Powder fire extinguishers: expiry date. Shelf life of car powder extinguisher

The car is considered a means of transportation. For some, it is a demonstration of status or financial status, but that's not the point. Any car requires care and proper equipment. Many drivers do not think about the purpose and benefits of a fire extinguisher in the car. He can appear in the trunk only before a technical inspection or at the insistence of employees of the state traffic police. And in vain! After all, his absence at the right time can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Purpose of car fire extinguishers

No one can foresee what will happen to him in the next minute of his life. There are cases on the roads unpredictable, for example, you pass by a lighted car and urgently need help from the outside. There is no guarantee that the fire test will not affect your car. For this, the fire extinguisher should always be in the car to avoid such force majeure.

But what kind of fire extinguisher to buy? To do this, it is necessary to understand what they are and how they operate, assess their financial capabilities, and go for this purchase to the car market.

What is the difference between a powder fire extinguisher and others?

There are three main types of fire fighting equipment in cars. These are carbon dioxide, air-foam and powder fire extinguishers. The expiration date for each species is different. Still there are water extinguishers, but at cold temperatures they can not be used, so this species is not suitable for Russian conditions.

To have an idea of air-foam fire extinguishers, you can recall a can of foam with hair styling. Their working principles are very similar. When you press the button, a foam is released, which extinguishes the flame. Unfortunately, such fire extinguishers do not extinguish large areas, and sometimes it needs to be done urgently. Therefore, wishing to protect themselves and their car, it is better to give preference to more reliable types of fire extinguishers.

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, as can be understood from the name, are cylinders with carbon dioxide. If a fire occurs by pressing the button, the gas flow under pressure can be directed to the desired location. They shoot down the flame and cool the source of ignition. The main advantage of using this kind of fire extinguishers is that after using them, a person can only see traces of a fire. There are no consequences and traces from him on other subjects. But also it is necessary to remember that in case of using this tool new foci of ignition are possible. Therefore, it must always be complete, and when extinguishing it is necessary to carefully remove even the smallest fire.

Powder extinguishers contain inside a special dry powder and some inert gas to create pressure. Unlike other species, it is very effective in extinguishing a very wide range of burning substances. Can extinguish liquid, solid and gaseous substances, as well as objects under tension. It is able to work both at low and high temperatures, and those that can not withstand other species. The effectiveness of such fire extinguishers is many times greater than others.

Method of its operation

To activate the powder fire extinguisher, it is necessary to pull out the protective pin and press the button. The substances in the composition block the access of oxygen, thereby preventing further combustion. In the event of a fire in a car, it can be used in the passenger compartment and in the engine compartment. According to the rules, use a powder fire extinguisher at a distance of three or four meters.

Disadvantages of such a fire extinguisher

First, the unpleasant consequence of the use of such a fire extinguisher is the traces of the powder. They can not always be removed from surfaces that have been saved after a fire. Various elements of the car can suffer, not only from fire, but also from chemical powder. In this case, such constituent parts are not subject to resuscitation, and they simply need to be replaced. But this is better than the defeat by the fire of large surfaces.

Secondly, after some time, the powder inside the cylinder may change and become unsuitable for use.

Thirdly, the pressure of gas is also constantly reduced, especially if the expiration date of the powder fire extinguisher for the car.

Fourth, they can not be used for quenching of alkali metals. How and why to use it, is written directly on the fire extinguisher.

What types of powder fire extinguishers are there?

Powder fire extinguishers are divided into several types:

• Download. This species is designed to extinguish fires of all kinds. There is a special locking device that provides ease of use, as well as a manometer.
• Gas-generating. Most often used in cars. They are based on gas energy.
• For various application parameters, such as temperature, pressure, size and service life, powder extinguishers are identified by numbers. For example, OP1 (з), ОП3 (з), ОП5 (з), ОП70 (з).

Powder fire extinguishers. Shelf life

For the correct and safe use of this fire extinguishing means, you must carefully monitor its condition and the end date of use. The expiration date of a powder fire extinguisher, as a rule, is ten years for the type of OP. This is an average value, but in practice it depends on many factors, as well as on the type of fire extinguisher. There is the concept of a normative expiration date, from which it is possible to understand which maximum term a specific fire extinguisher can serve. A quarterly check confirms the serviceability of the device.

The expiration date of the powder extinguisher OP 4 is a classic example of the service life of a standard appliance. It works for 10 years with recharging every five years. If you constantly recharge it and monitor this tool, then you will be sure of the safety of your machine.

Recharging of powder fire extinguishers

Powder fire extinguishers, whose expiration date allows them to be used for a long time, can be reloaded for further work. Usually such recharging takes place in about five years. Depending on the model, the feasibility of charging is determined. The expiration date of powdered fire extinguisher OP 2 is short due to small volume. It is better not to recharge it, but simply replace it with a new one. Many small-volume models are also not recharged.

The expiration date of the powder extinguisher came out, what should I do?

The question of the use of fire extinguishers, which have deteriorated or can no longer be used, worries many drivers. So how do you apply powder fire extinguishers that have expired?

• You can practice quenching skills, and then hand the balloon to the scrap metal reception point.
• Do a recharge, but this option is no longer suitable for the car. The expiry date of the automobile powder extinguisher is strictly regulated by the safety rules.
• You are lucky if there is a reception point for old fire extinguishers nearby and you can hand it over with a calm soul. Unfortunately, this is a rarity.
• Come up with your own version, for example, make it a unique art object.