Fire Extinguisher Expert Needed

Every year I take a look in my boat to see if anything needs attention or updating.

I spotted my marine (white bottle) fire extinguisher and as always checked the gauge to ensure it’s charged. Then I wondered if they have an expiration date? In inspection of the bottle, I found a “00” stamped on the bottom. Appears to be the date of manufacture as the new one I’ve purchased from Everts has 14 stamped on the bottom.

Anyone know when these throw away once used extinguishers expire?
Obviously if the gauge drops into the “empty” or “discard and replace” it’s toast, but is there a life expectancy on Marine fire extinguishers?

Our local fire department here in Blaine takes them and there PR staff will use them in demos.

I asked my cousin who is a retired fire fighter a similar question. He said that in the dry chemical type extinguishers that the fire retardant can settle and solidify at the bottom of the canister, and at that point you are just spraying the fire with compressed air instead of an extinguisher – or in other words you’ll be spreading the fire and making it WORSE! If that happens he said you can bang the extinguisher on a concrete floor to MAYBE break up the settled retardant so that it sprays – not so much of an option in a boat, and besides you’ll scare the fish!

I think he said 10 years max on a disposable extinguisher and get rid of it if the pressure begins to drop.

Brian,
The two digits represents the date of manufacture

“00” = 2000 /”14″ = 2014
Pending the manufacture, the life can be 5 or 10 years.There is a card shipped in the box with each one that has the exp datet on it. Regardless, I do 5 years because in marine applications the powder can settle and condense in the bottom and POSSIBLY fail. I take a sharpie and write the replacement date on the bottom. To me, cheap insurance if the day ever comes that I need to use it. I keep the “discarded” ones around the garage and fire pit for just in case.

In some of the safety training I have done for my career, they’ve recommended whacking the bottoms with a rubber mallet on a regular basis to avoid any settling/caking on of the components.

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…at that point you are just spraying the fire with compressed air instead of an extinguisher…

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I don’t know about compressed air, but probably compressed carbon dioxide or something similar that won’t fuel a fire.

10 years is common. At work, every Saturday, we use a rubber mallet on the dry chemical extinguishers on the fire rigs. I replaced mine after 8 years and put the old one in a compartment for an extra.

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10 years is common. At work, every Saturday, we use a rubber mallet on the dry chemical extinguishers on the fire rigs. I replaced mine after 8 years and put the old one in a compartment for an extra.

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Thanks guys. After trying to put out a grass fire with a powder extinguisher 15-20 years ago and hearing a pfttt with no powder coming out, I’m a big rubber mallet once a year fan.

It went like this:

Saw the fire…grabbed the garage extinguisher and ran to the Volkswagen size grass fire with the Favorite Daughter.

BK: Niki get the hose out!
Niki: OK
BK pulls the pin and points hose at the base of fire…ppffttt…
BK: NIKI! FORGET THE HOSE CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT!!
I rapped the extinguisher on the ground as hard as I could and tried again. This time the powder came out and the fire was extinguished.
BK: Niki don’t call. I got it.

Two morals of this story.

1. Hold the extinguisher opposite of the way it’s normally stored and tap it with a rubber mallet at least once a year.

2. Be very careful shooting off fire work in dry weather.

I wonder how many boat extinguishers will actually work? I might have to try my 14 year old one tonight…

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…at that point you are just spraying the fire with compressed air instead of an extinguisher…

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I don’t know about compressed air, but probably compressed carbon dioxide or something similar that won’t fuel a fire.

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An old extinguisher that just blows air/co2 maybe doesn’t “fuel a fire” but it can spread a fire by blowing around flaming debris. My cousin said he responded to several fires where people had tried to use old extinguishers and they said it had made the fire worse.

I never start out a post by saying “trust me on this”…

But trust me on this, it’s a very very big let down when a person squeezes the handle trying to put out a fire and the powder doesn’t come out.

I can’t imagine the feeling I would of had if I was in my boat!

I just malleted all my extinguishers.

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I never start out a post by saying “trust me on this”…

But trust me on this, it’s a very very big let down when a person squeezes the handle trying to put out a fire and the powder doesn’t come out.

I can’t imagine the feeling I would of had if I was in my boat!

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I typically wouldn’t have listened to any of your posts that start out with the words “trust me” but this is a public service announcement so I’ll listen

We had to do fire extinguisher training every year at a former employer. The training included an actual use demo where some members from the class would use various extinguishers to put out demo fires (gasoline burning in a large pan, paper/wood on fire, etc.

What REALLY got my attention is how short of a blast most smaller extinguishers have. The little hand-held jobbies we have on our boats give you about a 10 second blast.

That’s only about good enough to put out somebody’s cigarette after you just told them there’s no smoking allowed on your boat. For any real fire, you’re in trouble.

Just be aware, if you look back and see your engine on fire and it’s being fed by fuel, you have to very quickly weigh your options and act accordingly.

Grouse

My daughter bought my granddaughters these water Shooters that have a plunger that you mearly submerge the tip and draw the water into it, takes only a second, then aim and shoot. I’m thinkiung of putting one on the boat as a last resort fire extinguisher, back up bilge pump, shooting shore fishermen who cast their lures too close to my boat (yes I own the water) and for other general around the water fun…like wet t shirt contests.

A friend of mine is a professional fireman, a Captain.

He has told me in the past to turn your fire extinguisher upside down and shake it – a simpler form of the rubber mallet idea. Do this regularly.

Either way, the point is to get it upside down and reverse any settling that is going on.

Dave