf with electronics.

 

[FrostyPelican]

I have one these hanging above my closet grow....fire is scary!

Flame defender automatic fire extinguisher:

Actually that is probably the best option for a grow area, didn't even know they were available until you posted. Thanks man

I'm picking one up in the near future.

 

[Coco0503]

I'll be grabbing one of those extinguishers for my new apartment. Thanks for the great find!

 

[mc130p]

I'll be grabbing one of those extinguishers for my new apartment. Thanks for the great find!

really, you should thank @PSUAGRO. he's the one who showed them to me, i think