Liebherr R9800, what a beast.....!

[Nige]

I wonder how long it will take someone to burn one to the ground ...?

I have it on good authority that one particular mine in S. America that shall remain nameless has managed to burn a 9600 to the ground not once but twice (and not the same one on both occasions I hasten to add). That must have been expensive ...........

[heavyplant6]

My god there insurance will jump a bit!!!!! lol

[Nige]

AFAIK the insurance company has refused to cover their excavators .........

Problem is, as in all things, the human element. The fire suppression system is a bit like an orgasm. It's a one-shot deal that once you've pulled the pin that's it. If the engine is not shut down before the fire system is activated then the source of fuel (from a bust hydraulic hose for example) could still be spewing everywhere over hot components. The fire system puts out the fire but there is still fuel and a heat source so it flares up again and of course a few 20-pound hand-held extinguishers are not gonna put that bad boy out.

The only way to do it is to first put the bucket on the ground, shut the engine off, then hit the button. However it's a lot harder to do that as the operator in a real-life fire, when you're surrounded by flames and you're more concerned getting yourself out alive than saving the machine, than it was in the training class .......

[heavyplant6]

You would of thought there would be a total shut down system that should be
put in place that is linked to all these new control systems by now!!!!!!

[Nige]

You would of thought there would be a total shut down system that should be
put in place that is linked to all these new control systems by now!!!!!!

You know what they say ..... If if's and buts were pots & pans we'd all be rag & bone men .......... but I take your point.

[alco]

You would of thought there would be a total shut down system that should be
put in place that is linked to all these new control systems by now!!!!!!

Any fire supression system I have ever seen on a large machine like this has always been set up to shut the machine down prior to discharging the system. I know all the systems are aftermarket, but they all have that function here.

[Gavin84w]

The 9350,s we had on site actually were set up with a deluge system over and above the fire system, basically our 777 water carts had the corresponding hose on them and if possible you would drive up to the machine and connect it on and pump the water into her.

Personally i would let the Libra burn.

[Nige]

The 9350,s we had on site actually were set up with a deluge system over and above the fire system, basically our 777 water carts had the corresponding hose on them and if possible you would drive up to the machine and connect it on and pump the water into her.

Personally i would let the Libra burn.

In addition to the wet/dry fire suppression system all our water trucks are all equipped with independent fire suppression monitors, that don't even need connecting to the shovel but I wouldn't bank my next pay cheque (or even what I've got in my wallet !) against Mine Operations being able to get a full truck of water to a burning shovel before it converted itself into a crispy critter.

Agree with you 100% on the Liebherr. I'd also add Hitachi to that list as well.

[Gavin84w]

Yeah, we call em Libra cos, they are just like the tampon of that name, they only work once a month!

[pp13bnos]

I wonder if I could get one with a thumb?

[alco]

In addition to the wet/dry fire suppression system all our water trucks are all equipped with independent fire suppression monitors, that don't even need connecting to the shovel but I wouldn't bank my next pay cheque (or even what I've got in my wallet !) against Mine Operations being able to get a full truck of water to a burning shovel before it converted itself into a crispy critter.

Agree with you 100% on the Liebherr. I'd also add Hitachi to that list as well.

Even if they could get the water there, sheet metal tends to be a bit of a hinderance to actually getting at the seat of the fire. Spraying water at the outside, will do sweet bugger all to put out the fire.

[lozenger1967]

i had interview with liebherr for that job in jan, but had interview with hitachi last week fingers crossed, may be over there in competition with you me old mucka,good luck with your new job

[Zed]

Most big diggers/shovels I've seen have fire suppression pressure switch which sends an input to OEM system.
on the 996 which has a pressurised hydraulic tank, when the fire supp goes off, the engines will shutdown, and it will also open a vent in hydraulic tank to release air pressure. Same if you hit the E-stop. Then there's a timer so the valve stays open for a preset time. Thats why if you hit an e-stop on a 996 you won't have the horn for 10 minutes unless you reset the timer, cause all your air pressure is being vented straight out the hydraulic tank.
O&K/terex machines have same pressure switch, same job but hyd tank isn't pressurised. If fire suppression switch activated you can't start engines either...