Could an old ammo box be used as an expired Flare storage in my shed? Any thoughts?

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vertford

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I have moved my expired flares since selling the boat from the loft to the garden shed. They are still in good condition but all this heat recently made me think of them "cooking off". I keep them out of direct sunlight.

Would an old military ammo box be a suitable container to contain/restrict any fire/combustion that might occur? I have looked a fire proof safes/strongboxes aswell but the ex MOD boxes seem a bit bigger. Obviously would to get rid of them eventually properly.

Many thanks.
 
vertford said:
I have moved my expired flares since selling the boat from the loft to the garden shed. They are still in good condition but all this heat recently made me think of them "cooking off". I keep them out of direct sunlight.

Would an old military ammo box be a suitable container to contain/restrict any fire/combustion that might occur? I have looked a fire proof safes/strongboxes aswell but the ex MOD boxes seem a bit bigger. Obviously would to get rid of them eventually properly.


Many thanks.
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I’d think anywhere other than the loft was safer!!

Obviously they’re available new here but I’d be interested to know their fire rating.

W.
 
I think the risk is so low that it doesn’t matter. However if have one use it. Mine are in a cardboard box in my store room which is cool and dark, with no windows.

I guess storing them in a robust box is better. It’s a +4 hour round trip for me to dispose of mine, so have not bothered. If I am average, then a lot of sailors have loads of old flares kicking about that have not been goi g off accidentally.
 
I’d not store them in an old ammo container: if they do happen to go off, containing them in an ammo box will tend to lead to the box blowing up as it will attempt to contain the reaction. Better to put them in an old biscuit tin or plastic box and put that somewhere outside where it won’t do any damage if it goes off and is out of reach of any children. Then dispose of the things soon.
All that said, they’re most unlikely to self initiate. The pyrotechnic composition decays over time, leading to the flares failing to meet the required standards in terms of colour and burn duration, that’s why they have a specific lifespan. They don’t suddenly become likely to self destruct on the anniversary of their manufacture.....
 
vertford said:
I have moved my expired flares since selling the boat from the loft to the garden shed. They are still in good condition but all this heat recently made me think of them "cooking off". I keep them out of direct sunlight.

Would an old military ammo box be a suitable container to contain/restrict any fire/combustion that might occur? I have looked a fire proof safes/strongboxes aswell but the ex MOD boxes seem a bit bigger. Obviously would to get rid of them eventually properly.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Containment is the last thing you want to do. You're potentially turning pyro's into a bomb. Get rid of them properly, ASAP. If you do have a fire involving your pyro in an ammo box the fire brigade won't go near it, if it spreads to your house, hard luck.
 
penberth3 said:
..... If you do have a fire involving your pyro in an ammo box the fire brigade won't go near it, if it spreads to your house, hard luck.
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I don’t believe that, can you back it up? The fire brigade go near houses with garages full of explosive stuff when there is a fire.
 
As I said in #6, if the pyrotechnics went off inside an ammo tin, chances are it would explode rather than burning. By the time the fire brigade attended, there wouldn’t be an ammo box, just a hole surrounded by fire and debris, so they’d happily deal with the aftermath.
The only time the fire folks would tend to hang back is if they were to attend a house fire and someone were to tell them that there was a significant quantity of something likely to go bang inside the house. Even then, it likely that they’d attempt to damp down the fire as best possible before summoning EOD to go through the wreckage and make sure it was safe.
 
duncan99210 said:
As I said in #6, if the pyrotechnics went off inside an ammo tin, chances are it would explode rather than burning. By the time the fire brigade attended, there wouldn’t be an ammo box, just a hole surrounded by fire and debris, so they’d happily deal with the aftermath.
The only time the fire folks would tend to hang back is if they were to attend a house fire and someone were to tell them that there was a significant quantity of something likely to go bang inside the house. Even then, it likely that they’d attempt to damp down the fire as best possible before summoning EOD to go through the wreckage and make sure it was safe.
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+1

Assuming the OP means an H83 container or similar all (s)he is gaining is a fragmentation risk, or if it hasn't got that far and the original markings are there, the Fire Brigade retiring to a safe distance rather than fire fighting.
 
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vertford said:
I have moved my expired flares since selling the boat from the loft to the garden shed. They are still in good condition but all this heat recently made me think of them "cooking off". I keep them out of direct sunlight.

Would an old military ammo box be a suitable container to contain/restrict any fire/combustion that might occur? I have looked a fire proof safes/strongboxes aswell but the ex MOD boxes seem a bit bigger. Obviously would to get rid of them eventually properly.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes
 
These days the fire brigade have to carry out a health and safety assessment before they enter a building. They will let your house burn down if no one is trapped in it or if there is any risk to them and let your insurance pay up. Property can be replaced but lives cannot. If they knew you had pyrotechnics in your shed there is an odds on chance they would just stand back an observe it to ensure everyone was safe and it didn't spread to other properties around. Ammo box, it would ensure that they would all ignite.
 
Last year Chi marina held an 'open' day. One of the stands was the RNLI who accepted old flares for a small donation. Might be worth checking around your local marinas?

Our local tip won't take them, though.
 
Just been through this.

Unfortunately no marina open days this year so can't get rid of them that way. Same applies to Harbourmaster's office. They would do if they had an open day in association with the RNLI.

Council tip quite specifically won't touch them. Ditto police and fire service.

Force 4 will take them for free if you buy new ones or alternatively charge a small fee per flare for disposal. I suspect other big chandlers might do the same.

I now have none...until I find another set stashed away somewhere...
 
YouBoat in Gosport took mine for no charge, although I was a regular in there at the time - otherwise they might charge you if you're not replacing them at the same time.
 
HMCG at Daedalus Lee on Solent were taking them up to a dozen at a time by appointment last year but no idea whether lockdown has affected that.
 
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