How do I check my fi re extinguishers work?
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My boat, Wassail, is a 2006
Najad 440. I still have the
original fire extinguishers, one
each in the forward and aft
cabins, one in the main saloon
and one in the cockpit locker. None have ever
been discharged. Each year, part of my spring
commissioning procedure is to visually inspect
each extinguisher, turn it over, give it a couple
of good thumps on the bottom with a rubber
mallet to break up any of the dry chemical that
may have settled in the bottom, and shake it.
The pressure gauges are all still in the green
zone. They show no signs of rust or abuse. Do
marine fire extinguishers have a useful life? Is
there anything I should do to make sure they’re
functional that I’m not already doing? Nick OremStuart Carruthers, RYA cruising manager, replies:A
Most fire extinguishers don’t
have an expiry date on them
and dependent on type, may
last up to 15 years. If it has
a pressure gauge on it, check
it regularly to ensure the needle is in the green;
if it’s not, replace it. If it is an older model without
a gauge, have it checked by a professional, but
it’s probably going to be cheaper to replace it!
The RYA recommends that the advice of the
supplier is followed and to consider a routine
competent service by BAFE, or similar registered
technicians who will carry the service to BS
53 06. This is particularly important if the
extinguisher is not of the disposable type.
The BAFE SP101 scheme is to ensure that
organisations and the technicians they employ
are competent to provide fire extinguisher
services including:O Sourcing (the correct selection of fire
extinguishers)
O Commissioning (on-site checks to ensure fire
extinguisher is fit for purpose prior to installation)
O Siting (correct positioning and installation of
fire extinguishers)
O Maintenance/servicing (regular checks to
ensure fire extinguishers are in efficient working
order and ready to use in the event of fire)The objective of this scheme is to provide the
consumer with confidence they have selected
a competent and safe service provider. If you
require works for your portable fire extinguishers,
you can find certificated organisations near you
that provide these services by using the BAFEfree search tool. For any further assistance, you
can email the BAFE office at [email protected]
or call them on 0844 3 350897 – they will be
more than happy to help assist in finding quality
BAFE-registered organisations near you for your
fire extinguisher requirements.
As well as being classified for the types
of fire they can tackle, fire extinguishers are
categorised to indicate the size of fire they
are suitable to tackle according to specific
test conditions.
Once a fire on board a boat really takes hold,
it is unlikely that it will be successfully tackled.
It is therefore essential to observe good fire
safety practice to minimise the risk of a fire
occurring. Prevention is far better than cure.WIN
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