Firewall sealant and Fire Safety

[snopercod]

Originally Posted by F1R

...an over temperature / fire detection and alert system near the cooing air exit would provide improved odds of a faster reaction and landing.

I have one of those. It's a $13 digital meat thermometer with the probe stuck through the firewall. It doesn't have an alarm so would only serve as confirmation of a fire. I also installed a 3/8" aluminum tube "spray bar" in front of the firewall which is plumbed to a fitting on the panel into which my Halon fire extinguisher nozzle fits. I hope I never have to use those things.

[mulde35d]

Does anyone have experience with the Koolmat product for the front side of the firewall. I have seen the installation of Fiberfrax with stainless sheet riveted onto the firewall, but am not a big fan of the pillowing look.

Was curious if anyone had any experience with Koolmat's ease of use for installation. My thought was to adhere it with Firebarrier 2000+ then attach my components to the firewall through the koolmat (except those that need grounding as they would attach directly to the firewall) to help hold it should the firebarrier 2000+ fail to hold it in place.

I would of course do all the other sealing as recommended. This would simply be in addition to everything else like many of you have done. Thoughts?

[DanH]

Roughly 8X heavier and not nearly as effective in any parameter.

[rv7charlie]

Originally Posted by snopercod

I have one of those. It's a $13 digital meat thermometer with the probe stuck through the firewall. It doesn't have an alarm so would only serve as confirmation of a fire. I also installed a 3/8" aluminum tube "spray bar" in front of the firewall which is plumbed to a fitting on the panel into which my Halon fire extinguisher nozzle fits. I hope I never have to use those things.

IIRC, there have been tests showing that halon in a piston engine cowl can't compete with the hurricane of cooling air, and just blows out the exit. I'd be more prone to save the halon for me. :-)

[Checkmate]

Originally Posted by mulde35d

Does anyone have experience with the Koolmat product for the front side of the firewall. I have seen the installation of Fiberfrax with stainless sheet riveted onto the firewall, but am not a big fan of the pillowing look.

No Koolmat experience but maybe consider using thicker SS. I used .005 SS Shim Stock, 1/8" FiberFrax, 3M Barrier 2000+. No wrinkled tinfoil look like the thinner stuff but some oil canning is to be expected around the areas where you attach items over it. Also a hydraulic punch works great for making nice clean round holes. Ordered everything from McMaster-Carr.
See Photos below

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0G...c=w800-h450-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VH...I=w450-h800-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YT...=w1608-h904-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/99...l=w800-h450-no[/quote]

[WayneJ]

Dan, in post #83 you said "For the umpteenth time, don't put stupid stuff on the cabin side of firewalls, even when properly insulated on the forward side." Would you consider Stewart Systems EkoPrime to be Stupid Stuff if applied to the structural aluminum parts prior to riveting them to the cabin side of the bare stainless steel firewall? (All parts highlighted in the attachment) I plan to use Fiberfrax, SST foil and Fire Barrier 2000+ on the forward side as described in this thread.

[DanH]

Originally Posted by WayneJ

Would you consider Stewart Systems EkoPrime to be Stupid Stuff if applied to the structural aluminum parts prior to riveting them to the cabin side of the bare stainless steel firewall?

The potential issue would be smoke generation, if you got a good fire going on the forward side. I don't know at what temperature EkoPrime might start generating smoke, or its components. Probably low risk.