LooseHeadPop
Member
Did you get a reply?
Fire Extinguishers
- Thread starter Wing Mark
- Start date
Stemar
Well-Known Member
I have a couple of Ikea powder extinguishers on board, plus a blanket. They'll do for a few more years, but the Firexo looks like a good choice when replacement comes due
captainboo
Well-Known Member
I have one at home and the answer is on the extinguisher - "Protect from Frost" The operating temperature however is -15 to +60.
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-Known Member
This would indicate an advisable laying-up procedure that has not come to light before; the need to remove extinguishers from the boat and store in a frost-proof environment.
Graham376
Well-Known Member
That would be tempting fate.
Plum
Well-Known Member
Many thanks. That rules out use on my boat. Too risky as I may forget to take them when visiting boat in the winter.
www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
BabaYaga
Well-Known Member
For many boaters the interesting question is likely this: Will frost permanently destroy the extinguisher or only make it inoperable while the freezing lasts?
dankilb
Well-Known Member
Sorry got distracted by other things - but I emailed them today and (without actually reading the rest of the thread!) specifically asked for clarification on the 'frost' issue.
I'm presuming/hoping they mean protecting from outside atmospheric conditions (e.g. the extinguisher being affected by freeze-thaw moisture) as it clearly states the operating temp of -15°C.
I'm pretty confident our boat, at least, doesn't experience 'frost' as it shouldn't get damp enough (3 x dorades always open and occasional dehumidifier when needed over winter). But can't say we've had enough frosty conditions lately to refresh my memory!
LooseHeadPop
Member
I hope you're right, but I don't share your optimism. I've emailed them today, too.
dankilb
Well-Known Member
Not necessarily. When looking seriously at water mist, I did consider taking them all home over winter and replacing with the old powder extinguishers (which still work and have since found homes in the cars/at home).
dankilb
Well-Known Member
At least they'll know we're talking about them! ?
dankilb
Well-Known Member
Got a very full and helpful email back from their UK office. I won't quote it here, as consent wasn't sought in the original email, but I can summarise as follows (with my own commentary in italics!):
They're not currently accredited for marine use, but that's something they're working on (as you'd expect). They do hold all the main approvals, as shown in the data sheets. I'd imagine these should be commensurate with most of our usage/requirements. Perhaps this might disqualify coded use. Maybe even one should, technically, 'check with insurers'?
The -15°C stands and should be fine for a vessel such as our AWB, which I explained could go below freezing but would not suffer direct exposure to outside atmospheric conditions.
They won't be explicitly recommending marine use in cold latitudes until they're happy with the necessary certification, but it sounds like this is coming.
I'm more than happy with this myself and Screwfix will be supplying the mini 500ml extinguishers for both aft cabins, plus a 2l for our (forepeak) cabin for now. We already have one of PD Motorsport's lovely polished stainless (and freeze resistant) AFFFs as a 'main' extinguisher at the companionway.
Finally, after 2+ years, 'bye-bye powder' (although there's a serviceable 2kg that might end up in a cockpit locker!)
They're not currently accredited for marine use, but that's something they're working on (as you'd expect). They do hold all the main approvals, as shown in the data sheets. I'd imagine these should be commensurate with most of our usage/requirements. Perhaps this might disqualify coded use. Maybe even one should, technically, 'check with insurers'?
The -15°C stands and should be fine for a vessel such as our AWB, which I explained could go below freezing but would not suffer direct exposure to outside atmospheric conditions.
They won't be explicitly recommending marine use in cold latitudes until they're happy with the necessary certification, but it sounds like this is coming.
I'm more than happy with this myself and Screwfix will be supplying the mini 500ml extinguishers for both aft cabins, plus a 2l for our (forepeak) cabin for now. We already have one of PD Motorsport's lovely polished stainless (and freeze resistant) AFFFs as a 'main' extinguisher at the companionway.
Finally, after 2+ years, 'bye-bye powder' (although there's a serviceable 2kg that might end up in a cockpit locker!)
LooseHeadPop
Member
Brilliant - well done dankilb. No sign of a reply yet here. Good point about checking with insurers.
BTW I see that they advertise various other retailers including Halfords and (of course) B&Q, and the usual online suspects.
For the benefit of others interested in all this, the 2litre Firexo is rated 13A/34B/C/D/E/25F. Interestingly, the mini one referred to above is 3A/13B /C/D/Electrical/5F
BabaYaga
Well-Known Member
Thank you. I take this to mean that the extinguisher will not be damaged functionally as long as it is stored above -15 degrees C?
If so, that would settle the matter for me too.
dankilb
Well-Known Member
It was confirmed they had been used outside in such conditions without issue. It sounds like they can't go as far as explicitly saying they're fine in marine environments - and that's understandable, when it could mean storage in exposed locations like a RIB or deck of a workboat.
It very much sounds like they're fine stored inside vehicles and for now it's down to us to judge whether our boats are too extreme an environment for them. I'm satisfied that ours isn't!
Alfie168
Well-Known Member
I've got a number of dry powder extinguishers. None of them make any reference to a discard by date ( different brands as well). They just say to check that the needle is in the green section on the gauge and to discard safely if not.
I wonder where one finds definitive advice on powder extinguishers that are getting on a bit. It's never bad advice to replace them I suppose, but is there a hard and fast rule out there, as opposed to a good guess to be on the safe side ?
I wonder where one finds definitive advice on powder extinguishers that are getting on a bit. It's never bad advice to replace them I suppose, but is there a hard and fast rule out there, as opposed to a good guess to be on the safe side ?
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dankilb
Well-Known Member
Given the low price of powder, replacement makes sense.
Otherwise, the only things I can think of is turn them upside down to see whether the powder is compacted and you can even/also test (fire) them quickly to check they work.
requiem
Well-Known Member
I would advise against the latter. It's one thing I've seen uniformly cautioned against, but as I was curious as to the why, I eventually bothered to dig up an answer. Apart from the simple answer of "they have very little capacity to start with, and you just ate into it", with a powder extinguisher the agent can prevent the valve from fully resealing, resulting in residual leakage over time. I've also seen mention of such leakage happening with CO2 extinguishers (perhaps due to bits of dry ice produced during the discharge).
Finally, if looking for any ideas for a discard date, over in the US the NFPA standards call for disposable models to be discarded after 12 years, and for the rechargeable models to be pressure tested every 12 years. I think I've seen shorter intervals in UK standards, but I always get the feeling there's some sort of cultural trauma about fire driving that.
Skylark
Well-Known Member
This is an informative, background read.
Fire | safety | RYA
Fire | safety | RYA
dankilb
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the correction - makes sense! I did try this on a couple of small powders without gauges (triggered for a millisecond and see if it spews!). Couldn't think how else to 'test'. They're floating around in the boots of various vehicles since, but I'll dispose of them now as a precaution!