fire extinguishers- lifespan

[pagoda]

Not that I'm about to encourage people to hang on to them indefinitely...

At the sailing club (dinghy..) this week-end we had a major clear out, and found in the process several old extinguishers.
Last tested about 1990 - 1992....

The old water extinguishers (stored pressure) worked perfectly.
We had one rusty CO2 extinguisher - worked perfectly (though the grass will never be the same again!)
I would not expect a powder version to be functional over that length of time however- though we had none to dispose of.
There was one halon extinguisher, un-discharged - but the contents had leaked away over the years..

Is there a moral? Perhaps not to rely on old gear, but not to ditch it if it is in good condition?

Almost as good fun as flares

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I believe powder extinguishers are longer lived if they are shaken up fairly often.
This stops the powder from settling/compacting... perhapsd an expert could comment?

 

[Twister_Ken]

I believe powder extinguishers are longer lived if they are shaken up fairly often.
This stops the powder from settling/compacting... perhapsd an expert could comment?

No idea of the validity, but I've heard it suggested that powder extinguishers should be mounted horizontally. That way, each time the boat tacks, they get a bit agitated.

 

[aluijten]

No idea of the validity, but I've heard it suggested that powder extinguishers should be mounted horizontally. That way, each time the boat tacks, they get a bit agitated.

Better still, not use then at all and swap them for foam types.

In the unlucky event you may need to use them the powder types give a horrible mess.
Foam is much easier to clean up.
The foam types do need contents replacement every five years though and most of them can't cope with freezing temperatures.

 

[Strikeliner]

No idea of the validity, but I've heard it suggested that powder extinguishers should be mounted horizontally. That way, each time the boat tacks, they get a bit agitated.

Hmmmnnn...... Sounds suspiciously like how SWMBO would react......

 

[Norman_E]

I fired an old domestic powder extinguisher without a pressure gauge. It was about 15 years old at the time. It worked perfectly, and made one hell of a mess. On the boat my powder extinguishers all have pressure gauges, so if they show in the green area, does that mean they are OK regardless of date?

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

Ours are dated 1999.... Should we replace them? wasn't mentioned in the survey I dont think.

 

[savageseadog]

No idea of the validity, but I've heard it suggested that powder extinguishers should be mounted horizontally. That way, each time the boat tacks, they get a bit agitated.

But what about motor boats?

 

[kindlebooks]

As a new member, my postings are not being posted until a moderator views them, so I guess you'll see this in the morn.

Many fire extinguishers can be serviced.

Some simply have the propellant replaced, e.g. a pressurized cylinder is replaced if the foam / powder in there is still good.

When I had my foam ones serviced once, the chap had to mix two liquids to bring the foam level up to its top as well as recharging the pressure system (or something like that - my memory is a bit fuzzy). It was only a tenner per extinguisher - much cheaper than replacing all extinguishers ( I have a few and quite a big one too)

 

[nigel1]

SOLAS requires most extinguishers to be pressure tested at 10 yr intervals.
It will be cheaper to buy a new one, unless you already have the test kit and fittings, or know someone who does.
Although most of us do not need to adhere to SOLAS rquirements, they make a decent guideline
Extinguishers are pretty cheap now, work out about 4 or 5 squids per year for a decent foam extinguisher.

Re The dry powder extinguishers, if you have a secure stowage position, leaving them upside down for a few hours will normally allow the contents to unpact.

 

[Amulet]

Shaking my engine compartment extinguisher today on the pontoon, I chanced on a professional from the fire protection company checking the marina's extinguishers. I handed my extinguisher to him. It was dated 2007. He said "5 years - end of lifespan, replace".

It did seem compacted, and, when my boat was last surveyed (2007), compaction was the reason I was told to replace them all.

Don't know whether to believe the professionals, but that's what they said to me.

Shake them up routinely and maybe they'll satisfy inspection (and work if you need them).

Getting rid of out-of-date extinguishers is almost as difficult as getting rid of flares it seems.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

No idea of the validity, but I've heard it suggested that powder extinguishers should be mounted horizontally. That way, each time the boat tacks, they get a bit agitated.

+1
CO2 even better than foam, if dearer, cools and even less mess.
Like the old Pyrene carbon tet ones, run away after use, mind.
BTW, in moving some old file racking in work some 12 years ago, found a wall mounted, drop on floor to go Water extingusher dating from 1944(last recharged- bit older style than that even!).
On the next annual % dicharge and recharge, guess which one went off, and the up to date, due for cycle ones didn't?