Several types of extinguishers are considered obsolete by the 2007 Edition of NFPA 10© and are required to be removed from service according to Section 4.4.  The following is an excerpt from NFPA 10©:

(1)      Soda acid 

(2)      Chemical foam (excluding film-forming agents) 

(3)      Vaporizing liquid (e.g., carbon tetrachloride) 

(4)      Cartridge-operated water 

(5)      Cartridge-operated loaded stream 

(6)      Copper or brass shell (excluding pump tanks) joined by soft solder or rivets 

(7)      Carbon dioxide extinguishers with metal horns 

(8)      Solid charge–type AFFF extinguishers (paper cartridge) 

(9)      Pressurized water fire extinguishers manufactured prior to 1971 

(10)    Any extinguisher that needs to be inverted to operate 

(11)    Any stored pressure extinguisher manufactured prior to 1955 

(12)    Any extinguishers with 4B, 6B, 8B, 12B, and 16B fire ratings 

(13)    Stored-pressure water extinguishers with fiberglass shells (pre-1976) 

4.4.1 Dry chemical stored pressure extinguishers manufactured prior to October 1984 shall be removed from service at the next 6-year maintenance interval or the next hydrotest interval, whichever comes first. 

4.4.2 Any fire extinguisher that can no longer be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer's maintenance manual is considered obsolete and shall be removed from service. 

     

The "modern" portable fire extinguisher was was invented by Captain George William Manby in 1819.  It was a 3-gallon copper vessel containing a pearl ash (potassium carbonate) solution under pressure.

 
 

Did you know that any extinguisher weighing more than 12 lbs (gross weight) is required to have a discharge hose and not just a nozzle?




This design requires the operator to hold the extinguisher in an upright position during use.

  
   

Eagle Fire Safety, Inc.

Tewksbury, MA
MA CR 1093
Copyright © 2008 Eagle Fire Safety, Inc.