Fire Extinguisher info

[Tim R.]

After the recent fire and also a thread talking about expired fire extinguishers I decided to do a little more research. I stopped by the local Simplex-Grinnell office and spoke with one of their techs.

He says that if you have a pressure gauge in the green and you can feel the powder shaking around that is good but really means nothing. The real issue is the release valve. He says that the valves will corrode and freeze up so when you go to use the extinguisher, you cannot press the handle and on the cheap ones the handle then just breaks.

The powder rarely turns to a solid if the cylinder has not been breached and the gauge will still be in the green if the valve freezes up.

So I would put these in the same category as expired flares. Maybe keep one on board as an extra if the primary runs out. Of course, make sure you do so in such a way that the primary is always the first one used.

I keep 4 on board. One in the stern locker that can be accessed without going into the cabin. One next to the engine compartment, one in the galley and one in the V berth.

Stay tuned for MS's post when he splits a fire extinguisher in half to demonstrate this failure.

 

[letterman]

Got stopped by the CG a while ago. They searched the vessel, 37', for fire extinguishers. They said "Where are the two at? I said "look in any drawer". I had 14 on board. You can't have enough.

 

[sailingdog]

How big are your fire extinguishers.. IMHO, you're better off with fewer larger ones than a lot of small ones. The small ones don't really have the duration to kill anything but a very small fire. If you're curious... talk to the local fire department and ask to see a demonstration. I've got six on board my boat, and its only 28' LOA.. but four are the larger kind and only two are the smaller units.

Got stopped by the CG a while ago. They searched the vessel, 37', for fire extinguishers. They said "Where are the two at? I said "look in any drawer". I had 14 on board. You can't have enough.

 

[catsailor]

Fire is scary, no question...

and this is one thing that makes me like cats.

* the fuel tank is between the hulls and drains overboard only.
* the engines are " " " " "
* the propane tanks are " " " " " " (yes, the gas is routed in the hulls, and I do have solenoids and detectors)
* there are no compartments without 2 ways out.

I had a gas valve fail years ago (ice) and all it caused was an empty gas tank.

And yes I have extinguishers.

Yes, I have have used them numerous times in refinery tests, and I can tell you the small ones are good for a few seconds. Don't waste a bit.

I would not keep the old ones. One of the things we demonstrate to employees is the high failure rate of old ones. After 5 years, pitch it. Your better off with a bucket.

 

[Taylor]

Get them inspected and serviced

Just in case you don't already know, you can have most good fire extinguishers inspected, serviced and re-tagged with a new expire date at a fire extinguisher servicing company.

In Seattle, the folks to go to are http://www.aaafire.com/

I drive past these guys every time I go to the boat, which ought to remind me that I need to check my expire dates.

 

[Calif. Ted]

Just as a general rule if an extinguisher has a plastic head it's "disposable", most with metal heads are servicable as Taylor pointed out. The extinguishers we are most familiar with are "stored pressure", the canister is pressurized with nitrogen (dry, inert) and we must rely on the 79 cent plastic gauge as to it's condiition. Most Fire Departments use what are commonly referred to as "Ansuls", Ansul being the manufacturer. These units have a CO2 cartridge that is pierced for use, you can remove the top to check that the extinguishing agent has not "caked", that the CO2 has not been pierced, and you can even weigh the C02 to insure the cartridge has not leaked off. After use it is easily serviced, more powder & new cartridge, altho nowdays they probable have a licensed fire ext. tech service for liabilty. They cost an arm and a leg but your grandchildrens children will still be using it on their boat.
https://www.ansul.com/AnsulGetDoc.asp?FileID=8353
BTW even a 20 lb. extinguisher will discharge in less than 30 seconds.