Should I Use An Expired Fire Extinguisher?

Feb 9, 2023 | news

Approximately 10 to 12 years is the expected lifespan of a well-maintained fire extinguisher. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that disposable fire extinguishers must be replaced at least every 12 years. After so much time has passed, they usually experience a decrease in pressure. If they pass testing of the shell’s integrity, it is possible for rechargeable extinguishers to last longer than that. Over time, a fire extinguisher can lose its ability to operate properly due to external factors such as damage, rust, and corrosion. It is essential that your extinguishers are inspected and tested on a regular basis. The hydrostatic test is one of the most important tests. Any fire extinguisher which fails the hydrostatic test should be disposed of immediately, as it is a gauge of the cylinder’s integrity. Meanwhile, we still suggest for new equipment such as fire fighting monitor and remote control fire monitor.

Main 4 Types Of Fire Fighting Extinguishers

There are 4 types of fire extinguishers below:

Firstly, fire extinguishers can put out fires of ordinary combustible materials, including wood, cloth, rubber, paper and many plastic materials.
Secondly, it is applicable to flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, solvent, paint, alcohol, oil and other similar substances.
Thirdly, fire extinguishers are only applicable to live equipment fires.
Fourthly, they are designed for flammable metal substances such as potassium and sodium.

Indicators That Time To Replace Your Fire Fighting Extinguisher

If there are any visible defects in your fire extinguisher, it should be replaced. Signs that the item may no longer function properly include:

  1. When the seal is broken
  2. Signs of weakening and deterioration
  3. A handle that is shaky, weak or broken
  4. Missing pins that have been previously released
  5. Hoses that are cracked, split, or damaged
  6. There is no inspection tag

A professional can also conduct a test to ascertain if the chemical powder inside the extinguisher has settled and been compressed. Should this be the case, your extinguisher must be recharged as it will not operate correctly.

What Are The Steps For Disposing Of Fire Extinguishers Correctly?

If your fire extinguisher is full, contact your local fire department to see if they will accept expired fire extinguishers. Should they not be able to accept it, take the extinguishers to a hazardous waste disposal facility.

Squeeze the handle of your fire extinguisher to make sure all the pressure has been released, if it is empty. Take off the head of the extinguisher to demonstrate that the canister is empty. Empty steel shells should be accepted by most recycling facilities.

Fire Extinguisher

Fire Pros is a fire protection company with over 40 years of experience. And is dedicated to keep our customers safe through the provision of fire extinguishers, emergency exit lighting, and other fire safety services. To help our customers maintain fire safety in their commercial buildings, we also offer 24-hour emergency service. We are immensely proud of our “customers first” reputation and the great reviews our team of expertly trained fire suppression experts has earned.

If you have any doubts regarding the state of your fire extinguishers or would like to have them inspected or tested, please call Fire Pros on 800-968-2871 or contact us online for assistance from fire protection experts.

How To Use Extinguishers

Once you have purchased a fire extinguisher, please be familiar with the operating instructions of the fire extinguisher so that you can be prepared when you need to put out a fire. Generally, fire extinguishers are quite easy to use in case of fire. Most fire extinguishers are operated using P.A.S.S. technology.

P. Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher to break the tamper-proof seal.
A. Align the fire extinguisher to the low position and point the nozzle at the bottom of the fire source.
S. Squeeze the handle of the fire extinguisher to release the extinguishing agent.
S. Sweep the nozzle from one side to the other and aim at the bottom of the flame until the flame goes out.

Although the PASS method is applicable to most fire extinguishers you will encounter, the cartridge fire extinguishers found in some industrial environments require additional steps. In these devices, the external pressure cylinder must be started first.

Conclusion

Through this post, we recommand quality fire fighting monitor from China manufacturer, SICH. This is a professional and branded manufacturer involving in fire fighting monitor products more than 10 years.