BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Go Back   6Post.com | BMW 6-Series Forum > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > Off-Topic Discussions Board

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-29-2020, 05:17 PM   #1
upstatedoc
I'll get back to you
upstatedoc's Avatar
7556
Rep
2,132
Posts

Drives: blue streak
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: not downstate

iTrader: (2)

Fire extinguishers

I've got two in the kitchen and one in the bedroom (no jokes please). They are all in the green and say they are full. they are all years old. should I trust them? what's the shelf life of these? they are not commercial grade, bought at home depot
__________________
2018 Stinger GT
2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/
Countermeasure enthusiast.
Appreciate 1
M_Six16556.00
      07-29-2020, 05:30 PM   #2
dmatre
Captain
United_States
663
Rep
740
Posts

Drives: 2011 328i Sedan
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The Carolinas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by upstatedoc View Post
I've got two in the kitchen and one in the bedroom (no jokes please). They are all in the green and say they are full. they are all years old. should I trust them? what's the shelf life of these? they are not commercial grade, bought at home depot
The dry chem can settle & compact over time - leading to reduced output when most needed.

It's good practice to turn them upside down (nozzle down) and strike them with the butt of your hand or a RUBBER mallet, in order to loosen up the dry chem and move it about.

Others may have better info, but this is how we started each morning when working F&C at various race tracks around the southeast.
Appreciate 4
upstatedoc7555.50
shadowfax1289.00
vreihen1614907.50
jmack548.50
      07-29-2020, 05:34 PM   #3
BMWGUYinCO
Second Lieutenant
BMWGUYinCO's Avatar
4079
Rep
273
Posts

Drives: 22 M850 Convertible '23 X3 M40
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Colorado

iTrader: (0)

I'll tell you a true story.

One Thanksgiving night, my wife lit a candle in the centerpiece (which was plastic) on the table....I mentioned that I thought the candle was just for decoration, but she lit it anyways.

Fast forward to after dinner, my 6 year old son says "Daddy - there's light on the walls"...I look back to the dining room and realize the table is on fire. I go to under the sink, grabbed the fire extinguisher which was a few years old but the indicator was showing "Green", pull out the safety pin and.....

Nothing but a small puff of powder. Like it was straight out of a comedy movie or something, only it wasn't funny at the time. I managed to grab a blanket and smother the fire, but not after a decent amount of damage.

So the morale of my little story: replace those every 3 years.
Appreciate 5
upstatedoc7555.50
vreihen1614907.50
Soul_Glo13297.50
wdb4673.00
      07-29-2020, 05:36 PM   #4
BMWGUYinCO
Second Lieutenant
BMWGUYinCO's Avatar
4079
Rep
273
Posts

Drives: 22 M850 Convertible '23 X3 M40
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Colorado

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmatre View Post
The dry chem can settle & compact over time - leading to reduced output when most needed.
This ^^^

That is probably what happened to me.
Appreciate 0
      07-29-2020, 05:57 PM   #5
RickFLM4
Brigadier General
RickFLM4's Avatar
United_States
10885
Rep
4,816
Posts

Drives: M4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: PB County, FL

iTrader: (0)

There have been some recalls. Check if they are made by Kidde. If yours are recalled, can get new for free.

Mine are old too and have thought about replacing but haven’t done it yet. Every 3 years sounds like overkill though.

https://support.firstalert.com/s/art...nguishers-last
__________________
Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP
Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
Appreciate 0
      07-29-2020, 06:00 PM   #6
upstatedoc
I'll get back to you
upstatedoc's Avatar
7556
Rep
2,132
Posts

Drives: blue streak
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: not downstate

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by RickFLM4 View Post
Check if they are made by Kidde. If yours are recalled, can get new for free.


https://support.firstalert.com/s/art...nguishers-last
all are kidde
__________________
2018 Stinger GT
2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/
Countermeasure enthusiast.
Appreciate 0
      07-29-2020, 06:07 PM   #7
RickFLM4
Brigadier General
RickFLM4's Avatar
United_States
10885
Rep
4,816
Posts

Drives: M4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: PB County, FL

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by upstatedoc View Post
all are kidde
Not every Kidde was recalled, but some were. Check their website or give them a call. My wife called. The extinguishers we have we not on the recall list.
__________________
Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP
Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
Appreciate 1
upstatedoc7555.50
      07-29-2020, 06:42 PM   #8
j0oftheworld
Private First Class
j0oftheworld's Avatar
109
Rep
132
Posts

Drives: 01 S2k, 20 M2C
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: PHX, AZ

iTrader: (1)

I have these in my track car and around the house/garage.
https://elementfire.com/collections/...ts/element-e50

Pretty impressive if you watch a youtube video or two!
Appreciate 1
upstatedoc7555.50
      07-29-2020, 07:45 PM   #9
Banana Hammock
Beefcake
Banana Hammock's Avatar
3769
Rep
711
Posts

Drives: NA
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (2)

My fire extinguisher has an expiration date stamped on it.
Appreciate 0
      07-29-2020, 09:16 PM   #10
vreihen16
Recovering Perfectionist
vreihen16's Avatar
Ukraine
14908
Rep
938
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW i3 BEV
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Orange County, NY

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Go to any local commercial/government/school/hospital in your area, find a fire extinguisher, and look at the service tag strapped to the grenade pin. See who does their local service, and go buy all new *refillable* from them...with the same tags. They are inspected and re-tagged every August where I work, and I believe that they are removed every third year for a recharge at their shop.

When I had the local SCCA equipment trailer and ran the program, I brought all of our corner station extinguishers in to the shop that does our work ones for a complete inspection and refills every March. I'd rather spend the money on professional certification of safety equipment than have to explain why it didn't work on an accident report form after an incident!

Oh, and if anyone reading this does not have a refillable fire extinguisher in their car, please do me a favor and pick one up tomorrow for every car you own. You may also want to see if one of these works on your cars:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015G3QXMY

You can thank me later, when you put your car-be-cue out before the marshmallows even have a chance to melt.....
__________________
2015 BMW i3 BEV, Giga World (Lodge interior), Tech/Driving Assist Packages, 30K miles
Appreciate 1
M_Six16556.00
      07-30-2020, 01:15 AM   #11
Soul_Glo
Major General
Soul_Glo's Avatar
United_States
13298
Rep
7,483
Posts

Drives: G20
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Manhattan, NYC

iTrader: (1)

Same. One in kitchen. One in bedroom.
Replaced every 3 years.
Appreciate 0
      07-30-2020, 02:35 AM   #12
Admiral
Lieutenant
Admiral's Avatar
774
Rep
593
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X3 2.0D X Line G01
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Cymru UK

iTrader: (0)

In the UK all fire extinguishers have to have an expiry date, I have one in the car, garage and kitchen and are replaced regularly before the "death date"
Appreciate 0
      07-30-2020, 07:46 AM   #13
MurrayB
Private First Class
98
Rep
146
Posts

Drives: 2020 BMW M340ix
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Tampa Bay/Longport NJ

iTrader: (0)

Fire extinguisher is not the item to cut a corner. Nobody wants to have to use one but if they are not ready to do their job why bother having it.
Appreciate 1
vreihen1614907.50
      07-30-2020, 08:12 AM   #14
Mason Hatcher
Captain
United_States
1033
Rep
651
Posts

Drives: BMW 230i
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: FW-TX

iTrader: (0)

Timely thread. I need to replace each of mine- kitchen- garage and car
Appreciate 2
vreihen1614907.50
upstatedoc7555.50
      07-30-2020, 12:58 PM   #15
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
16556
Rep
7,447
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

Kitchen, living room, downstairs closet, and garage. Kitchen and garage extinguishers are dry powder. Living room and downstairs extinguishers are CO2.

All probably need recharging. Good task for the weekend todo list.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"There is no shame in dropping fruit in your glass."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 2
vreihen1614907.50
upstatedoc7555.50
      07-30-2020, 12:59 PM   #16
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
16556
Rep
7,447
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by vreihen16 View Post
Go to any local commercial/government/school/hospital in your area, find a fire extinguisher, and look at the service tag strapped to the grenade pin. See who does their local service, and go buy all new *refillable* from them...with the same tags. They are inspected and re-tagged every August where I work, and I believe that they are removed every third year for a recharge at their shop.

When I had the local SCCA equipment trailer and ran the program, I brought all of our corner station extinguishers in to the shop that does our work ones for a complete inspection and refills every March. I'd rather spend the money on professional certification of safety equipment than have to explain why it didn't work on an accident report form after an incident!

Oh, and if anyone reading this does not have a refillable fire extinguisher in their car, please do me a favor and pick one up tomorrow for every car you own. You may also want to see if one of these works on your cars:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015G3QXMY

You can thank me later, when you put your car-be-cue out before the marshmallows even have a chance to melt.....
I'll have to check the extinguishers here at the university. If they're not behind breakable glass.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"There is no shame in dropping fruit in your glass."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 1
vreihen1614907.50
      07-30-2020, 02:34 PM   #17
vreihen16
Recovering Perfectionist
vreihen16's Avatar
Ukraine
14908
Rep
938
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW i3 BEV
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Orange County, NY

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by M_Six View Post
I'll have to check the extinguishers here at the university. If they're not behind breakable glass.
Fire code here requires an extinguisher mounted inside the door of any room with no windows and an occupancy of 10 (?) or so. I used to walk the service guy through our areas every August, and watch him inspect, weigh, hit, and re-tag every one, and hang loaners on the hooks wherever he had to take one back to the shop for its scheduled refill or a failed inspection. They are all hanging on hooks in the open, and people don't even notice them most of the time.

Fire extinguishers are one of those things where I value a relationship with a local business who specializes in them...cost be damned. In the event of a fire, does anyone think that they can subpoena Home Depot or Amazon to testify in court that your extinguishers were inspected and certified?????
__________________
2015 BMW i3 BEV, Giga World (Lodge interior), Tech/Driving Assist Packages, 30K miles
Appreciate 0
      07-30-2020, 03:40 PM   #18
upstatedoc
I'll get back to you
upstatedoc's Avatar
7556
Rep
2,132
Posts

Drives: blue streak
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: not downstate

iTrader: (2)

my 11 y/o son volunteered to test them all no exp dates on them, they all seem to work fine
__________________
2018 Stinger GT
2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/
Countermeasure enthusiast.
Appreciate 2
King Rudi13152.00
M_Six16556.00
      07-30-2020, 04:27 PM   #19
upstatedoc
I'll get back to you
upstatedoc's Avatar
7556
Rep
2,132
Posts

Drives: blue streak
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: not downstate

iTrader: (2)

So I wiped all the dust off of them and put them on the counter to dry and I just noticed that all three of them now have their needles in the red saying recharge
__________________
2018 Stinger GT
2009 E90 N51 /Active Autowerke Stage 2 tune/BMW Performance Exhaust/
Countermeasure enthusiast.
Appreciate 2
vreihen1614907.50
M_Six16556.00
      07-30-2020, 05:48 PM   #20
vreihen16
Recovering Perfectionist
vreihen16's Avatar
Ukraine
14908
Rep
938
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW i3 BEV
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Orange County, NY

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by upstatedoc View Post
So I wiped all the dust off of them and put them on the counter to dry and I just noticed that all three of them now have their needles in the red saying recharge
Don't make me have to drive up there and drag your butt to the fire safety shop!!!!!
__________________
2015 BMW i3 BEV, Giga World (Lodge interior), Tech/Driving Assist Packages, 30K miles
Appreciate 2
upstatedoc7555.50
M_Six16556.00
      07-30-2020, 06:01 PM   #21
Samurai of 2day
Major
Samurai of 2day's Avatar
2094
Rep
1,241
Posts

Drives: '22 X6M/'21 S1Krr
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by upstatedoc View Post
So I wiped all the dust off of them and put them on the counter to dry and I just noticed that all three of them now have their needles in the red saying recharge
is that AFTER your son performed the test drive...?
__________________
Too smart for my own good...
Appreciate 1
      07-30-2020, 11:10 PM   #22
M_Six
Free Thinker
M_Six's Avatar
United_States
16556
Rep
7,447
Posts

Drives: 2016 MB GLC300 4matic
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Foothills of Mt Level

iTrader: (0)

Is it even worth having cheapo dry powder extinguishers tested/recharged? I'm tempted to just buy a few more and keep the old ones for standbys.
__________________
Mark
markj.pics

"There is no shame in dropping fruit in your glass."
-UncleWede
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:22 AM.




6post.com
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST