I heard one of our trucks caught fire in the yard and burned out. Shunters usually leave the night heaters on so they can climb into a warm cab when moving trucks about. The company sent all trucks from that make/year for a general inspection and another 2 had fuel leaks. Now, being fried in my sleep is not in my top 10 list of preferred ways to die so I’m in the market for a portable fire/smoke/CO2 detector but so far I’m only finding cheap Chinese £15 crap on ebay.
Any ideas for a reliable manufacturer of such things?
That a basic safety device like this would be standard fitment as required by law wouldn’t you, MOT failure if not fitted or working correctly etc. But no, you’re just a scumbag lorry driver who doesn’t deserve to have such luxuries.
Fire extinguishers should be legal fitment too.
As usual, all the gadgets and toys are aimed at fleet buyers who have a budget. Or as in the lot I drive for, they stick with one make of truck decade after decade because someone is firmly in someone elses pocket.
Drivers rarely get asked and usually end up with trucks they don’t like with stuff they don’t need or want.
Try toolstation, CO alarms fro £14 and smoke alarms from £8-50. I think the combined ones tend to be more. Free delivery if you spend £10 and if you get your boss to order it he can get the VAT back Costco sometimes have the Kidde (which is supposedly a “good” brand) combined ones at a good price.
I think, jut like almost everything electronic, they will all be chinese anyway, no matter what you pay.
For your personal protection I would say the CO alarm is more important, whether your shunter is going to hear the smoke alarm go off is probably questionable anyway. Some fire services used to have a scheme of fitting either smoke alarms or CO alarms, I cannot remember which, for free in motorhomes. If you know any firemen (sorry fire fighters ) might be worth asking.
That a basic safety device like this would be standard fitment as required by law wouldn’t you, MOT failure if not fitted or working correctly etc. But no, you’re just a scumbag lorry driver who doesn’t deserve to have such luxuries.
Fire extinguishers should be legal fitment too.
As usual, all the gadgets and toys are aimed at fleet buyers who have a budget. Or as in the lot I drive for, they stick with one make of truck decade after decade because someone is firmly in someone elses pocket.
Drivers rarely get asked and usually end up with trucks they don’t like with stuff they don’t need or want.
I agree that they should come fitted as standard, but I don’t think it will happen any time soon. Just look at how many drivers you see driving down the road having a ■■■. Same for the ones sat on breaks or loading/unloading. These guys wouldn’t want a smoke alarm going off every time they spark up, so they would end up getting ripped out
manski:
For your personal protection I would say the CO alarm is more important, whether your shunter is going to hear the smoke alarm go off is probably questionable anyway. Some fire services used to have a scheme of fitting either smoke alarms or CO alarms, I cannot remember which, for free in motorhomes. If you know any firemen (sorry fire fighters ) might be worth asking.
Yeah, no. I used to smoke in the cab, never got triggered. I had the window down a bit of course but still, the thing was right above my head. Maybe it was switched off/no battery
simcor:
]I imagine they are actually carbon mooxide Detectors to be honest. But could be both I guess.
Seems it is just a smoke detector according to the Volvo catalogue :-
SMOKE DETECTOR
The smoke detector sounds an alarm in the
event of fi re or smoke in the cabin.
FEATURES & BENEFITS
• Can be a life-saver
• A function allows for temporarily disabling the
device (e.g. for smoking)
• Easy to attach
Costco sometimes have the Kidde (which is supposedly a “good” brand) combined ones at a good price.
) might be worth asking.
