Fire extinguishers. Professional advice?

[Walter Rego]

I have a few around the house. They are the Kidde brand, ABC rated and say 7 lbs, 8 oz gross weight on the labels. They are all several years old but the needle on the gauges is still in the 1345 PSI green zone. Are they still trustworthy as long at the gauges show in the green zone ?

 

[steelslaver]

In May of 2009 I came home to smoke come out of my house. I ran to the shop and grabbed my 10# dry extinguisher. Went to the front door of the house and felt it. Not hot. Opened it standing to the side. Pretty heavy smoke, I had no carpet so I went in low and could see flames in the master bedroom, from the door way I could see a fire at a dresser I shot the whole load at the base of the fire and knocked it way down. But, not out. Closed the bedroom door and exited the house closing tthe door. When the fire dept arrived (neighbors told me they had called when I first arrived) where the fire was located and they attacked it there and ventilated the roof and hit it from there too. The rebuild took roof replacement, sheet rock etc, Saved the walls, my lathe and mill in back room, guns in closet, and some other stuff. But, if I had not knocked it down the fire chief said it would have been nothing but rubble. I had insurance, but, near maxed it all out. Would have been worse if I had not had that 10# extinguisher.

I was a certified structural firefighter in a volunteer station in the mid 90s.

 

[Rafterman]

Precisely. I have removed too many bodies from fire scenes that should never have been in danger.

Everybody has it pretty well covered. Check your smoke detectors lately? If not please do so. This, however reminds me that what has been seen can not be unseen.

 

[Bugkiller99]

Firearms and fire extinguishers. Something you keep handy and hope to never use. But never want to be without.

 

[Puller]

Tongue in cheek or not, inexperienced users should take their extinguisher to the 'range' for a test run. Find someone to go with you who has experience. Reloading a fire extinguisher is not expensive and the training would be worth while in the event you really need to use it.

 

[Imissedagain]

Speaking of fires, aboard boats, what do you all use and how do you have it wired if automatic?

Two in the work truck
One in the dirty shop
One in the cleaner shop
One in each bedroom
One in the kitchen
Alarms always serviced.

 

[steveno]

I kept fire extinguishers in my truck and apartment for a quite a few years and the needles were always in the green section. I was curious as to whether or not they worked so I took them out in the country , tried them and of course they didn't work. so I went to places that refills them and was told they were too old and they wouldn't refill. I don't remember the rules on it but it had something to do with the fittings. I went to wally world and they had the same size Kidde's for $14. at that price I can afford to just replace them every few years.

I found this reply

Thanks for the question. I have attached an Official Interpretation from our office that does state this. So in this case I believe you have been correctly advised. As our Interpretation states, the 2007 edition of NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers specifically states:



Dry chemical stored-pressure extinguishers manufactured

prior to October 1984 shall be removed from service at

the next 6-year maintenance interval or the next hydrotest,

whichever comes first.



Now, why 1984? Well I believe it has to do with the UL Listings and the Standards and Testing that has changed.



Any other questions please let me know.



Thank you,



Sean Lindgren #8728

Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal



Nebraska State Fire Marshal

438 W. Market St., Albion, NE 68620

 

[rubiranch]

After reading thru here it made me realize.... I'm gonna die.

 

[steelslaver]

Here is a tip for those with dry extinguishers. Every once in the while take them and turn them upside down, give them a rap with your hand and shake them around a few seconds. The dry chemical can settle to the point that it won't work right. There is some debate about this and it may vary from one manufacture to another. But, it doesn't hurt anything

 

[WR Moore]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this about training. When you replace fire extinguishers, use the old ones for practice/training. Start a small fire in the yard, get family members to put it out. Repeat until out of expired extinguishers. Did this with the kids decades ago.