What to do with an expired fire extinguisher

What is the service life of a fire extinguisher: how to find out what to do with an expired one

The time frame for maintenance, operation, and warranty is indicated in the technical documentation of the fire extinguishing device. The NPB establishes certain minimums, which can be adjusted by the manufacturer for specific models based on specifications, technical justification, developed, approved and in compliance with the law.

Regulatory documents on deadlines

Acts with rules on the time of use of primary fire extinguishing agents:

1. SP 9.13130;
2. NPB 166;
3. GOST 12.4.009-83;
4. GOST standards for testing (for cylinders and structural elements): R 51057, R 51017.

The provisions of fire safety acts are mandatory for manufacturers, enterprises carrying out maintenance (repairs, refills), monitoring and inspection institutions.

How to determine the service life of a fire extinguisher, where it is indicated

Methods for determining shelf life and shelf life:

1. There are tears along the edge of the sticker on the body of the product: Arabic numerals for the year, Roman numerals for the month. This is the release date and reference point. They look at the period in the TD and check it:
   • The duration of storage of waste fuel is counted from the first and subsequent refills;
   • for the case - from the date of its release (it is indicated by tears on the label);

2. The expiration date is written in the documentation accompanying the fire extinguisher: all dates are duplicated in the passport, accounting logs (at enterprises).

What is important for the topic under consideration is not the warranty period, but the operational period, determined and confirmed by the organization that carried out the maintenance.

Types of fire extinguishers and their service life

The period of use is affected by the following parameters:

1. types of OTV:
   • powder;
   • carbon dioxide, freon;
   • water;
   • foam (air, chemical);
   • emulsion;
   • aerosol composition;

2. filling technology:
   • downloads;
   • with a separate source of cold (displacement) gas;

3. dimensions:
   • mobile;
   • manual (portable).

Variants of the fire extinguishing agent have different corrosive effects on the cylinder, as well as the suitability of the mixture ingredients themselves. The method of generating pressure and containing the charge inside the container is important: pump fire extinguishers have higher pressure, and accordingly, the load on the body is greater, which entails the need for frequent maintenance.

Carbon dioxide

The OS is subject to mandatory recharging every 5 years. For automobile samples, the period is reduced to 2 years. The housing can be refilled an unlimited number of times, but its maximum resource is 10 - 15 years.

Powder

According to the OP, it should be taken into account that the assigned service life for different powder mixtures may differ. The powder often becomes unusable, as it is prone to clumping and caking. Standard for OP:

Fire extinguisher expiration date - operating instructions

According to fire safety requirements, any premises or vehicles must be equipped with appropriate fire extinguishers.

Types of fire fighting equipment:

• powder;
• aquatic;
• air-foam;
• carbon dioxide.

The person responsible for fire safety ensures the availability and control of protective equipment. Also sends cylinders for recharging or maintenance in case of use or scheduled recharging.

The service life of each fire cylinder is determined by the developers and is indicated in the technical documentation and passport. Each serviceable container has a seal, a locking device and markings.

Shelf life of fire protection equipment

• powder – 10 years;
• carbon dioxide – 10-20 years;
• air-foam (AFP) – 10 years.

Automotive fire protection products have the following expiration dates:

• powder (OP-2) – 10 years;
• carbon dioxide (OU-2, OU-3) – 15-20 years.

Vehicle equipment:

• freight and passenger transport - OU-2, OP-2 weighing at least 2 kg;
• minibuses – OP-2, buses – OP-2, OP-5;
• tank trucks – OP-5.

All fire extinguishers are classified according to the following criteria:

• by method of action (automatic and manual);
• the principle of the device;
• by cylinder volume (from 1.6 to 400 kg);
• by appointment;
• on the design of starting devices.

Characteristics of powder fire extinguishers:

• used when extinguishing fires of different classes;
• used to cut off flames in electrical equipment connected to a high-voltage line up to 1000 V;
• adaptability to a wide range of temperatures (from -50° to +50°);
• response time from 6 to 15 seconds;
• the length of the substance emission ranges from 2 to 6 m.

The disadvantage is the substance itself - the powder. After use, it clogs the room and objects.

Characteristics of carbon dioxide fire extinguishers:

• used when extinguishing liquid and gaseous substances, in case of fire in transport;
• to cut off flames in electrical equipment with voltage not exceeding 1000 V;
• wide temperature range (from -40° to +50°);
• response time from 6 to 30 seconds;
• the length of the substance emission is 2-4 m.

Disadvantages include:

• low temperature;
• toxic fumes.

Characteristics of air-foam fire extinguishers:

• used to extinguish solid and liquid flammable substances;
• have a long spray time (20-60 seconds);
• temperature range is from +5° to +50°;
• the length of the substance emission is from 3 to 4 m.

Flaws:

• restrictions when extinguishing electrical equipment;
• freezing at low temperatures;
• unsuitability for extinguishing flames of substances that react violently with water.

Check frequency

Inspection of fire extinguishing means is carried out by two types of inspections: quarterly and annual.
Inspection of the availability and serviceability of carbon dioxide fire extinguishing equipment is carried out once a year. By weighing the cylinder and calculating the flame-extinguishing mass, suitability is checked.

Powder cylinders are controlled at least once every 5 years by selective removal and opening. The district inspector conducts routine inspections, which include inspecting the body of fire extinguishers. In addition to checking the expiration date, the firefighter checks the integrity of the seals, the condition of the metal coating, the functioning of the locking and starting device and interlocks.

If damage is detected, the cylinder is sent for maintenance (maintenance).

During the quarterly inspection, the presence, location and appearance of fire fighting equipment is mainly monitored.

Organizations specializing in the maintenance of fire extinguishing equipment perform the following types of work:

• inspect the hull and trigger devices;
• carry out testing using instruments;
• carry out tests to verify functionality;
• recharge;
• repair worn components.

Fire extinguishers for vehicles, regardless of type, are subject to annual inspection:

• powders are diagnosed using indicators;
• carbon dioxide - based on the results of weighing and calculating the mass of the extinguishing agent.

What to do when the expiration date has expired

All fire extinguishing cylinders must be recharged in a timely manner:

• in case of using the product;
• if the leakage parameters of the composition exceed the permissible level;
• during a scheduled recharge.

Service life before recharging fire extinguishers:

• carbon dioxide - once every 5 years;
• powder – once every 5 years;
• air-foam – once a year;
• water - once a year.

Automotive fire extinguishing equipment installed outside the cab must be recharged once a year due to the direct influence of the environment on the body. Other transport fire extinguishers must be serviced at least once every 2 years.

In reality, models with a foam or aerosol system do not recharge for various reasons:

• design features and operating principles of some models;
• the cost of recharging will cost about the same as a new fire extinguisher.

End-of-life cylinders remain as training material or are sold for scrap. Water and foam types of fillers can be discharged into the industrial waste stream by diluting with plenty of water.

Other types of fire extinguishing agents must be professionally removed from the enclosure. They are not allowed to be discharged into drainage systems, since the composition contains chemical elements that contribute to environmental pollution.

Therefore, in almost all cities there are collection points for used fire extinguishing devices, where discarded cylinders should be returned. There they are disassembled and sent for processing.

Regulatory requirements SP 9.13130.2009 - the document contains sections:

• Set of rules;
• Fire equipment;
• Fire extinguishers;
• Requirements for use.

• service life of fire extinguishing agents;
• types of cylinders and their purpose;
• procedure for inspections and maintenance;
• packaging and labeling;
• storage conditions and rules of use;
• types of fire-fighting equipment used for vehicles.

Operating instructions

Powder type fire extinguishing agents

1. Basic operating requirements are indicated on the marking of the fire extinguisher body.
2. Fire extinguishing devices should be located in visible places or on a specially equipped fire shield.
3. It is not allowed to place heating elements near the cylinders.
4. The storage temperature must correspond to the temperature range of the fire extinguisher (-40°+50°).
5. Reloading should be done on time and only in organizations specializing in servicing firefighting equipment. The service information must indicate the type of powder used.
6. Transportation is permitted by all types of transport.
7. Each cylinder is subject to periodic inspection:
   • body condition;
   • working gas pressure (indicator readings should be located in the green field in the range of 8-12 kgf/cm2);
   • state of the extinguishing agent.

The hull is subject to re-examination every 5 years.

Carbon dioxide type fire extinguishing agents

1. Basic operating requirements are indicated on the marking of the fire extinguisher body.
2. Fire extinguishing devices should be located in visible places or on a specially equipped fire shield.
3. It is not allowed to place heating elements or sunlight near the cylinders.
4. It is allowed to use a fire extinguisher at a distance of 1 meter to suppress the spread of fire in electrical appliances with a voltage of no more than 1000 V.
5. Recharging should be carried out on time only in organizations specializing in the maintenance of fire fighting equipment. Returned cylinders must have a receipt and seal.
6. When using a fire extinguisher, you must follow safety rules. Low temperatures (-50°-70°) can injure areas of the body.
7. After extinguishing the fire, it is necessary to ventilate the room from combustion products and carbon dioxide vapors.
8. According to regulatory requirements, it is necessary to periodically monitor the operating condition of fire extinguishing equipment . The permissible charge leakage should not exceed 50 g.
9. Re-examination of the hull is carried out once every 10 years.
10. There are no restrictions on the type of transportation of fire extinguishing equipment.

Service life (shelf life) of fire extinguishers

When conducting fire safety briefings and PTM training, quite a lot of time is usually spent on handling primary fire extinguishing means - hand-held, portable fire extinguishers; device, requirements for fire hydrants installed in buildings, their use.

But, often all these devices seem to be working reliably, flawlessly without any additional effort on the part of employees of organizations, employees of enterprises where they are installed, and hung on the walls.

In reality, this is, of course, not the case. Responsible officials have to regularly reflect the results of inspections of appearance and technical condition in documents for fire extinguishers - passports and log books, indicating in them all the information about each device from the moment it arrived at the facility, and about the number of recharges of fire extinguishers during annual maintenance.

Moreover, “behind the scenes” there are problems with service life/shelf life, decommissioning and disposal of fire extinguishers after they fail or due to other reasons, including requirements of regulatory documents, so it is worth learning more about this.

Service life symbol on the fire extinguisher

They are defined as regulatory documents related to factory/laboratory testing methods, operating rules, and maintenance; and data from passports, instructions for the proper use of portable fire extinguishers - up to 20 kg and mobile fire extinguishers - up to 400 kg.

According to the standards, the service life of all rechargeable portable fire extinguishers made in a metal case, and this is almost all modern products, is at least 10 years; and the shelf life of disposable devices is determined by the data specified in the technical documentation from the manufacturer.

At the same time, there are features inherent in each type of such devices:

• Powder fire extinguishers (OP) - this is the shelf life of the fire extinguisher, which is one of the most common in our country today, quite long, and depending on the operating conditions; infrequent but regular recharging of the fire extinguishing agent, related maintenance: once every 5 years - for devices located in premises, incl. unheated, and once every two years if the products protect vehicles - from a powder fire extinguisher for a car to river and sea vessels.

On average, the shelf life of powder fire extinguishers, such as OP-3, used to protect vehicles, and OP-8, often used in industrial enterprises, is at least 10 years; and with a “humane” attitude towards them, even longer, and does not depend on the factory marking, the total weight of the product or the charge of the fire extinguishing agent in it.

• Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers (CO) - this is an annual random check by a specialized enterprise of at least 3% of the total number of portable, mobile devices available at the site, technical service and recharging of CO2 once every 5 years; and for products used in transport – once every two years.
• Halon fire extinguishers (CH), which, like carbon dioxide devices, are a type of gas primary fire extinguishing agents, all terms are similar; as well as emergency recharging of fire extinguishers after use in a fire or detection of a leak of fire extinguishing agent during an inspection.
• Air emulsion fire extinguishers with a fluorine-containing charge (AFE) differ from other similar devices in that they do not require recharging or technical service for ten years, paying off their high cost for the facility management. However, recharging such a device in most populated areas of Russia is quite problematic, so in practice it is considered disposable, usually purchasing an analogue after 10 years, which at that time is most suitable for the protected object.
• Water fire extinguishers (WF), air-foam fire extinguishers (AFF), as the most vulnerable due to the corrosive activity of aqueous solutions of fire extinguishing agent charges, such a long service life (shelf life), unfortunately, have passed. Despite the annual inspection and recharging, not all products can “boast” of the 10-year operating period allowed by the standards.

In general, it is important that the 10-year service life is not a threshold value for the service life of rechargeable fire extinguishers, and all such devices that maintain functionality, confirmed by spot checks during testing, can continue to be used even after repeated replacement of extinguishing agent charges, which is confirmed by statistics on the use of products in normal conditions.

Regulations

These include:

• SP 9.13130.2009 on the requirements for the operation of such devices.
• NPB 166-97 is a regulatory document regulating the operation of all types/types of fire extinguishers.
• GOST R 51057-2001 and GOST R 51017-2009 on requirements, routine testing of hand-held and mobile fire extinguishers, respectively.

How to determine or check the shelf life of fire extinguishers is indicated in these regulatory documents, which are guidelines not only for manufacturers of such commercial products, but also for specialized enterprises that perform regular technical maintenance of these primary fire extinguishing equipment.

Procedure for determining the expiration date

To determine the service life of a portable, mobile fire extinguisher that has served for more than ten years, you need to be guided by the regulatory requirements set out in the article on testing fire extinguishers - frequency, order, methods of such activities.

In short, to determine the technical performance of each specific type of fire extinguisher available at the protected facility, which has undergone repeated replacement over ten years, four products equipped with a fire extinguishing agent are absolutely randomly selected, they are activated, the charge has been completely released, and disassembled. Then they are reassembled, charged with fire extinguishing agent, and put into action again. This cycle is repeated 8 times, checking the tightness and parameters of the extinguishing mixture output.

During such verification tests, for devices that have been in service for quite a long time, there should be no failures. Otherwise, as in the case of visible mechanical damage to the metal casings of products with an expired shelf life/service life, measures are necessary to write off and dispose of fire extinguishers.

How to dispose of fire extinguishers

Disposal of fire extinguishers is a process that requires special skills and knowledge. Each type of fire extinguishing device is disposed of according to the general scheme, but with some features. It is clear that the work of disposing of fire extinguishers is not easy or safe. But its implementation is necessary to protect our environment.

Why do you need to properly dispose of fire extinguishers?

The contents of fire extinguishers include a variety of toxic substances, which, if released into the environment, can cause another serious environmental problem. In addition, highly pressurized cylinders can cause injury to others under certain circumstances. All this suggests that fire extinguishers should not be thrown into landfills. It is important to dispose of them in a certain way.

General stages and rules of disposal

The process of disposing of a fire extinguisher is usually preceded by a write-off procedure. After the device has been decommissioned in accordance with all requirements, disposal is carried out directly, the process stages of which may vary depending on the type of fire extinguisher. However, it is possible to identify a general scheme for carrying out recycling activities. Common steps for recycling fire extinguishers include:

1. Determination of pressure in the apparatus. This stage is mandatory, it is necessary in order to avoid traumatic situations;
2. Removing the component parts from the device (dismantling the locking and trigger mechanism, nozzle, hose).
3. Removing the internal contents of the device. The recovered fire extinguishing agents are further processed to reduce their harmful properties or processed to regenerate them.
4. Damage to the body of the fire extinguishing device, for example by drilling. After which all damaged and unusable cases are sent for recycling.
5. Drawing up the necessary documentation confirming the disposal actions carried out (fire extinguisher disposal certificate).

The metal components of the device and the metal casing are usually handed over to a scrap metal collection point. After removal, other components of the device are sent for recycling or to a waste disposal site.

Note! Also, when disposing of any type of fire extinguishing agent, certain general rules must be followed.

Thus, the disposal of devices must take place in designated places that are safe for people and have the necessary equipment. The process must be carried out by persons (over 18 years of age) who have undergone special training and received permission to work with such devices. Before carrying out dismantling work, it is imperative to bleed the residual gas from the device. Disposal measures for each individual fire extinguishing agent must be carried out in accordance with specific instructions drawn up specifically for the fire extinguisher model being disposed of. During disposal, the specialist must use a respirator and gloves for personal safety.

Disposal of different types of fire extinguishers

These types of fire extinguishing apparatus, such as carbon dioxide and powder, are usually used in enterprises, various organizations, dachas, homes, etc. Disposal measures related to carbon dioxide and powder fire extinguishing devices are somewhat different from each other, but in principle they occur according to the general scheme described earlier. Let's look at these two processes step by step.

Sequence of actions when disposing of a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing device:

• checking pressure using a built-in indicator device, releasing pressure;
• removing the components of the device;
• removal of carbon dioxide by releasing residual pressure;
• removing the wheels from the frame (if any);
• removal of the shut-off device and siphon;
• intentional damage to the body;
• sending components for further processing or disposal.

When working, it is necessary to comply with all safety requirements so that carbon dioxide from the cylinder does not get into the nose and throat; respirators are worn.

Sequence of actions when disposing of a powder fire extinguishing device:

• pressure relief to zero, determined by a pressure gauge;
• dismantling of components;
• removal of powder residues;
• removing the wheels from the frame and the charging mechanism (if equipped);
• damage to the body;
• sending components for further processing or waste disposal site.

Disposal of powder from fire extinguishers is carried out separately.

Disposal of fire extinguishers at the enterprise

How to dispose of fire extinguishers in a budget organization? It is possible to determine that the fire extinguishing agent is unsuitable for further use at the enterprise itself. You can write off a fire extinguisher if, for example, its service life has expired. At the same time, a fire safety specialist at the enterprise draws up a report indicating the characteristics of the device (model, year of manufacture, etc.). After drawing up the report, the device is sent for disposal, which can be done at the enterprise itself or in special organizations that have a license to carry out such work.

It is impossible to establish the unsuitability of a device due to technical faults at the enterprise itself. For this purpose, the devices must be sent to specialized organizations for a specialist to draw up a defect report, according to which the fire extinguishing apparatus can be disposed of. A sample of such an act is presented below.

Should you dispose of the fire extinguishing device yourself or hand it over?

Cylinders containing fire extinguishing agents are under fairly high pressure. When dismantling the components of a fire extinguisher, situations that are extremely dangerous to the health and even life of people can occur.

For example, when the powder has become so compacted inside the container over time that when the trigger is pressed, it does not even come out of the apparatus. But during analysis, the pressure can be abruptly released, which can lead to very disastrous consequences. Therefore, it is extremely dangerous to dispose of fire extinguishers personally (at businesses).

Among other things, to dispose of fire extinguishers on their own at an enterprise, a specific person will have to undergo special training and then certification. In this regard, we can conclude that it is better to hand over used fire extinguishers. Then the question arises of where to take the fire extinguishing apparatus for disposal. The answer to this question is in the next section.

Where can I drop off fire extinguishers?

Where should I dispose of expired fire extinguishers? You can get an answer to this question by calling the city fire department. Today there are licensed organizations involved in the disposal of various types of hazardous waste, including fire extinguishers. Disposal in such companies is carried out in conditions that are safe for the environment and human health. You can also find the addresses of these organizations using Internet resources.

If the disposal of devices is carried out at the enterprise itself, then the metal casing and other metal parts must be handed over to scrap metal collection points.

The following very short video explains what can happen if a fire extinguisher is not disposed of on time and how the process of disposing of fire extinguishing agents occurs.

To properly and safely dispose of fire extinguishing devices, you must undergo special training. If you don’t want to spend time on training, it’s easier to contact specialized services and hand over fire extinguishers for disposal to professionals who will dispose of unnecessary devices in a manner that is safe for the environment and human health.

What to do with expired fire extinguishers?

Fire extinguishers are essential items for any home. Unfortunately, the contents of these devices expire after a few years, even if not used. This material may be toxic and must be disposed of properly.

Fire extinguishers have an expiration date (Burke / Triolo Productions / Stockbyte / Getty Images)

Fire Extinguisher Basics

There are several types of fire extinguishers, and the most common is the dry powder fire extinguisher, which sprays chemicals onto the fire, depriving the fire of oxygen. This type is found in most kitchens. Most dry chemical fire extinguishers are labeled "A", "B" and "C", which means they are designed for use on common materials (such as wood, plastic and fabric), chemical fires and electrical fires. Another type of fire extinguisher that is becoming popular is the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Because fires require oxygen to burn and spread, replacing the air around the fire with carbon dioxide, the fire stops. These fire extinguishers are used in areas where a chemical fire extinguisher could cause damage, such as offices and stores with multiple computers. The third type of fire extinguisher that is not found in offices and homes is the "D" type for combustible metals. This type of fire extinguisher usually contains sand or fine metal powder and is used to suppress non-rocket fire for other types of fire extinguishers. All fire extinguishers rely on a propellant to push their contents out of the tube in the direction of the fire, acting like a deodorizing spray.

Refilling and disposal of fire extinguishers

Depending on the stores in your city, your expired fire extinguishers may be able to be recharged at a low cost. Make sure your fire extinguisher can be refilled and call the store. If they are unable to recharge your fire extinguisher, you will be directed to a location where service can be provided. If your fire extinguisher is for single use, you must dispose of it properly, i.e. you cannot throw it in your household waste or leave it in your local recycling bin. The materials that make up fire extinguishers, along with the chemicals inside, qualify old fire extinguishers as hazardous waste. To dispose of a dead or empty fire extinguisher, call your local sanitation department. They will tell you where to recycle the device or look for it in your home.