Kombi Fires

[Mordred]

For most people if you look at the pressure gauge and it is in the green that would be satisfactory.  As a minimum you should also take the dry powder ones out of the holder every 6 months, turn them upside down and hit them with a rubber hammer a few times to loosen the powder, as they vibrate down and wont work.  Best to do that outside as if you knock the pin out there is a risk of setting it off. 

I am one who does regularly inspect them (not a full service, just the check and tap) as I have been to a number of fire training workshops when working in an aviation role where amongst other things we saw the result of a pressurised but packed down dry powder.  Lots of noise but very little to no powder. 

Does anyone know the actual replacement age of a Blazecut?  They warrant them out to 5 years, so it may be the same as a Dry Powder extinguisher (which is 10 years before being serviced and/or replaced) and as there is no way of non destructive testing of them I would suggest it would be a replacement after that time.

I have used old out of date extinguishers to give my children experience in using them effectively and to show them what they are like to use. Many people have never used one and really don't understand  where they need to be aimed at and how long they last (not very long at all!)

Adrian