Fire extinguisher maintenance

SouthernComfort · Guru

Fire extinguisher maintenance

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Small ones (1-2kg) are chuck away unfortunately.
Cheers,
Peter

SouthernComfort · Guru

Thanks Peter. Mine is only 2yrs old but I've just been looking at the price of replacements. Not worth stuffing around with refills!

herks · Veteran Member

Always a good idea to periodically remove the 1-2 kg powder ones and give them a good shake. When mounted in vehicles the powder will settle and compact in the bottom and when the extinguisher is needed, they won't do the job effectively.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

There are companies out there who check and service them. The smaller are cheap enough to buy a new one ., Doesnt hurt to have more than one . Inside and outside assessable !!

Whenarewethere · Guru

Our block of units had them replaced, 5 years old.

ABE shake regularly as the contents settle.

You only have 5 seconds with a 1kg & 8 seconds with 2kg so aim at the source & don't muck about!

-- Edited by Whenarewethere on Friday 16th of August 2019 11:04:10 AM

Cupie · Guru

I just shake mine periodically.

Buy an extra one when Aldi or who ever have them on special & have fun with the oldest ... practising putting out fires. Have never had an old one fail to operate though.

I now have two in the van & one in the Patrol & rotate them just like the tug's tyres. Newest in the best spot in the van (above lounge near door), next newest in the second van spot (in a nook under the other lounge) & the other moved into the Tug & the old tug one used for practice before binning.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Be careful buying for uses inside the passenger compartment of any vehicle (including motorhomes) and vehicle use generally.
I purchased one a year back purported to be for this application, but it did not comply with the attachment requirements of 10G.
All those for use in vehicles must also have a hose outlet (not just a nozzle) so they can spray vertically upwards into an engine compartment from underneath (for example). Those with nozzles and no hose can not spray vertically upwards and do not comply.
Cheers,
Peter

Whenarewethere · Guru

I should have a 2kg with the amount of fuel I can carry but there is nowhere in the car to install one practically.

SouthernComfort · Guru

Thanks for the responses.

My car extinguisher sits upright and is still good at 3 yrs. My (ex.) boat one also used to sit vertical and that lasted the full 5yrs which I understand is their lifespan for changeover. The van one sits horizontal, so maybe I just have to shake rattle 'n' roll the new one more often!!

I've heard of the Aldi ones so will keep an eye open. Meanwhile I've just ordered a 1kg ABE online for $26.50 delivered, I doubt a refill would cost much less than that.

blaze · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
I should have a 2kg with the amount of fuel I can carry but there is nowhere in the car to install one practically.

when I was fitting mine vehicles we used to fit them horizontal at the front of drivers seat so they sat across the front of the seat.

cheers

blaze

Whenarewethere · Guru

blaze wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
I should have a 2kg with the amount of fuel I can carry but there is nowhere in the car to install one practically.
when I was fitting mine vehicles we used to fit them horizontal at the front of drivers seat so they sat across the front of the seat.
cheers
blaze

Unfortunately not enough room in my car even for a 1kg in front of the seats as there in a structural beam running across the car.

& another one on the other side in the boot.

brickies · Guru

A Fire blanket is very handy to have , Use it first a lot less mess than powder .

Bobdown · Guru

Chubb Fire do service tests and refills every 2 years or when the use by date is stamped on the tag, after 5 to 10 years they recommend replacing.

When it's nearing the end date, shake it up and practice using on a fire or similar, just to get the hang of it, (like using old flares from boats) then see if you can get it refilled.

Cheers Bob

Cupie · Guru

Bobdown wrote:
Chubb Fire do service tests and refills every 2 years or when the use by date is stamped on the tag, after 5 to 10 years they recommend replacing.

When it's nearing the end date, shake it up and practice using on a fire or similar, just to get the hang of it, (like using old flares from boats) then see if you can get it refilled.

Cheers Bob

In my early days, as a young Technician, part of my maintenance routine was to test & recharge fire extinguishers at all my rural exchanges.

This included the then very common CTC (Carbon Tetra Chloride?) pump extinguishers. CTC was great for dry cleaning your trousers & as a result most of the extinguishers were half empty.

There was another foam producing one that was activated when you inverted the extinguisher & I think smashed a bottle containing one of the chemicals. Made great piles of foam in the back yard.

Then the CO2 ones became popular. Great for practical jokes & cooling your tinnies.

Mamil · Senior Member

On a related note, does anyone know the rules about where a fire extinguisher should be located in a caravan?

In the Australian Design Rules, section 22.3 Fire Extinguisher, it simply refers you to the Australian standard - AS2444 Portable fire extinguishers selection and location.

I have not managed to track down a (free) copy of the standard, and advice on various government and fire service websites seems to just be that it should be "easy to access" and "near an exit", but nothing more specific!

Mine came mounted right next to the door of my van, where I constantly hit my shin on it, until it fell off the wall one day as it turned out it was hollow at that point so couldn't take the weight anyway! I relocated it to under the dinette bench in a recessed box as in the attached photo, which I would consider both "easily accessible" and "near an exit" but I do worry if I've fallen foul of the rules somehow?

Fire extinguisher (600x800).jpg

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/97913/MR806-Light-motorhome-conversion.pdf
www.fire.tas.gov.au/publications/fireExtinguisherGuide.pdf
Cheers,
Peter

Mamil · Senior Member

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/97913/MR806-Light-motorhome-conversion.pdf
www.fire.tas.gov.au/publications/fireExtinguisherGuide.pdf
Cheers,
Peter

Thanks Peter, looks like mine will be OK in Tassie & SA then!

SouthernComfort · Guru

Mamil wrote:
On a related note, does anyone know the rules about where a fire extinguisher should be located in a caravan?

In the Australian Design Rules, section 22.3 Fire Extinguisher, it simply refers you to the Australian standard - AS2444 Portable fire extinguishers selection and location.

I have not managed to track down a (free) copy of the standard, and advice on various government and fire service websites seems to just be that it should be "easy to access" and "near an exit", but nothing more specific!

Mine came mounted right next to the door of my van, where I constantly hit my shin on it, until it fell off the wall one day as it turned out it was hollow at that point so couldn't take the weight anyway! I relocated it to under the dinette bench in a recessed box as in the attached photo, which I would consider both "easily accessible" and "near an exit" but I do worry if I've fallen foul of the rules somehow?

My Vic built van came from the factory with the extinguisher located in a recess identical to yours. It's in the back of the dinette seat structure and right next to the entrance. I've read that it should be positioned close to the entrance but haven't found an actual specification.

Leshill · Veteran Member

I had an occasion to use one of these powder extinguishers some years ago.

1 puff and it was finished...near useless

I took the powder that was left inside ..put that in a tin to use as a throw on use.

I dont like them much but installed 2 in the boat 1 in the car & 1 in the van.

If you need to use one point it at the base of the fire prior to activating it...just in case you just get 1 puff.

If anyone dose a test on an older one please report the results here.

Les

oldbloke · Guru

"have not managed to track down a (free) copy of the standard, and advice on various government and fire service websites seems to just be that it should be "easy to access" and "near an exit", but nothing more specific!

These are the basic reguirements.

1. Normaly near an exit so that it can be grabbed as you enter the van to extingish a fire.

2. And/or near but not too close to the most likely location of a fire. (in this case the kitchen)

3. Suitable for the likely type of fire. Mine is an ABE

4. They have a 10 year life.

5. Check every 6 months, pick up, check for damage and guage must indicate in green. Give it a good shake and replace.

The standard mentioned just says locate near the hazard and near exits &/or paths of travel.

Craig1 · Guru

4x4.firestryker.com.au/ . A bit digressive, but seem to be a good thing, but not cheap.No maintenance. Supposedly no residue like the standard ones we all have. No allegiance or commission with these people.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I have seen a Combi go up in flames years ago across the road from where I worked.

An extinguisher was brought out from the building. That failed.

Then another one, that failed also.

By the time we crossed the road with ours the van was fully in flames. We all backed off as it was too late.

Fire brigade turned up very quickly, took them about 20 seconds to put it out completely.

Greg 1 · Guru

Used a 1kg extinguisher once on a car fire. It was a bit like charging hell with a bucket of water. I have to carry one in my race car, but if it catches fire I will be making myself scarce not mucking about with the useless extinguisher. We are required to have them inspected and serviced every 3 years but they are not worth doing, cheaper to buy a new one. Just purchased one at Bunnings for $19.95.

Mamil · Senior Member

Thanks SouthernComfort & OldBloke, seems that the location of my extinguisher is within the rules, such as they are.

Cupie · Guru

I always get a giggle about all the discussion on 'The Rules' or regulations that pertain to almost everything that we do.

Some of us seem to have a pipeline to (or perhaps a preoccupation with) the plethora of the various States' regulations or even laws.

Well, whatever rows your boat.

Perhaps I am a bit blase in my dotage.

Whenarewethere · Guru

If there are rules somewhere & you haven't used them & something goes wrong someone will you it against you.

Some of us are trying to minimise future potential headaches.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Make sure you can actually hear your smoke detectors as our hearing gets worse with age.

My Dad couldn't hear the sound as the frequency was a bit too high. He was burning a lot of food on the stove & never heard the smoke detector.

Also not only does the battery need replacing. The actual detector has a use by date on it. They have a life of about 8 years.

oldbloke · Guru

Regarding regulations.

The country has more regs & laws than you can poke a stick at. And its often very difficult to get good quality info. But something i realised years ago is if you just look at what larger companies do. Usually (but not always) it is best practice and complies or is at least close.

SouthernComfort · Guru

The problem with many 'rules' is actually finding the definition! Extinguisher mounting for caravans is a classic example, tried trawling through ADR's which includes extinguishers, but it's impossible to find a clear statement anywhere re. locating and mounting. No doubt an insurance company would find it in order to deny a claim, so trying to comply (as far as possible) is our own interests. Why then are so many rules and regs hidden, buried deep from the eyes of mere mortals? All of us must be unwittingly breaking rules every day.

Anyway, my new extinguisher just arrived and on the box it advises where it should be located in various vehicle types. For caravans, quote: "In a caravan or workshop, the extinguisher should be located between the potential source of a fire and an exit". So I reckon as close to the door as possible seems logical.