![]() ![]() Whatever you do, do not put your fire extinguisher in your garbage can or curbside recycling bin with other metal items. How do you safely dispose of it? The first thing to know is that full or partially discharged fire extinguisher cannot be recycled - before you take any step other than donating it, empty the cylinder completely to prevent injury to workers who will handle it later. You found out that your extinguisher can’t be recharged - maybe it’s too old or has damaged parts. If a professional doesn’t recommend recharging your extinguisher, purchase a new one to replace it. Your local fire department may be able to refer you to a professional. You should use a trained professional to make sure your extinguisher is safe and gets recharged with the correct extinguishing agent. Some extinguishers can be manually refilled, but without training this can be dangerous. After each use: If you use your extinguisher just once, you need to have it recharged.They might be able to recharge it at no cost or refer you to a professional for servicing. If the pressure is too low, contact your local fire department and ask if it can be recharged. That’s why they have a gauge that shows the ideal pressure. Loss of pressure: Over time, fire extinguishers lose their pressure.But before we get into recycling, let’s review when you need to recharge your extinguisher. Luckily, your fire extinguisher is made of highly recyclable materials, like aluminum for the tank and steel for the valve. If your extinguisher is for a commercial kitchen or lab, the disposal process is the same, but the options will be more limited because businesses do not have access to all the municipal service available to residential recyclers.įire extinguishers must be replaced or recharged after 10 or 12 years, even if they are full. Most consumer fire extinguishers are capable of putting out Class A, B, and C fires (wood, gas, and electrical, respectively). There are types of fire extinguishers designed for different types of fires. How do you make sure you’re prepared for a fire and what do you do with that expired or used fire extinguisher? Or, maybe you’ve used your extinguisher but haven’t replaced it yet. But you may not know that fire extinguishers have an expiration date. The choice of a professional, competent, third-party approved person or organisation to regularly check, service, inspect and risk assess this life-saving equipment is crucial – not only for safety measures but also to comply with best practice as set out in the law.When you need a fire extinguisher, you’ll want to make sure it functions properly. The importance of fire extinguisher maintenance cannot be underestimated. The approved recycling centre will ensure total compliance to these strict regulations. No chemicals or contents other than water are allowed to enter drains and waterways. This will include various metal parts, plastic, rubber and, where possible, the extinguishing medium. The extinguishers will be discharged in accordance with regulations and dismantled into each recyclable waste stream. ![]() This pressurised container can cause widespread damage if not handled and recycled correctly.įire extinguishers should be taken to a recycling centre, which will ensure their safe disposal. Where a replacement unit is deemed the correction action, the old extinguisher should be disposed of responsibly and in a safe manner – it should never be simply thrown in the bin. In some cases, a repair or refill may be economical, whereas in other circumstances to replace it may make the best financial sense. If the results of a recent service haven’t shown the fire extinguisher to be in as healthy a condition as it should, consideration should be given as to the best option. Extinguisher servicing by a competent person goes beyond simply ensuring the fire extinguisher is in good working order – it also embraces a living risk assessment so the correct cover is available in a safe and orderly manner. ![]() Generally, an extinguisher will remain unused for most of its life but environmental changes, vandalism and other external influences may have occurred during a year, along with changes to building use, installation of new processes and equipment. Maintaining and caring for fire extinguishersĪnnual servicing of extinguishers is vital, important and ensures compliance with best practice as laid out in BS5306. Here, we take a look at the expected lifespan of a fire extinguisher and explain the steps to take when the time comes to replace it. However, for many reasons, an extinguisher will not last forever and will eventually need replacing. Proper care, servicing and maintenance will ensure fire extinguishers remain in working order and perform as they should in the event of a fire. ![]()
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