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10 year replacement of CO2 fire extinguishers
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Posted By Simon Walsh Grad IOSH
We have recently had a visit from our fire extinguisher servicing company. The engineer stated that as our CO2 extinguishers are now ten year old they cannot be serviced and have to be replaced.
When I questioned him about this he began to back off a little. However is anyone else familiar with any requirement to replace CO2 extinguishers after ten years if they can be quite simply be serviced?
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Posted By Steve Cartwright
They don't have to be replaced. They have to be discharged and then refilled. However they have to be sent back to manufacturer to be refilled. CO2 extinguishers have to be factory filled. Manufacturer's details should be on the fire extinguisher.
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Posted By J. Lawlor
Hi
It states in EN3 that if any extinguisher (CO2) which has not been pressure tested within the previous 10 years and any previously pressure tested but not re-tested within the previous 5 years shall be discharged and examined
Hydraulic pressure shall be applied to the cylinder at a uniformly increasing rate until the test pressure marked on the cylinder or provided by the cylinder manufacturer is reached and is maintained for 2 minutes during which period there shall be no fall in pressure and no leakage.
cylinders which pass the test shall be thoroughly dried and the operating device replaced in position. a record shall be made in the maintenance/service register of the results of the pressure tests including the name of the organisation which carried out the test. the extinguisher shall then be recharged.
cylinders which fail the test shall be removed from service and preferably should be destroyed or made unserviceable.
I hope this helps
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Posted By Crim
From new the first discharge test and refill is 10 years then every 5 years (or after every use).
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Posted By Ashley Wood
Don't be to hard on the extinguisher chap as he probably means well. To do what has been recommended and is correct, would probably cost more than buying new ones! What I would do is use the old ones for training and then scrap them. New ones can be bought for as little as £38.
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Posted By dale watts good day people, my name is dale watts, and i run my own fire extinguisher company. Just came across this thread and thought i would put the actual requirements of Co2 overhauling. The test period now is every ten years and all overhauled units should have the next test date shown. The operating valves must be replaced with a new one. Old valves are to be destroyed. Normally the extinguisher body would be repainted and new operating instructions are affixed.All this information is laid out in BS5306 pt3 annex D.There is also a high probability that in the near future the standard will also state that discharge horns/ hose and horns are to be replaced with new ones every ten years.Most companies offer a exchange policy on Co2's as its more cost effective than removing and returning extinguishers. Overhaul should still be cheaper than buying new units. Anyone ever requires any info on portabable extinguishers can email me at extdoctor@hotmail.co.uk. I will always give free honest advice.
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10 year replacement of CO2 fire extinguishers
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