Fire extinguishes and flares.

[Tim Wagner]

Both have expiration dates.
What do you do with them after they expire?
i got a old flares which I still keep in the boat but I do have new ones.
I dont think thats illegal. I want them in there for all kinds of reasons.
I have a few "expired" fire extinguishers in the garage that are for the most part, useless now.
Is there a place that reconditions and puts updated labels on them?
Is there anything you can do with them?

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

Fire extinguishers may be "recharged." Try ABC Fire.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

It depends on the size of the extinguisher, but last i looked into it, it was cheaper to buy a new one.

 

[sasto]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

I keep expired flares onboard. Hope I never need them. CG has no problem with expired flares or extinguishers. Hand held extinguishers are throw aways, halon can be inspected and updated, not usually refilled. I pay $250 for engine room halons to be inspected and updated. OUCH!

Redundency is good.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

I keep expired fire extinguishers in the closet by the kitchen alone with the kitchen extinguisher. Never know when you might need some additional help.

I keep old flares on the boat until they are 4 years old or so. After that, they make great fire starters

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

The only problem with old extinguishers (dry chemical) is that the powder has a tendency to pack in the bottom and they wont work when activated. If you plan to keep old, outdated extinguishers around, there are a few things you can do to prolong them. This assumes that they have still maintained their charge...check the gauge.

1) Turn the extinguisher upside down once a year and rap on the bottom with a rubber mallet. This will break apart any clumps of dry chemical powder that have settled.
2) remove the black rubber hose (it unscrews) and make sure it is free and clear. If you have the short plastic snout, even easier.
3) Never test fire an extinguisher. It will rapidly lose it's charge after that and you might have wasted just the amount of chemical that you needed to extinguish your boat fire.

Remember, even if the extinguisher looks good and operates, it will not pass CG inspection unless it has an active inspection sticker in date.

If you take your extinguishers to someplace local for recertification, it isn't that much. The cost is when they come out to you. I pay around $10 for a 2A:20BC 3 lb can.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

I keep expired flares onboard. Hope I never need them. CG has no problem with expired flares or extinguishers. Hand held extinguishers are throw aways, halon can be inspected and updated, not usually refilled. I pay $250 for engine room halons to be inspected and updated. OUCH!

Redundency is good.

Redundancy is very good. I'd keep the old flares and use them first. Either they work or they don't. If they don't you still have the newer ones.

 

[sasto]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

If you take your extinguishers to someplace local for recertification, it isn't that much. The cost is when they come out to you. I pay around $10 for a 2A:20BC 3 lb can.

That beats paying $35 for a new one!

 

[NYBo]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

As long as you have the proper number of unexpired flares aboard, the CG has no problem with expired ones.

I wouldn't trust an expired fire extinguisher, though. You could waste valuable seconds trying to fight a fire only to have the extinguisher fail you. Given how cheap they are, I would just ditch 'em. Also be aware that the CG minimum requirements for number and type of extinguishers is exactly that: minimum. More is better!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

I wouldn't trust an expired fire extinguisher, though. You could waste valuable seconds...

I wouldn't either...that's why I wrote this:

Remember, even if the extinguisher looks good and operates, it will not pass CG inspection unless it has an active inspection sticker in date.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

I may have miss the fire extinguisher date thing but do not recall a requirement for a date. I done the Coast Guard Aux inspection several times and always passed.

Also about 3 years back was boarded by the Coast Guard doing a homeland security and safety inspection while offshore fishing. They now do these inspection quite often but again passed. I Have 4 extinguisher and at least 25 flares and 4 flare guns.
Also 8 hand held flares and a SOS Light that meets the night time locate function.

When boarded by the Coast Guard at Sea all they Checked was the gauge on the extinguisher and the Coast guard Number. Flares they only wanted to see 3 flares with a good date.
The thing that they looked at the longest was my anti back fire arrester on top of the carburetor.

Fire extinguisher tips I got from one of the Coast Guard Boating Skills and Seamanship classes I have attended.
Always buy fire extinguisher in pairs and mount one the normal Vertical way. Mount the second horizontal on the floor. Then every other trip rotate there position. This is to stop the dry power from being pack in the bottom of the extinguisher and not loose.
Also if you ever need to use one bang it hard on the floor to break the power loose then aim at the base of the fire.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

I wouldn't either...that's why I wrote this:

Where do you find the expiration date on a B:C1 rated extinguisher? I've looked at two; neither says anything about an expiration date. Can?t find any mention of an expired extinguisher as part of a CG inspection.

I?m inspected every year and the inspector does nothing more than shake the unit to see if the power is caked and checks to see that the gauge is still in the green.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

Where do you find the expiration date on a B:C1 rated extinguisher? I've looked at two; neither says anything about an expiration date.

When you first purchase a fire extinguisher, they are supposed to be inspected and tagged by a certified extinguisher professional. They are valid for 1 year, then reinspected. Technically, they aren't supposed to be used until inspected, but a lot of people don't do it. It gets the liability off of the manufacturing company.

If the CG doesn't care about the dated sticker, so be it. I would still follow the recommendations of getting it inspected and labeled.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

If the CG doesn't care about the dated sticker, so be it.

To pass a vessel safety check, the extinguisher(s) must readily accessible and verified as serviceable. No mention of expiration dates.

 

[dan t.]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

Old flares work good for extra fireworks at Haloween.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

Old flares for fireworks is a major violation and a very heavy fine.

Keep them on the boat. If you ever really need them they could save your life.

Very rare when 3 flares would be enough.
When I here people call the Coast Guard and report a flare sighting Coast Guard usually replies back to keep a sharp look out and report any more sighting.

 

[sea_goin_dude]

Re: Fire extinguishes and flares.

If you have questions about your fire exts, you may take them to a local volinteer fire dept and let them use them for practice or training then take them and have them recharged.
Buy ones with pressure gages on them and they can always be recharged. No gage, are throw aways. Old exts may always be used for training at your local boat club or VFD's. The powder should not clump..... and I've never seen one that did, even the ones we used in industry. When they are recharged by qualified people, dry nitrogen is used and this is to prevent clumping of the power. Check the pressure often and if in the proper range, they are good to go. Always good to have more than is required but have them mounted where you can see the gages for checks.