I had a very interesting conversation with the chap selling these at the NEC last year. The reason they are so compact is down to the fact that they don't contain any liquid, but a solid that produces an extinguishing media by chemical reaction.
As I'm supposedly an expert in this field (no pun intended
hmy: ) by the nature of my job, I for one wouldn't want to attempt to save my caravan if it was involved in fire. As has been pointed out, they tend to become fully involved in a short time.
It goes without saying that any fire will generate an amount of heat. Metals and materials used in caravan construction melt and decompose which produces a number of chemicals whose properties can add to the ferocity of the fire and increase temperatures to the high hundreds.
As for exploding gas cylinders, this is the unknown factor. While they won't explode 'Hollywood style' the moment a caravan catches fire, they do pose a significant risk. Because of the process that goes on when flames impinge on a cylinder, those with less contents are more of a risk. They are fitted with blow out discs, which is the safety device to release pressure, but this does not mean that the cylinder can't fail.
My advice is get out of the van, raise the alarm on site and call 999 for the fire and rescue service and let trained professionals deal with the situation rather than put yourself at risk. :cheer:
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