Can Fire Extinguishers Expire: Find Out The Answer To This Burning Question


You must’ve noticed at some point that every mall, supermarket, or other public places with a large concentration of people have fire extinguishers in nearly every corner. If you own a public establishment, you also know that you must get one too. The reason is simple. It’s to abide by the fire department standards, so you can get the necessaire licenses to keep your place open.

Now, the reason behind is also simple. It’s for everyone’s safety. A fire can get started at any moment in any place. When you consider places that have lots of people coming and going, the dangers of a catastrophe are even worse. That’s why you should always have the fire extinguishers around. They’re reliable and the first-aid to combat a fire.

That got me thinking, can fire extinguishers expire? Fire extinguishers can expire even if they have not expiration date written on their vessels. There’s a period of 5-15 years that is recommended by manufacturers to replace the extinguishers if you haven’t. Now, there are a few things to help you do the maintenance throughout this period.

So, as long as you understand that you’re supposed to replace the fire extinguisher from time to time, you won’t have problems. Both with safety issues and the fire department. Now, below you can see everything that you need to know to make sure that your fire extinguisher will be in perfect conditions when you need it.

The 5-15 Years Rule

Many manufacturers do not explicitly state when it the expiration date for their fire extinguisher model. This causes all sorts of confusion among owners who are left wondering when they’re supposed to replace their model. Now, even though yours may not have an expiration date, manufacturers say that fire extinguishers last from 5 to 15 years.

Considering that this is a long-range, the best that you can do is to pay attention to certain signs and make sure that you follow instructions. All you have to do is to keep the vessel in the best conditions possible to make sure that it will work when you need it to.

So, be aware that your fire extinguisher will last between 5 to 15 years if kept under the right conditions. The first thing that you should always make sure is that the vessel is in good conditions and without scratches.

Check The Pressure Gauge Monthly

The first thing that you should always check is the pressure gauge. You must do this monthly. This will make sure that your fire extinguisher works. If the pressure is not right, the equipment will become useless. So, to check the pressure gauge, you should make sure that the needle is in the green area. If it is, it’s functional.

This is the most important thing that you should check to make sure that the extinguisher will work. This is so because you can’t really know otherwise if the extinguisher is functional or isn’t.      For instance, the fire extinguisher could last 15 years, but yours could have stopped working 2 years ago, and you wouldn’t know unless you checked the pressure gauge.

So, to make sure that yours last a long time, get one that has a verified high-quality and check the pressure gauge. If you’re looking for a new fire extinguisher that’ll last a long time, we recommend the First Alert Fire Extinguisher. Put out a fire fast here.

Have A Pro To Take A Look

Now, let’s say that you’re still suspicious or insecure about the fire extinguisher you already have. The best thing would be to get a new one. Still, if that’s not what you have in mind, you can get a pro to take a look and make sure that everything is alright. You can get someone from the fire department to check it out for you to make sure that yours is in perfect conditions.

They’ll check the pressure gauge, the state of the vessel, and look for signs that the equipment is not compromised. There are a few damages that are apparent and others that aren’t so much. If you know what you’re looking for, you can accurately determine that the extinguisher will not work properly.

So, even though that’s not the ideal situation, you can ask a professional opinion on your fire extinguisher. After all, you don’t want to risk it not working when you need it. You may want to consider buying your extinguisher from Amazon where you can also purchase professional installation.

Look For Certain Signs

There a few signs that make it obvious to you that you should replace your fire extinguisher. When you have one or more of these signs on your fire extinguisher, you cannot safely be certain that it’ll work. So, the best that you can do is to replace your fire extinguisher with a new one.

The first sign is a crack on the nozzle or the hose. Not only that but if it’s ripped or has debris blocking it, you should get a replacement. Another sign is when the blocking pin on the handle is unsealed or missing. If the handle is wobbly or broken it’s another sign as well. All of these signs are enough to determine that you need a replacement.

As you can see, there are a few signs that make it easier for you to be sure that you need replacement.  If that’s the case, you should get a new one that’ll come in perfect conditions. To ensure that it will last a long time and work when necessaire, the First Alert 1038789 Standard is great. Check it out here.

Make Sure The Vessel Is Always Intact

Fire extinguishers are not decoration items. They’re there to be the first line of defense to avoid a tragedy. They’re safety equipment that can save lives. Helping firefighters to put out a fire, fire extinguishers are crucial to have in a commercial building. That’s why you must take care of them.

So, with that said, you should be extra careful when it comes to their vessel. The red color is painted in the silver, aluminum vessel. This means that you should be careful with scratches and other things that can damage the vessel. If you notice that there are too many scratching marks or that the vessel is deformed, you should get a replacement.

As long as you take care of the state of the vessel and make sure that it’s always in good shape, the extinguisher will last longer. So, be careful to have it always as close as you can to their original appearance and condition.

Keep Your Maintenance Up-to-date

The last thing that you must do to make sure that your fire extinguisher will last a long time is to keep your maintenance up-to-date. Make sure to check it monthly. This will save you from a lot of headaches. For instance, not only check the vessel and its potential scratches but also the pressure gauge.

Also, make sure that you check other things like the tags and certificates that ensure that everything is in place. When you make sure that the maintenance is up-to-date you ensure your safety and everyone else’s. This is why it’s so important to have a regular schedule to check those things out.

So, check pressure gauge, tags, the vessel, and maybe have a pro taking a look at the equipment for you. As long as you do this, you won’t have anything to worry about. Also, make sure that the fire extinguisher that you get is a high-quality one.

Final Thoughts

So, a fire extinguisher can expire. You should be always on the lookout to make sure that yours is good to be used. Otherwise, it’s time to replace it. Obviously, being aware of when it’s time to replace it, can save lives and save you from a lot of trouble.

Go ahead and keep the maintenance up-to-date, check for all the signs that it’s good, and your fire extinguisher will last for a long time.

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