Fire Extinguisher Installation

[Sam Walker]

Bob, no problem. You have contributed so much in the way of technical expertise to the site, I am happy to get a chance when a subject falls into my realm. The local jurisdiction that I was a fire inspector for was Santa Ana and I grew up in Whittier.

It sounds like you are on the right track w/ the annual replacement. You know, since you are a test it out kind of guy, it would be interesting to find out whether the Kidde FE's that you are retiring each year are functional at the end of a year of pounding on a boat.

[Sea Angel]

Sam,
I, too, replace my extinguishers, abt every 3 years, unless the gauge indicates a leak. I try to time their replacement with my flares. I do, however, keep my old flares as backup; but both are set aside for training for the USCGAUX members. It sure doesn't take long to have a big collection of flares around.

I admit that my units are Kidde units.

Thanks for your advice. I will have to revisit my methods and change out my 3 units to another brand. ???

[thataway]

Sam,
We have tested our extinguishers at the replacement time--and all have been functional. We only buy extinguishers which have guages on them (I realize that they are not very accurate)--and if the guage shows low pressure, discard the unit.

I did discuss this subject with my friend who retired 18 years ago, after 29 years with Anaheim Fire Dept--perhaps you interacted with him at some point. He was heavily involved with the OC firefighters, took surplus equptment to La Paz, Involved with Torguta Tours, organized the fireman's regatta, and some of the other things that fire fighters do...We had some great trips with the OC firefighters--Rafted the Colorado, Ski trips in the Canadian Rockies etc.

I was aboard his boat today--and he does the same thing that I do--uses Kiddie, Shakes them up regularly, checks the guages regularly etc. He also pointed out that one needs A B C extinguishers (which I carrry). Also that Kiddie makes a number of levels of fire fighting products--some of which were carried on Anaheim fire trucks--at least they were 20 or so years ago.

This individual crossed the Atlantic with us--and he was the best crew I have ever had. When he came off watch, I knew that every system on the boat had been inspected properly. He is still known as "911 Tom".

Thanks to the fire fighters! The "Good Guys"!

[drjohn71a]

Regarding annually retired boat/motorhome fire extinquishers... Like Bob, I accumulate those with the arrow right at the red/green juntion. I just place them around the farm and house in areas one would not usually need a fire extinguisher for life-saving needs, barn, garage, basement, tractor barn, pump house, grain bins, hay stacks, etc.... and then fire them when they get red. Amazingly , most seem to work OK even tho in the red.

John

[flrockytop]

Horizontal installation is just fine. That is now the normal installation in a motorhome.

[lloyds]

It would probably be a good idea for everyone to try and fire one at least once. Just to see what they are really capable of. I once had an oven fire with a pressurized kerosene stove. None of the fire extinguishers worked, not even the halon. Only killed the flames until the oxygen came back. The only thing that really worked was the soda filled one. Don't get caught anywhere in an oxygen lean area when you try a halon, I still have the scars from the scramble out of the cabin after I torched off one of those. And for car fires, the run of the mill small ones we normally carry won't do much for engine compartment fires. I have thrown three or four at some of them, with no effect. It takes a pretty good sized extinguisher to maintain enough stream to knock down flames and get the combustibles cool enough so they won't re-ignite.