How to Install a Fire Extinguisher in Your Car Without Drilling

For many car enthusiasts, the love of performance driving isn’t confined to the racetrack. Our sports cars often pull double duty, serving as weekend track machines and weekday grocery-getters. This duality means modifications need to be practical and reversible. Drilling holes for permanent fixtures, especially in daily drivers, is often undesirable. However, safety equipment like fire extinguishers is crucial, particularly if you participate in track days or racing events.

Ford Fiesta ST used for HPDE events and autocross, also for daily errands

Recently, the need to install a fire extinguisher became apparent when preparing a Ford Fiesta ST for the Tire Rack One Lap of America event, sanctioned by NASA. While experienced in installing extinguishers in dedicated race cars, doing so in a street car required a different approach – one that avoided permanent modifications. The goal was to find a secure and accessible mounting solution without resorting to drilling into the car’s floorboard.

Regulations from sanctioning bodies like NASA mandate fire extinguisher installation for track events. These regulations specify crucial factors like accessibility and secure mounting. NASA Club Codes and Regulations section 15.1 clearly states the extinguisher must be “…securely mounted inside within driver’s reach while normally seated, belts fastened and steering wheel in place…” Initially, the floorboard in front of the passenger seat seemed like the most compliant location. However, the regulation also specifies metal, quick-release brackets with nuts and bolts for mounting, suggesting drilling might be necessary.

Before resorting to drilling, a search for pre-engineered solutions proved fruitful. An Australian company, Kap Industries, offered a custom fire extinguisher mount specifically designed for the Ford Fiesta ST. This bracket ingeniously utilizes the existing seat mounting hardware, eliminating the need for any drilling. This discovery was a game-changer, offering a clean, non-invasive installation method.

To ensure rapid deployment of the fire extinguisher in an emergency, a quick-release system is essential. The Allstar Performance quick-release fire extinguisher bracket provides this functionality. This system consists of two CNC aluminum pieces that interlock and are secured with a pull-pin. One half of this bracket would attach to the Kap Industries mount, and the other to the fire extinguisher itself using clamps. This setup allows for immediate access to the extinguisher – simply pull the pin and deploy.

Amerex 2.5 pound ABC fire extinguisher with quick-release kit mounted

For the fire extinguisher itself, an Amerex 2.5 pound ABC unit from I/O Port Racing Supplies was selected. This model met NASA CCR 15.1 requirements and was perfectly sized for the Allstar Performance quick-release clamps. Its compact dimensions also ensured a good fit on the Fiesta’s floorboard. The final steps involved assembling the mounting bracket, quick-release mechanism, and fire extinguisher, then installing the complete unit in the car.

Installation of the Kap Industries bracket was straightforward. Using a Torx bit, the front passenger seat’s leading-edge mounting bolts were removed. The Kap Industries bracket was then slid into position under the seat mount, and the original bolts were reinstalled, securing the bracket.

Assembled quick release kit mated and ready for pin insertion

The beauty of this setup lies in its seamless integration. The Allstar Performance quick-release kit aligned perfectly with the Kap Industries bracket, and the Amerex extinguisher was the ideal diameter for the provided clamps. The entire process was bolt-on, requiring no fabrication or drilling. It was a matter of unpacking the components and assembling them. Adjustability in the quick-release kit allowed fine-tuning the extinguisher’s height, preventing accidental discharge from vibrations or passenger foot movement.

This short video shows how easily the Amerex 2.5 pound ABC fire extinguisher can be removed using the Allstar Performance quick release fire extinguisher bracket. Simple and fast.

This combination of components resulted in a fire extinguisher installation completed in under 30 minutes. The installation was fully compliant with NASA and One Lap of America regulations and crucially, required no drilling, preserving the street car’s integrity. Utilizing existing OEM bolts, the system proved robust and effective. The quick-release mechanism allows for extinguisher removal in seconds.

With the bolt-in, quick-release fire extinguisher system installed, the Fiesta ST was ready for the 2021 Tire Rack One Lap of America. Throughout the 3,600-mile event, the installation remained solid and secure, providing peace of mind across ten different racetracks. While thankfully never needed, the easily accessible and quickly deployable fire extinguisher was a vital safety addition, ready for any unforeseen emergencies.

Image courtesy of Rob Krider