Fire extinguisher

[Mel]

So we bought a little red fire extinguisher in 2004. It was first in our motorhome and then caravan#1, then caravan #2, now caravan#3. Just put Caravan #3 in storage for the winter and brought little red fire extinguisher home.
So my question is; what does one do with an an unused (thank the good Lord) fire extinguisher that is past it's use by date.
Thanks in advance.
Mel

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Got my original one from when we started caravanning, (coming up 40 years!) hung behind the garage door. Keep thinking I ought to try it. You've persuaded me Mel. I'll try it in the morning, it will be in the garden though I have every confidence in it?

 

[Trevormc]

Must check out mine bought it early1990's think may be earlier, will have to see if it has a best use date.

Trevor

 

[Martin24]

I think we were vvvv naughty and just popped it in the bin.

 

[Hutch]

Take it to the local fire brigade, and they will show you how to discharge the unit.. Do NOT throw it into the metal scrap in your waste recycle place.
Dry powder ones make a real mess when discharged.

 

[saint-spoon]

Yup the dry powder ones do make a mess, they are essentially filled with bicarbonate of soda under pressure. The main thing about the date on them is that it is the length of time that they are guaranteed to work by the manufacturer. The powder filling settles and will become solid over time. At the Royal naval fire training school they teach to give the extinguisher a good bash on the deck before discharging to loosen the powder.
An important thing to remember if using on in an emergency is that they work by removing the oxygen from the combustion to allow escape, they have a limited cooling effect and do not remove the fuel source so if oxygen is allowed to return then fire will reignite.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Tested mine this am. -- States on it, Manufactured 1989, to replace 1994, not quite as old as I thought. --- "Dammit" ---- It worked perfectly, -- got a nice big white patch on the lawn!
Came across another one as digging this one out, must be the older one, I'll give it a go as well!

Just come back in - found the old one, manufactured 1976, -- fired it -- worked perfect! -- looks like it's been snowing on our lawn!

 

[Mel]

Glad you had fun Gabsgrandad. You do know that you can only use them once don't you. :evil: Off to buy another?
As yours gave such good service and mine is relatively speaking a newbie, perhaps I won't retire it yet.
Mel

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

I was told to turn mine upside down once a year and shake it to stop the powder settling in the bottom.

 

[Martin24]

Oh why oh why did you risk ruining the look of your lawn. You could have made templates for the front windows and done a cracking halloween display :silly:

 

[saint-spoon]

I was told to turn mine upside down once a year and shake it to stop the powder settling in the bottom.

No harm in doing that to be honest, giving them a light tap on the floor and good shake will do the same.

 

[saint-spoon]

Oh why oh why did you risk ruining the look of your lawn. You could have made templates for the front windows and done a cracking halloween display :silly:

Or use as a repellant for those who prefer child-free camping :evil:

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Martin wrote:- "Oh why oh why did you risk ruining the look of your lawn. You could have made templates for the front windows and done a cracking Halloween display"
Well it's easy being wise after the event!
But with all the 'blurb' about dates and expiry dates and end lives and advice from all over, -- never expected them to fire! - Is fire the wrong choice of word? -- Particularly the 40 year old one, (Still have one in the car and one in the van though, and now will have to wait another 40 years to see if they're as good!)

 

[RayS]

All the company cars i had since the early 1960's had fire extinguishers included - presumably an insurance requirement. In literally hundreds of thousands of miles from then until now I have never come across a car on fire where one would have been useful. I did find on very small fire where the owner had put a blanket over the engine on a cold night and forgotten to remove it the next morning - in an original rear engined aircooled VW but that went out of it's own accord before I could remember where I had stored my extinguisher..
I agree caravans are a worse risk, but call to mind a question I heard when slightly involved with motorship again in the 60's.
'What steps would you take if you discovered a fire ?' Answer 'Bl**dy great ones away from it and fast'

 

[Raywood]

I would replace them on the manufacturers suggested date. The problem with these old ones is that you only know if they will work if you try them and then they are no good after that, but they may not have been anyway if you had kept them and then had a fire. A no win situation.
Personally I would go for a fire blanket in a caravan, but at the end of the day if there is a fire the door might be the best bet.

 

[Hutch]

I agree , What steps, Blxxdly big ones, unless you are trained, Thankfully I have been through several fire fighting courses, but the first thing is get yourself and anyone else away from the fire then evaluate the situation, I have one dry powder FE, by the bed and another 2 Kg sitting on the tow hitch when parked up, that anyone could use, just hope nobody would steal it. Also a Water bucket Marked Fire that the dogs drink from.
Only time in my car that I have used FE is when I stupidly, forgot to put the filler cap back on the rocker box after filling with oil and the mist caught fire on the exhaust, glad I had a FE then.
Safe touring to all.
Hutch.

 

[Mel]

The way I see it, is the FE is only of use if the fire is between me and the exit (window or door) otherwise that is what the insurance company is for. :cheer:
Mel

 

[Raywood]

The way I see it, is the FE is only of use if the fire is between me and the exit (window or door) otherwise that is what the insurance company is for. :cheer:
Mel

Have to agree.

 

[Hutch]

As I said, the indoor onein the van is next to the Bed, I also have a small 1 kg in our kitchen at home, 2kg in the Garage. Should really be bigger and near the door.
Fire is probably the worst experience you could go through.

 

[KeefySher]

Cemeteries are full of dead heroes, get out let it burn

The fire brigade don't risk lives of their firefighters if no life is at risk, why would Joe Public?

 

[ProfJohnL]

As EH52ARH suggests the normal advice is on discovering a fire get everyone out and raise the alarm. Only use fire extinguishers if it is safe to do so. The first part of this advice is right on all occasions, but the second about using a fire extinguisher does rely on the person having some knowledge about the right type of extinguisher for the job, and how to assess the situation so as not to endanger themselves.

Personally for caravans I advocate get out and leave it, as it's to easy to overwhelmed or to have your exit cut off if you try to fight it. As someone else said that why you should have insurance.

 

[saint-spoon]

The way I see it, is the FE is only of use if the fire is between me and the exit (window or door) otherwise that is what the insurance company is for. :cheer:
Mel

That's the main purpose of dry powder extinguishers, in the Royal Navy you find them down in machinery spaces and other spaces with fuel to allow any occupants to beat a safe exit route in the event of a fire.

 

[pitpony]

If you look at fire extinguishers in industry and the military they have to be inspected and the label on the extinguisher signed to say that it is still serviceable, but saying that after a period of time they are returned, in my case to Bicester, the one I have in the caravan is still in the green after several years but if my caravan ever went up I don't think I will be hanging about to put a fire out that's what insurance is for,