Plumbed-in Extinguisher Life.

[GC8]

Do plumbed-in extinguishers have a service life? Im looking through the Blue Book but I cant see anything which confirms this either way. I may be missing it of course, as its all far from clear...

[CNHSS1]

they must be 'in date' as well as serviceable in terms of fitment (cable pulls mustnt be jammed/rusted up etc).
the extinguisher itself will have a date sticker on, so its the unit that specifies the length of service rather than the Blue Book. Over and above that is the dial gauge on the extinguisher, which irrespective of service date, must show in the 'green' portion showing ist pressurised and not empty.
The MSA (and FIA) does stipulate the type of extingusihant that can be used though, Blue book has specs for that (Halon now banned)

Edited by CNHSS1 on Thursday 13th May 17:30

[GC8]

It has a date of manufacture and the FIA homologation number, no end of life sticker. Its the bottle and head only that Im asking about here, as opposed to the full installation.

[GC8]

The homologation number is EX003.98. Ive spent a half an hour trawling through the FIAs homologation papers and theres no mention of a maximum bottle/head service life that I can see.

[lanan]

I don't believe that there is an ultimate maximum life.
For FIA events the bottle must be serviced every two years and be stickered appropriately.
If you need one servicing, get in touch.

Graham

[GC8]

Thanks Graham, thats what I thought. Its out of service certainly, so Id be interested in a price for a recharge service. Its a 4 litre SPA-Design mechanical.

[frodo_monkey]

Actually, a scrutineer I spoke to reckoned that they don't care if the bottle is out of 'service date', merely that the contents are in the green and therefore full. I don't think the Blue Book says anything either? Clearly a prudent chap would have it done anyway though...

[lanan]

RAC MSA don't require a service date.............yet...!!
Europe and FIA events do.

Can service and validate your kit for £35, We can generally do a samw day turn around.

[lol1]

My old extinguisher was out of service date by a year and the cost to get it serviced was only slightly cheaper than buying a new one.
To keep it serviced every 2 years is about £40, to get it serviced after 3 years I was quoted over £150.

[GC8]

I supose that it depends where you go. A service for £40 (-£150) sounds like a piss-take to me. As you can see, Ive just been quoted £35 to discharge and refill my 4 litre alloy system and unless youve fired an electrical firing head: thats your maximum expense.

[GC8]

Coming back to this, through a Google search... I see that SPA design say that their bottles have a ten year life after which they dont service them. I do suspect though, that this is intended to suit them rather than in order to meet an FIA stipulation.

[anonymous-user]

GC8 said:

Coming back to this, through a Google search... I see that SPA design say that their bottles have a ten year life after which they dont service them. I do suspect though, that this is intended to suit them rather than in order to meet an FIA stipulation.

That right but if you have your SPA serviced at 9 years old it lasts for 2 years so you can get 11 years from them.

[GC8]

There isn't anything to prevent me from getting the bottle serviced elsewhere though, is there? SPA choosing not to service their product after ten years and the product being 'lifed' are two very different things.

[vjay48]

I use the company who do our bottles at work,guy came round to my house,filled bottle and stickered it £30,old lifeline bottle.Scrutineers havent looked at bottle all season.

[RogueMotorsport]

Lifeline have also said they won't service their extinguishers beyond 10 years.

[GC8]

Acknowledging that, they arent 'lifed' though are they?

[vjay48]

Have a look at the bottle the labelling contains date of manufacturer,refill dates etc. Draw your own conclusions,i removed lifeline labels as were tatty,fire ex. service man re-filled it put his own labels and dates. He told me standard for service of bottles was 5 years in industry,could not understand why bottle was re-filled every two years?

[Graham]

Having had to pull the fire extinguisher cable ( twice) the problem in my experience isn't the bottle and the charge in the extinguisher its dust and crap getting in the nozzles and pipework,grp dust especially, as soon as it gets damp from the extinguishant it blocks the nozzles up so nothing comes out!!!

There requirement to check those but they will stop a brand new in service date extinguisher from working...


blowing the pipes clear is now part of my service schedule! no scope for fia/ supplier to make money on the pipework though.....

[BaronVonVaderham]

vjay48 said:

Have a look at the bottle the labelling contains date of manufacturer,refill dates etc. Draw your own conclusions,i removed lifeline labels as were tatty,fire ex. service man re-filled it put his own labels and dates. He told me standard for service of bottles was 5 years in industry,could not understand why bottle was re-filled every two years?

It's like the seatbelts issue; manufacturer say's they're good for X years. MSA say's they're good for X/2 years...

Who knows more about seatbelts, MSA or a company that makes them?