How can I tell how old my fire extinguisher is?

How can I tell how old my fire extinguisher is?

To find out the age of an extinguisher you need to look for dates stamped on the cylinder body, printed on the extinguisher label or printed on the extinguisher itself. Sometimes the date stamp is hidden under the plastic ring around the neck of an extinguisher or under the plastic boot of the extinguisher.

What does the date on the bottom of a fire extinguisher mean?

The date on the tag shows the date the extinguisher was last serviced or inspected. The top of the tag shows a punch that indicates the type or class of that particular extinguisher. The left side top number is the serial number of the extinguisher. Below the number will be a name and number stamp.

How many years does a fire extinguisher last?

When to Replace a Fire Extinguisher Manufacturers say most extinguishers should work for 5 to 15 years, but you might not know if you got yours three years ago or 13. So how can you be sure it will fire away? Atlanta fire chief Dennis L. Rubin recommends checking the pressure gauge monthly.

Can you use an expired fire extinguisher?

Can I Use an Expired Fire Extinguisher? Simply put, you should not use an expired fire extinguisher. However, with proper care and maintenance, your fire extinguisher should be able to last 10 – 12 years. In the event that your fire extinguisher is no longer safe to use, we can also provide you with a new one.

What should I do with old fire extinguishers?

HOW TO DISPOSE OF A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

1. Release any pressure contained in the canister by shooting a small amount into an open area.
2. Let the canister sit for a few days, making sure the pressure has been released.
3. Once there is no longer any pressure, dispose in a trash bag in your regular garbage.

What can you do with an out of date fire extinguisher?

Fire extinguishers cannot be put into your household recycling bin, but you can take them to larger household waste recycling centres for disposal.

Do powder fire extinguishers expire?

Fire extinguishers don’t technically have a set expiration date as much depends on the quality of the manufacture for the individual canister. For water, foam and powder extinguishers, an extended service and refill should be carried out every 5 years; CO2 extinguishers only need this every 10 years.

How do I know if my powder fire extinguisher is dry?

The extinguisher cylinder is pressurized to test the pressure and to make sure there are no pinhole leaks, or hairline cracks and that the cylinder can maintain pressure without any break. After the completion, the extinguisher is dried out, and a sticker will be placed to determine that it has been tested.

How long does a dry powder fire extinguisher last?

Dry chemical extinguishers have a service interval of 6 or 12 years, minimum. Pressurized water, carbon dioxide, and wet chemical extinguishers have a minimum service life of 5 years.

What do you use a dry powder fire extinguisher for?

What is a dry powder fire extinguisher used for? Dry powder fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction taking place and cutting off the oxygen supply. They can be used on fires involving solid combustibles, flammable liquids and electricity.