Pinqy mini-fire extinguisher for mini-fires

Nothing says "I love you" like a safety-minded gift that's shaped like a hand grenade, which must be why Luxembourg-based Flanders Product is promoting their Pinqy mini-fire extinguisher as "a perfect present for your children, friends and family."  While the Pinqy website hints that it's not meant for real fires ("Pinqy, the discreet tool for putting out the beginnings of a fire," it reads), they could definately be more clear about the fact that this product has only a 4-second discharge, making it inappropriate as a household's only extinguisher. Thanks, but we'll be sticking to our habit of giving out regular-sized fire extinguishers to people we want to impress.

[Michael Ellsworth @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

That would be the perfect size to keep in the car. It may be totally ineffective, but as a Boy Scout leader I have had several times where a small extinguisher would be better than my foot any day.

[shrinkydinx @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

all fires start small.

[Aphid @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

"The beginnings of a fire"? Like a cigarette? Can it extinguish a cheap space-heater?

[cam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This might just extinguish that stubborn relighting birthday candle.

[aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

jeez, ever tried putting out a fire with a real fire extinguisher? theres not even enough white powder of joy in the big ones to do a decent job.... and then comes "THE GREATEST ADVANCEMENT IN SAFTEY!" in the past 10 years.

[Blaheesh @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Now if they sold gernades that looked like mini-fire extinguisher... I'd buy that

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

why you guys didn't use one of the images with the dolls is beyond me. those are bloody amazing.

http://www.pinqy.com/images/thuis.jpg

[apeguero @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Must be a slow news day...

[Hecatomb @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Good luck getting this through customs... let alone UPS or your local postal office.

[o0adam0o @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Dang! I thought this was a civilian grenade...booooo!

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

New, from the Andrew Corporation, a fire extinguisher so small, you'll be the envy of your whole town! This small pebble that I found at the beach, when placed in your mouth, makes you generate saliva! Then you spit! On the fire! And it goes out! LIKE MAGIC! WHOA!

[Don Wilson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I wonder if it can extinguish the fire in my pants -waits for small fire joke-

[Ian Jardine @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Fire extinguishers are my pet hate at the moment. I bought a bunch of them some years ago (brand "KIDDE") now I want to "recharge" them and I can't find anyone who "recharges" them. The maker says probably easier to buy new ones. Of course they would love that. What a racket!

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This would have come in handy during my little chili 'incident' last year. Had to break out the full-sized extinguisher when the flames on my ELECTRIC range wouldnt go out with pot lids or damp towels. I was scrubbing that powder stuff off the walls, silverware, counter, etc. for weeks.

[retro @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

LMAO, it looks like a grenade. XD

[Denis @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Seems like vaporware currently as there is no place to actually purchase one...

[Joey Zuver @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

As #1 said, it would be good for cars assuming it isn't a huge fire. It wouldnt be so bulky you couldn't stick it somewhere easily accessible. It sure could have helped my grandparents when their station wagon had an electrical malifunction.

[Chase Bailey @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Make sure to throw it instead of the pin...

*wink*

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

How about this - fire extinguisher grenade. It explodes into a big mess of foam to extinguish a fire. Then firefighters could lob grenades at houses and be on their way.

[Don Wilson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This thing is only 5.5 inches! 80

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

#19... Thats what I thought this was when I saw the picture and title. It would make sense. a Grenade that explodes into a huge as cloud of anti-fire powder. This could help put out multiple fires in one room or apart from each other.

Like IF my wires catch fire at the back of my tv and jump to my computer on the left, A nice Anit-fire grenade could stop the fire before more damage is done.

[Erik Crommelynck @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Nice comments about our product.

Ever wondered why 95% of european and american households do not have an extinguisher at home? Lack of design. Does not fit into my livingroom, ...

PinQY has been developped for this reason and is a professional extinguisher.

You do not need great capacity to kill a fire just starting in your kitchen. You need to have the possibility to react immediately, you need to have an extinguisher when it is necessary.

See http://www.pinqy.com/nl/movie.php?nr=36

[Mac112 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Looks like it's made from a Citro?suspension sphere� These are green, and often mistaken for grenades when found out of contents.

[atfault @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Erik,

Please. As a professional Industrial Designer and a professional Fire Fighter (Yes, it's an odd combination, but here I am.) I understand the problems with getting people to be fire-safe, but to say it is only design related is foolish.

I'm not familiar with the EU certification of NEN-EN 3, but from the look of it and the size I would say it is about a 1A extinguisher here. I would not allow a family member or friend to have an extinguisher so small in their home and I'm sure you have a bigger one than that in yours. Of course, with my background, I believe that if you do not know what you are doing, or do not have the proper equipment, get out and wait for those that do.

As for the linked video: The propane trays are a great way to familiarize people with small fires and extinguishment methods, but to even infer that a training situation, where the propane is shut off to simulate extinguishment, is the same thing as dealing with a real fire is patently wrong.

Despite my seemingly negative comments I must give you enormous credit for trying something that few others would and I personally appreciate the design language you have used. I honestly feel that if this manages to save lives or make anyone more conscious about firesafety then this product should be regarded as an incredible success.

[Erik Crommelynck @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Atfault,

Thank you very much for your input, but:

- PinQY complies with the same regulations as each extinguisher has to do. Those regulations are very difficult to obtain, so if PinQY would not be a serious extinguisher we would never have obtained certification

- PinQY is an 3A (ordinary), 13B (oil and fluids) and class C (gas: fi propane) powder extinguisher with an extinguishing capacity of 3,5 to 4 seconds

- The movies, as they can be seen at www.pinqy.com (choose movies) are NOT fake. They were filmed by use of a handycam by people that killed a fire for the first time in their lives. So NO PROPANE was shut off to simulate extinguishment. You can always mail me at [e-mail] and I will bring you in contact with the firefighters who were present

- PinQY is supported by big insurancecompanies in Europa to promote firesafety in the houses of everyone

- As a firefighter you must know that each fire in a home, when starting, can be extinguished. The main reason in Europe why people do not have an extinguisher in their home is: lack of interest and no proper extinguisher on the market that can be put in the neighbourhood of a potential fire (fi kitchen)

Kind regards,

Erik Crommelynck
Inventor/Founder/CEO
PinQY SA - Luxembourg

ps each firefighter I have ever met was always very sceptic in regard of PinQY. Untill they used PinQY themselves.

[Erik Crommelynck @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Atfault,

Thank you very much for your input, but:

- PinQY complies with the same regulations as each extinguisher has to do. Those regulations are very difficult to obtain, so if PinQY would not be a serious extinguisher we would never have obtained certification

- PinQY is an 3A (ordinary), 13B (oil and fluids) and class C (gas: fi propane) powder extinguisher with an extinguishing capacity of 3,5 to 4 seconds

- The movies, as they can be seen at www.pinqy.com (choose movies) are NOT fake. They were filmed by use of a handycam by people that killed a fire for the first time in their lives. So NO PROPANE was shut off to simulate extinguishment. You can always mail me at [e-mail] and I will bring you in contact with the firefighters who were present

- PinQY is supported by big insurancecompanies in Europa to promote firesafety in the houses of everyone

- As a firefighter you must know that each fire in a home, when starting, can be extinguished. The main reason in Europe why people do not have an extinguisher in their home is: lack of interest and no proper extinguisher on the market that can be put in the neighbourhood of a potential fire (fi kitchen)

Kind regards,

Erik Crommelynck
Inventor/Founder/CEO
PinQY SA - Luxembourg

ps each firefighter I have ever met was always very sceptic in regard of PinQY. Untill they used PinQY themselves.

[atfault @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Erik,

Yes, I am skeptical still, but completely understand your intent with this product. I guess the lack of technical details regarding the extinguisher on the product site led me to believe that PinQY had more marketing behind it then fire suppression capabilities.

Thank you for clearing up my assumption that the propane training pans were used merely as a pseudo-fire situation. It seems to be normal here for those unfamiliar with extinguishers to be coddled when dealing with fire. This is probably one of the most deadly things we could do as it leads to complacency in fire situations.

By the way, extinguisher ratings while similar here do differ in one respect. The Class "C" rating in North America shows that it can be used on electrified Class "A" fires, and not that it is capable of dealing with flammable gasses.

I would still love to try one as they definitely are different that any other extinguishing product out there.

Regards,

MS

[Erik Crommelynck @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Atfault,

Thank you for your postings.

I understand absolutely that you, and probably other people, are very sceptical, but I have no attempt what so ever to sell a product (and certainly not an extinguisher) that people cannot use.

I have developped, from scratch, this product 5 years ago from an idea to a company with his own productionfactility in Europe and good marketingteam behind.

But it is, even with his high "gadget"-look, in the first place a professional extinguisher with only one job: extinguishing a "starting" fire. You see it happen and believe me, PinQY will kill the fire.

We launched the product about 6 months ago in Europe and it is a hughe succes. For America, for the moment, we do not have any distributor.

Thanks for your postings and I (sincerly) hope that we can save lives with PinQY. I really believe we can. And there is an interest for such a product. In less then 24hr we received hundreds of emails with the question: where can it be bought.

I hope soon in the USA and you will defenitely get one Atfault. Just send me your coordinates via email.

Erik Crommelynck
[e-mail]

[Erwin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

ERik, Congratulations with this great product! I agree with you that you don"t need a big extinghuiser to put down a starting fire. If bigger, no extinghuiser will help and your property will be lost. Also, great about PinQY is the fact that elderly and even children might be able to use it, as it is not heavy. What does a big extinghuiser help if you cannot lift it up?
Regards, Erwin