Another fire extinguisher question

[cpedw]

How long should I leave it before I replace the 1kg dry powder fire extinguishers on the boat? Lidl's offer starts tomorrow and it may be a while before I get a similar chance to replace them cheaply.
The extinguishers I've got all have the pressure guage, and it's still in the green zone. Is that sufficient?
Regards,
Derek

 

[jmh2929]

Talk to your local fire service

 

[tugboat]

If the pressure is OK and there is no external deterioration of the container I see no reason to replace it. One problem with DP extinguishers is that if they are left stowed in their brackets untouched for a long time and subjected to vibration (as they are on ships and boats) the powder tends to compact, therefore it's a good idea to remove from the bracket occasionally and shake it until you can feel the powder shifting inside. Turning it upside down and rolling it over and over helps the loosening.

 

[Pinnacle]

It should have a "best before" date - usually on the back. If it goes out of date soon, head for LIDL! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
It should have a "best before" date - usually on the back. If it goes out of date soon, head for LIDL! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Best before dates are normally for sealed types ... other stored pressure / gas cylinder and other are normally subject to inspection periods. Age is immaterial as long as condition is good. This is normally checked by pressure test using water and a hand air pump.

My F/Ex's are stored pressure type and donkeys old - but still in green section on pressure, have been shaken to ensure powder is not compacted etc.

OK there is a difference - I am confident enough to check out F/Ex as I used to have to look after Ships stuff without aid of shore except when full Safety Gear Inspection was carried out by Marine Authorised Inspector. Usually that entailed emptying random ext's and filling near full with water .. capping and pressurising with air ... (Why water ? If failure of container occurs water flows ... but if no water only air - it explodes !)

Best for you - take em to local Fire Station and ask if they can look at them. I believe they used to do it ok - but now I think HSE and liability may dictate they say no ??

I think for average person without Fire equipment training - self contained sealed units with set life stamped on may be best bet. Then there should be reduced risk of failure ....

IMHO of course ...

 

[machurley22]

If they're still in the green and you can hear the powder moving about then Lidl will probably have them on sale again before your existing ones need replacing. IMO.

 

[oldharry]

I asked a Fire Safety officer about the viability of cheap extinguishers. Firstly he confirms that if the needle is still in the green zone then the extinguisher should function normally. Modern DP has an additive which prevents the powder compacting like the old ones did, thought the occasional 'shake up' does no harm. More important is whether there is corrosion to the bottle. You dont want it bursting in operation!

As far as cheap extinguishers are concerned, he reckoned them a waste of money, and pretty useless for serious fire fighting. The cheaper ones discharge their contents in a very short time, giving you very little time to extinguish a fire. Its not just quantity, but the rate and pattern of the discharge that makes the more expensive ones better. A narrow jet of powder takes longer to discharge, and puts more chemical where you need it at the seat of the fire. Cheap ones spread it much more widely, and discharges in some cases in less than half the time of a good one.

He suggested 4Kg was the minimum amount of dry powder we should carry aboard, preferably in 1 or 2 kg bottles. But if we MUST use cheapos, double that, to give yourself a reasonable time reserve for fire fighting.

He also reckoned at least one fire blanket should be carried, as a means of dousing the flames, but look carefully at the destructions, and practice holding it correctly so your hands are protected in use. Whatever it says on the pack, they ARE re-useable if they are undamaged. Watch a Fire Brigade Chip Pan demo: they use the same blanket time and again for the demo, and it will be the same spec as any shop bought one!

Finally, he warns that the powder cloud from a cheap extinguisher will fill a boat cabin almost immediately, preventing further fire fighting because a) you can no longer see the fire source, and b) the powder is extremely unpleasant to inhale. Even a good one will soon make the cabin uninhabitable, but the longer you can give yourself the more chance you have of saving the boat.

 

[Vara]

Last year when this last reared it's head I bought 4 of the Lidl "cheapies" and let one of my older ones off,as fire extinguishers go it gave a very satisfactory spread which was controllable and as good as Chubbs which I have used in anger and in practise in a previous life and would be regarded by most people as a "good" extinguisher.
The last lot were made by www.delta.be a reputable European manufacturer.I haven't seen the latest ones but I can't imagine they would be any different.

If equipping boat , I would rather have 4 cheapo but certificated extinguishers than 1 certificated expensive one.
And AFFF would be favoured over powder.

Col learning about fighting fires(I'm the one bending) a few years ago.

 

[oldharry]

Well perhaps my FO has shares.... but he usually seems to talk sense.

 

[Viking]

Guess I'm luckly, one of our club members is a fireman. He checks and certificates all our extinguishers each year for free!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif