Fire extinguisher replacement

[KevinD]

Dear All,

I was hoping somebody could please advise on the following:

Would I be right in thinking that though there are defined periods for servicing (and extended servicing) fire extinguishers, there is no prescribed frequency within which they should be replaced?

I have heard on a couple of occasions people saying that after ten years they should be replaced but nobody seems to be able to explain the rationale behind this.  My thought would be that if they continue to undergo the required servicing programme by a competent engineer/person and are deemed to remain fit/safe for use, then there should be no need to replace.

Your thoughts would be welcome.

Regards

[AnthonyB]

Ah yes, the 'I can't be bothered to carry out a full strip down' scam.

All types should receive a Basic Service (partial strip down [extent determined by type], weighing, all over visual check and for gauged extinguishers verification with a gauge testing tool, etc) every year


At 5 years, types other than CO2 and Nu Swift Primary sealed powders (strike knob with gauge in main body) must undergo an extended service - a test by discharge and full strip down of all types, folowed by renewal of certain components and a recharge.

The 5 year interval is used by most firms to sell new equipment as it makes more profit - the bigger margin on a new product and a simple swap with no need for workshop time for the test discharge and strip down. It is far cheaper for the end user to have their extinguishers extended serviced and reputable companies will carry this out or at least service exchange.

At 10 years CO2 extinguishers require an overhaul, primarily to satisfy pressure vessel safety legislation due to the high pressure cylinders used. Extinguishers are emptied, striped down, thoroughly inspected and then subjected to a pressure test, if passed they are stamped, a new valve fitted & refilled.

Again a lot of companies can't be bothered to service exchange at this interval and replace new for the better margin (any company environmental statement in this case is worthless - we should recycle as long as it is safe and CO2 extinguishers can last 30 or 40 years)

Also at 10 years Nu Swift Primary sealed powders are Extended Serviced (or replaced, but I have sympathy in this case as you could probably buy 2 new standard powders for the cost & trouble of getting this make refilled)

An extinguisher should really only be replaced when:
Unsafe-
a) corrosion, wear or damage to threads of any pressure retaining part;
b) corrosion of welds;
c) extensive general corrosion or severe pitting;
d) significant dents or gouges in the body;
e) fire damage to the body or body fittings.
Unfit & liable to become unsafe-
a) any split in a plastics lining, or any significant bubbling or lifting from the metal of a plastics lining;
b) corrosion of the metal body under a plastics lining;
c) corrosion of the metal body under a zinc or tin/lead lining.
Obsolete, unsafe by design or prohibited by other legislation-
— chemical foam extinguishers;
— soda acid extinguishers;
— extinguishers with a riveted body shell;
— extinguishers with a plastics body shell;
— extinguishers that require inversion to operate;
— non-refillable extinguishers that have reached their expiry date.
— halon extinguishers
— extinguishers where parts are discontinued (you can't service them without the bits)

Some additions to this list are pending (should have been out, but some manufactures are arguing) and affect plastic head caps and labels in the wrong colour code (e.g. foam extinguishers where the instruction label is 90% green & only 10% cream)

[fireftrm]

Of course the 10 yearly 'Service Exchange' of the CO2 (and perhaps similar for DP at 5 years) is REPLACING........... Using service exchange should mean a more sensible price, rather than selling a NEW extinguisher, but the one on site is REPLACED either way.

I would support service exhange as a sensible, cost effective and clean way of dealing with this issue.

[AnthonyB]

Service exchange came around as a convenience and cost issue, it is technically 'replacing' of course but a service exchange is normally carried out where in days gone by the original extinguisher would have been taken away, discharged, tested (if CO2), refilled and returned to the customer.

Instead to save on making two visits your original is swapped for one that has already had the overhaul or extended service done - your original is then taken back, tested etc & another customer gets it.

But with overhaul & extended service it is your right to ask for the original back (unless it fails) rather than permanently keep a service exchange.

The drawback with Service exchange is you can get a poorer extinguisher back in return, especially with Dry Powder, with fire rating implications - your 34A : 233B MAP 90% Kitemarked London Securities extinguisher ends up swapped for a 21A : 144B MaP 40% Non Kitemarked Firex

[Thomas Brookes]

The problem we have with service exchange is that we can normally buy a brand new extinguisher for about the same price (powder).

I was asked this question at the NEC this week by a very disturbed company director who was horrorfied that you did not just replace them all at 10 years as his National company do "no names".
I told him its normal for a extinguisher to last 15 years plus assuming it is in a good environment etc.

Hence I am now quoting him for a 150 extinguisher service contract!

[fireftrm]

15 years? Why that short a time?

[AnthonyB]

Indeed - in a good environment a Powder could last forever and in several cases the only reason I've withdrawn a DP is lack of parts (mainly washers & cartridges) or a customer request to phase out any remaining non red extinguishers as otherwise there would be several strike knob powders from the 70's still in use.

Even some waters can last forever, such as Amerex Stainless Steels, and i have a 1956 nu swift Water that I would happily bung a charge* in an set off as it's in pristine condition, zinc lining intact.

The cost and faff of filling powders does preclude exchange and re-use, particularly if you use non kitemarked new equipment and I will admit I never fill them either sending them to TG, exchanging or replacing. It's very unfortunate environmentally as hundreds of full powder extinguishers, many still in 'as new' condition due to being in non harsh environments, are binned due to reaching 5 years.



(* and could now I've found 50 - see other thread!)

[kurnal]

I was carrying out an RA in an old georgian block of flats a couple of weeks ago. When I visited to give a quote ( immediately post a fire incident) they had two conical soda acid extinguishers in the common areas, one was last serviced in 1955 and the other was marked 1936! Both were in reasonable condition and still charged. I was going to scrounge them with AB in mind but when I went back to do the RA a few days later they had been skipped.

But it rather dispells all the theories that extinguishers in low grade flats always get vandalised!

[AnthonyB]

  Skipped - so near, yet so far....

A few years back was doing an FRA on a multi-occ office in London and a solicitors still had it's original late 50's Prolin lined 1 gallon water/gas extinguishers and 5lb CO2 as it's fire protection it's only enhancement being in the 70's when they bought a Chubb Domestic twin Pack (cream plastic Sparklets DP & fire blanket) for the kitchen. I was so annoyed because we always train to London & I had no way of getting the old ones back or (free) replacements down.

Large 30's apartment block near me has always had extinguishers, the ubiquitous Minimax soda acids (long gone by the time I visited but could tell from the bracket outlines) and then gas water and halon extinguishers to the landings - never any vandalism of the waters or theft of the halon's.

A lot of the old stuff I recover still works and were it not for a lack of parts could keep them in service! Old 'original' Nu Swift stuff from the 50's & 60's and the early Amerex kit from the 80's is seemingly indestructible