Home Fire Extinguisher Query

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eracode

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#245129 20-Jan-2019 09:28

We have a 1.5 kg (charge weight) Chubb Dry Chemical Powder Stored Pressure Type home fire extinguisher.

It has never been used and the pressure indicator shows full pressure - the dial arrow is at the top end of the green ‘okay’ section. The whole thing is in very good nick.

However stickers on the side of the body show that it was last recharged in June 2003. I’m wondering if it’s still serviceable but also wondering about the ‘dry chemical powder’ and whether that deteriorates over time - or if there’s any other reason it might not be okay. There are no markers or stickers saying anything like “Recharge before XXX”.

Googling this shows widely varying opinions - some say ‘no problem’ - others say the powder settles and solidifies. Some say powder units are old tech and foam is the go.

I guess my gut feeling is ‘better safe than sorry’ and buy a new one but would appreciate comments or advice.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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#2163982 20-Jan-2019 09:32

The original dry powder ones needed regular service because the powder settled and clumped. I believe that has been overcome now, but the obvious problem is how to know if yours is good.

ETA: Powder makes a hell of a mess when you let it off, and does tend to stick to hot surfaces, but I imagine foam would be worse... Not really an issue either way, if you're setting one off, you're already having a bad time.

Oblivian

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#2163988 20-Jan-2019 09:46

In a corporate environment there are nzsa's to adhere to. Not sure on residential but I wouldn't guarantee any insurance rebates etc without similar, as sometimes it's a requirement for them.

One of them being:

"Each fire extinguisher should also have a maintenance tag attached, indicating the month within the year that it was inspected. Every 5 years the extinguisher should be completely emptied and hydrostatically tested by an approved testing authority."

And they get tagged as such.

eracode

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#2163990 20-Jan-2019 09:53

Oblivian: In a corporate environment there are nzsa's to adhere to. Not sure on residential but I wouldn't guarantee any insurance rebates etc without similar, as sometimes it's a requirement for them.

One of them being:

"Each fire extinguisher should also have a maintenance tag attached, indicating the month within the year that it was inspected. Every 5 years the extinguisher should be completely emptied and hydrostatically tested by an approved testing authority."

And they get tagged as such.

Not in a corporate environment and home policy does not mention extinguisher.

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eracode

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#2163991 20-Jan-2019 09:57

Like many things, extinguishers seem to have dropped dramatically in price. IIRC I paid about $200 for this 1.5 kg unit bought from Chubb 20+ years ago. Pretty much the same item is now $50 at Mitre 10.

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sbiddle

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#2163993 20-Jan-2019 10:13

There are no guarantees as to the performance.

As fire extinguishers are now very cheap I'd personally buy a new one and take the opportunity to train family members on the old one as to how to use a fire extinguisher correctly (outdoors of course as dry power makes a big mess!)

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#2163994 20-Jan-2019 10:18

And how to distinguish a fat/oil fire and not grab powder in panic/error...

olivernz

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#2163996 20-Jan-2019 10:29

We -unluckily- had the event of having to use one. My wife set the stove on fire by accident. She used our small extinguisher I bought a few years ago. Dry powder. It worked a treat (except for the mess) and I am so proud of my wife for keeping calm and actually using the dang thing! Anyway it was a couple of years old and was showing green at the time. I'm now convinced of these things. I am sure without it the damage would have been huge. I have three extinguishers around the house at different locations so should one fail there is backup. The cost is <$100 for this and just compared to insurance premium consequences of a fire a cheapo option.

And don't forget those fire alarms. Here too I grabbed top of the range in all rooms and hallways. A $150-200 investment but seeing the house fire consequences on the news in regular intervals makes me not want to rely on one or two alarms only, when minutes or seconds count.

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eracode

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#2163999 20-Jan-2019 10:34

olivernz: We -unluckily- had the event of having to use one. My wife set the stove on fire by accident. She used our small extinguisher I bought a few years ago. Dry powder. It worked a treat (except for the mess) and I am so proud of my wife for keeping calm and actually using the dang thing! Anyway it was a couple of years old and was showing green at the time. I'm now convinced of these things. I am sure without it the damage would have been huge. I have three extinguishers around the house at different locations so should one fail there is backup. The cost is <$100 for this and just compared to insurance premium consequences of a fire a cheapo option.

And don't forget those fire alarms. Here too I grabbed top of the range in all rooms and hallways. A $150-200 investment but seeing the house fire consequences on the news in regular intervals makes me not want to rely on one or two alarms only, when minutes or seconds count.

Thanks - yep - quick trip out to Mitre 10 coming up shortly to get a new 1.5 kg dry powder and a fire blanket for the kitchen (haven’t had one of those).

We have new Cavius 10-year smoke alarms through the house and I’ve last week I installed a Cavius heat detector in the kitchen.

PS: Glad your wife didn’t set the stove on fire on purpose. :)

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Jase2985

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#2164019 20-Jan-2019 11:31

Oblivian: And how to distinguish a fat/oil fire and not grab powder in panic/error...

why? you can still properly put out a fat/oil fire with a dry powder extinguisher. it also makes it easier to cover the fire with a blanket/the lid once the fire is out, so you don't have to battle the flames.

i regularly train on putting out fires, and we use a 10L pot full of diesel and a dry powder and it goes out sweet.

fire blankets also work but they are harder to use to avoid getting burnt and people don't generally like approaching a fire (the mental aspect of it).

a dry powder is more versatile around the home as it works on pretty much every class of fire, a AFFF (foam) you have to be careful with electrical fires as it can cause shorts

eracode

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#2164044 20-Jan-2019 12:12

What is the best or proper way to dispose of the old extinguisher? The pressure tank is heavy - like a small dive tank.

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sbiddle

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#2164079 20-Jan-2019 12:19

I highly recommend anybody who has the opportunity to view one of the demonstrations that FENZ run using their kitchen fire demonstrator.

andrewNZ

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#2164132 20-Jan-2019 12:32

If you're going to dump the old one, I'd definitely recommend what Steve suggested. Use it for an exercise at home.
I've discharged a fire extinguisher twice, once as a kid playing with one when I wasn't supposed to be, and once to put out a real fire.
The first time you discharge one it can be a bit of a surprise and the little ones don't have a few seconds of puff. Better to experience it in more of a controlled environment. I got in trouble for messing with ours as a kid, but it definitely helped me when I needed to use one for real.

Otherwise, the local fire department might take it to do training exercises. Or I'm sure they can point you in the right direction.

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#2164157 20-Jan-2019 13:22

Jase2985:
why? you can still properly put out a fat/oil fire with a dry powder extinguisher. it also makes it easier to cover the fire with a blanket/the lid once the fire is out, so you don't have to battle the flames.

Based on my own training instructor and fenz recommendations.
Similarly how Americans are advised not to drop frozen turkey into a hot fat pot.

While an ABE Dry Powder extinguisher is suitable for other types of fire in your home, you should never use it on a cooking oil or fat fire as the pressure from a dry powder extinguisher will cause the fire to spread

https://fireandemergency.nz/at-home/fire-extinguishers/

Jase2985

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#2164182 20-Jan-2019 14:32

Oblivian:
Jase2985:

why? you can still properly put out a fat/oil fire with a dry powder extinguisher. it also makes it easier to cover the fire with a blanket/the lid once the fire is out, so you don't have to battle the flames.

Based on my own training instructor and fenz recommendations.
Similarly how Americans are advised not to drop frozen turkey into a hot fat pot.

While an ABE Dry Powder extinguisher is suitable for other types of fire in your home, you should never use it on a cooking oil or fat fire as the pressure from a dry powder extinguisher will cause the fire to spread

https://fireandemergency.nz/at-home/fire-extinguishers/

they should put the caveat down "if used incorrectly"

they work fine when used correctly, ie not pointed into the fire. just like a AFFF one.

for joe public that good advice, all im say is they can be used for those fires as ive put out many.

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#2164310 20-Jan-2019 16:12

I have 3 big ones (9kg) all powder. One in the house by the kitchen door (and a fire blanket), one in the big shed, and another by the front door (behind a coat rack). We don't have mains water so extinguishers are our first line of defense.

Also have a small one in the boat but I'll replace it soon, even though it's still in the green, just for my own peace of mind. Any doubt, chuck it out (or have a test run outdoors).

As for foam... The Department of Environment and Water that run our national parks here in SA (and IIRC, the Country Fire Service) are phasing out foam extinguishers on their fire trucks and going straight powder. I'm not 100% on their reasoning (I just build their trucks) but for the last 8 months, we haven't fitted foam.

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