New guides on portable extinguisher disposal

[kurnal]

New guides on portable extinguisher disposal

Two guides on the safe and legal disposal of portable fire extinguishers have been published by the Fire Industry Association (FIA). The documents cover the applicable legislation, the correct way of handling the extinguishers and the available options for collection and disposal.

FIA Fact File 0039 gives environmental guidance on the correct and acceptable ways of disposing of foam fire extinguishers. The new Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 replace the Groundwater Regulations 1998 and implement an EU Directive which requires the prevention or limitation of certain substances into groundwater. They are intended, says the FIA, to prevent dangerous substances from causing either direct or indirect pollution to groundwater used as a source of drinking water.

Along with the disposal of foam, FIA Fact File 0039 also covers the handling of extinguishers, high-temperature incineration of PFOS foams and the recycling of extinguisher parts and components.

Covering similar ground but this time in relation to powder extinguishers, FIA Fact File 0040 includes the applicable regulations, handling off-site, collection, transport and the storage of this type of extinguisher. Disposal of the powder depending on its type is also considered.

The FIA stresses that each of the Fact Files are only intended for general guidance and not as a substitute for consulting the appropriate regulations and/or obtaining specialist advice for specific circumstances.

Fact files can be downloaded here:
http://firesa.org.uk/en/technical-information/fact_files.cfm
 



 

[AnthonyB]

It's a great money spinner as you can now charge to take away old extinguishers (at a substantial mark up!)  and has signalled the change of an extinguisher into a limited life disposable item.

If a non CO2 extinguisher reaches 5 years, replace with new as you can't discharge test.

Far more global environmental damage is carried out by the mining of ore, minerals, making plastics from oil, fabricating them into metal & plastic components and shipping them from the other side of the world, to supply the exchange extinguisher and then there is the landfill & energy consumption involved in the recycling plant's operations.

In the good old days you would fill & test an extinguisher for many more years until it became unsafe/obsolete and service exchange was literal as the removed extinguisher would be refurbished and used again elsewhere.