A fire extinguisher, unlike a dog, is not for life. Your trust fire-fighting friend, the fire extinguisher, has only a limited lifespan. In addition, if fire extinguishers are not properly maintained, the seals, valves, and levers can stick or start to deteriorate. But how can you prolong the life of your fire extinguisher as much as practically possible? And what can you do with your old one?
Suppose you consider your fire extinguisher more of a decorative element than a basic safety precaution. It can impact the extinguisher’s ability to function correctly and pose a real threat to people and property in a fire. You are lucky if you never have a reason to use your fire extinguisher. But if you have been unfortunate enough to need it, you might wonder what to do with your used fire extinguisher? Do you know what to do with an expired fire extinguisher?
Having a fire extinguisher ready and available is the first step in fire safety. And to ensure that your extinguisher is ready when you need it most, it is vital to understand when it needs to be replaced, recharged, or disposed of. But how will you know when to replace, recharge or completely dispose of your used extinguisher? Here’s what to do if you have a used fire extinguisher:-
Used fire extinguisher: When to Throw out:-
Is it right to throw out your refurbished fire extinguishers in the trash? Well, no! Without confirmation, you can’t just throw out your extinguisher with your regular garbage or even put it into curbside recycle bin. Fire extinguishers are filled with the highly pressurized and hazardous material. But if you are certain that you have got all the pressure and contents out of your cans, only then can you put them in the garbage.
Your old fire extinguisher: When, where, and how to Recycle:-
If you have an old fire extinguisher, then you can recycle it if the outside of the canister is made up of aluminum and the valves made of steel or plastic that make up your extinguisher are actually recyclable.
Local departments of public work to find out the dates and sites to drop-offs this hazardous waste within your area and also recommend recycling methods.
Your refurbished fire extinguisher: When needs to recharge:-
If you have a used fire extinguisher, how will you know whether or not you can recharge it? It’s very important to check if your extinguisher can still be used or needs to be recharged.
With regular maintenance and an appropriate inspection schedule, your fire extinguisher can last over 20 years. But if you have a used fire extinguisher, then it needs to be recharged from time to time, and in certain circumstances, they require to be also replaced.
Some local fire departments can help you to recharge your old fire extinguisher in case of loss of pressure. But in some cases, when your canister needs more than just recharging, the department will recommend you seek a professional.
Old fire extinguisher: when to replace:-
When the safety technicians inspect your fire extinguisher with an in-depth-assessment, then they inform you about damages to your extinguisher. But if something looks off during inspection, then you can also call Facility managers.
The professional fire safety technicians also conduct hydrostatic testing to measure the integrity of the cylinder of your fire extinguisher. If the extinguisher fails the test, it is unusable and should be replaced immediately. Besides this, if your extinguisher is lacking an inspection sticker or hangtag, or any that is past its expiration date, then it also needs to be replaced.
Dispose of your used fire extinguisher: An important step:-
The essential step in getting rid of your used fire extinguisher is to determine how much of the contents are still inside the container. If you have an extinguisher that reaches 12 years, you will have to dispose of it. But disposal depends on two conditions-if the fire extinguisher still has a charge or is empty.
Hopefully, this blog will help you to know what you can do if you have a used fire extinguisher.
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