Posted By Frank Macleod 45 have read but no comments??????????????? Help please!

Posted By Mark Godfrey Frank You are right about the stored pressure with regards to maintenance etc. One problem with stored pressure though is that they have to be discharged every 5 years (from my rusty memory) and thus they all come up for renewal at the same time so don't caught out like I did and go over budget! I believe they are due for pressure test after 10 years. Once again it can prove costly as a "job lot" I think cartridge extinguishers are OK if you carry out your own maintenance with your own staff (all trained of course) but if you out source your maintenance then stored pressure is the way forward. Maintenance companies will install cartridge extinguishers as they make good money on the maintenance. I serious drawback with cartridge ones, how do you know they have been let off? I am thinking of schools, prisons etc. The only way is weigh them and you may never know for up to a year (when maintenance is due again)At least with stored pressure staff can check daily/weekly as required just by looking at the gauge. Stored pressure for me, no spares required but with cartridge there where bursting disks and cartridges, foam packs, powder packs, the list goes on and so does the cost but you do need to consider your environment, budget, maintenance etc. Hope that helps Mark

Posted By Robert Hayes Frank I took over the management of my company's fire extinguisher maintenance some 12 years ago and at the time we had a mix of stored pressure and gas-cartridge extinguishers (750+ units). In the mid-late 90s the major suppliers started to offer the stored pressure extinguishers as standard and whilst gas-cartridge extinguishers were available they had to be requested. During one tendering exercise I found that all the companies had links; either through a parent organisation or because all the extinguisher bodies were produced by the same manufacturer. The imposed standards of maintenance will have had an impact on peoples choice of extinguisher and I suspect that this customer demand has resulted in the major suppliers trying to standardise. I can't say if your supplier is taking you for a ride or not as this will depend on the contract that your company have in place with them and your previous experiences. I will say that many individuals and companies do still prefer the gas-cartridge units. I would study the specification put out by your colleagues and then simply ask your supplier the question. Rob PS. The disposal of spare live gas-cartridges needs some thought as well.

Posted By Frank Macleod Rob/Chris, Thankyou for your comments. Regards Frank