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Post by bracknellboy on May 2, 2023 10:23:37 GMT
OK, i know this is hardly meant to be the go to place for asking general questions, but there is a wealth of knowledge on here from people from many different backgrounds. And I've not been able to get a definitive answer looking elsewhere, yet. So here goes.
Domestic setup (and also consideration for recreational vehicle). I have a couple of ABC Powder extinguishers. They are of an an age but never used etc. They both have gauges on them and both are happily in the green zone, and neither have ever been used. It would not surprise me if their ages were around 13 years and 17 ish years old. I know manufacturers warranties are only for 6 years, but instructions also basically say that if the pressure gauge is fine its good to use.
Should they be considered usable, or should they be replaced purely because of age ?
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adrianc
Member of DD Central
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Post by adrianc on May 3, 2023 8:43:04 GMT
I'd believe the pressure gauge. If I was replacing a fire extinguisher in a car, I'd be thinking about... firesafetystick.com/ |
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keitha
Member of DD Central
2024, hopefully the year I get out of P2P
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Post by keitha on May 3, 2023 12:07:41 GMT
give them a gentle tip, if the powder has clumped and you feel it moving as a lump replace them
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Post by bracknellboy on May 3, 2023 18:08:48 GMT
I'd believe the pressure gauge. If I was replacing a fire extinguisher in a car, I'd be thinking about... firesafetystick.com/thanks. Someone else on another forum pointed me to these. Funnily enough, I'm sure I'd seen a promo for them a small number of years ago but had forgotten about them. I have two applications in mind, and for one of them I think this would be ideal.
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Post by bracknellboy on May 3, 2023 18:16:50 GMT
give then a gentle tip, if the powder has clumped and you feel it moving as a lump replace them Thanks. My two domestic ones don't have that problem despite age. I have one in the MoHo which is less old but in that case there is a 'best before' date on it, which we are past by two years. It is looking at online blurb supposedly a goto for cars etc. However, a) current recommendation is to NOT use use dry powder indoors / enclosed space (larger indoor space like workshop/garage is OK) b) its only 600g and c) it is B,C & elec only (not A) class use d) god forbid it ever needed to be used, discharging a dry powder inside a MoHo is going to be VERY VERY messy (plus its certainly an enclosed space). So I'm leaning towards replacing the MoHo one with a the fire safety stick (much more 'bang' - or if you prefer much less bang - for the size/weight, plus reduces the dry powder inhalation and enclosed space issue) and leaving the domestic ones I have as the gauges are fine and there is no 'thud' of clumped powder when I tip them up. Still, I might buy two of the fire safety sticks and keep one in the house....just because.
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Post by martin44 on May 3, 2023 21:02:24 GMT
I recently had a habitational service on my camper, it was noted that the fire extinguisher was out of date.. all looked ok to me, but i changed it anyway.
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Post by mostlywrong on May 4, 2023 11:24:13 GMT
Many years ago, part of my job spec was H&S (objective 10 IIRC which shows how important it was) in an open plan office building. When I got round to checking everything, the fire extinguishers had not been checked/tested for years. I had words, money became available, and I bought the ones in the office catalogue.
The old ones were the "grab hose, remove cap, bang knob, point jet of water at base of flames" type. The new ones were, I think, CO2. Squeeze trigger and vapour erupts.
It then became clear that very few people in the building had any experience of operating an extinguisher or dealing with a small fire (fighting a fire is for the professionals).
I put together a demo in the car park on Friday afternoon that involved a tray of petrol, a waste bin of paper and several extinguishers.
One extinguisher came from my car - powder, about 10 years old but probably much older. It worked perfectly but the powdery mess had to be seen to be believed.
I would like to think that it was a successful demo!
MW
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adrianc
Member of DD Central
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Post by adrianc on May 4, 2023 11:27:18 GMT
When I were a lad, I did DoE Bronze. Part of that included taking a fire safety course at the local fire station.
It all culminated in a grand demo of how to put a fire out. BIG conflagration in a tin tray in the yard... and not one of the station's fire extinguishers worked. Faces were about as red as their trucks.
(I never finished and got the award - teacher's strikes...)
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