Safe protection against fire

When it melts/burns it releases toxic gas. Hence why it’s against code.

Good answer!

protection against fire

while we’re on the subject…how about some working smoke alarms in all areas (except kitchen, bathroom and garage) of your home to alert you to the presence of fire when you’re not looking

I suggested Co2 after doing a little research on google, a gaseous oxygen displacement extinguisher would be less destructive to scenery. And the blanket was for the resulting scenery fire once the power had been cut.

I did do some reading on the subject before commenting.

But others more experienced in this field would be a better source of info.

ABC type extinguisher.

NEVER would I look for a Halo extinguisher… I like breathing to much!

But by the time my foam layout is actually burning, I would be suggesting getting professional help from the FD, as by that point, it’s too big for most home sized extinguishers anyways. As was mentioned, foam takes quite the fire to actually start burning. (Except when the fire can climb the standing foam.)

A few random thoughts from a construction professional who grew with a fire fighter…

Smoke detectors, preferably 120volt with battery backup, linked to a central station alarm.

Portable ABC extinguishers in logical locations.

Good practices regarding clutter and flamable liquids.

Therapy for compulsive worrying about things that seldom happen.

Note to all (at least here in the US), no code official, fire marshal, fire inspector, building inspector, etc, has any authority to just enter your home against your will and do some random “check” of your home, stuff, layout, etc.

If you can’t put it out in two minutes - GET OUT.

Sheldon

Ok, has anyone ever had an electrical fire caused by a poorly wired layout?

Can’t say I’ve ever heard of one. And before someone trots out John Allen - that was caused by a balky heater that John knew to shut off after finishing an op session, but the people who came over for one last run after his death didn’t.

–Randy

The odds are like hitting the lottery for the big payout.

Yes, DCC poses some new questions about ampacity and short circuits, but even so the power/heat levels are well below those commonly considered a fire hazard.

That is why you don’t have to hire an electrician, and the wiring of your layout is not covered by the National Electrical Code…

I still use DC, I have 10 throttles at 5 amp each, each with its own overload protection. 5 amps x 13.8 volts = 69 watts, not enough heat to make a piece of toast.

And, no foam on my layout anyway.

I work in construction and we don’t use that stuff…

Sheldon

anyone else know of a layout caused fire?

I’ve been thinking about that since this thread started. It would be a pretty good trick to burn down a layout, or do they burn up?

If foam. every knows foam won’t burn, melts. A plastic building would melt,a wood one’ if exposed to open flame would go puuff and die out.

If plywood, will surely burn.But did you ever try to get a chunk of any wood to catch fire,without some kind of help. Kindeling or gas or ??

Should you have a open flame,near to the layout, I would think there would be more inportent things to worry about

After reading some opf the posts, it seems to me that the cure, an extinguisher, could be worse than the disease, a fire. Assuming the disease strikes.

I have a friend who designed fire protection systems. I asked him if I needed a sprinkler system.

He said that would help save my neighbors house. [:'(]

Only the wrong type. A few times I’ve been in server rooms where they actually reminded me about the Halon discharge warning light - if you see that light, you have 30 seconds to get out of the room. The recommended dry chemical ABC type is not a problem like that. If in any doubt at all, just get out and call the professionals, your life isn;t worth it.

–Randy

Had anyone lost a layout to a fire? Didn’t John Armstrong lose his Gore and depheated that way? And didn’t Jeffrey wimbly have a shed fire where his trains were? So yes it can happen but it’s a RARE occurance. If you miswire a transformer where there’s lots of juice, or create enough juice where something arcs, or leave a soldering iron on, yes that’s enough to start a fire. At the club I belonged to, by the exit door is a blinked light for the light switch. If it’s on, you forgot to shut down the layout power.

John Allen built the Gorre and Daphetid. It burned after his death, but because of a faulty gas heater, not the railroad wiring. As was stated earlier in this very thread.

John Armstrong’s O scale layout never burned. Parts of it have been incorporated into others’ layouts.

Only because some of those posts are completely wrong. I wish that people who post “wisdom” gained by “reading google” would edit/delete their false information when their errors are pointed out – instead of defending the incorrect “facts”.

As others noted, an ABC-type extingusher won’t hurt you, if you feel the need to have one. Aim at the base of the flames. And exit the house if that doesn’t stop the fire.

Amen