Do fires extinguishers need to be shaken to prevent settling?

[buickanddeere]

There are two (that I'm aware of) situations where you don't want to use a water extinguisher - electrical fires and flammable liquids fires.

That thar be why the soap was added . It makes the suds that float on top of the gasoline . As for
Electrical , I wouldn’t hesitate to hit 600V with a AFFF 2-1/2 gallon from 10 feet away . The foam is a lousy conductor .

 

[buickanddeere]

Four.



Three.

Everybody forgets about Class D - Metals. Not much of a problem in most homes, but it can be in a shop that does metal working and has aluminum or other metal scraps and dust.

Add Class K if you deal with kitchens and cooking oils.

. Magnesium and Zirconium will also burn.

 

[buickanddeere]

I would guess to cut surface tension and help the water stick to material better, both burned and unburned. But that's a guess.

You and 4570man are correct .

 

[buickanddeere]

Is a cupful necessary? I put a big squirt, maybe <2 oz. in mine. I don't know what the Goldilocks amount is. Should I be trying to make lots of foam or is soft water and a little foam good enough?

Some is good and more is better. Soap is cheap .

 

[Oh Lordy HepMe HepME]

#30

Common Myths | Amerex Fire

amerex-fire.com

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I have always made a habit of turning ours upside down every fall and giving the bottom a few smacks with a rubber mallet to be sure the dry chemical powder inside the devices does not get caked.

Ditto. I smack the bottom and sides with a rubber mallet, and give it a good shake to fluff the dry chemical.

Generally, the ones with metal valves can be serviced, but it's cheaper to buy a new one. The plastic valve units are disposable.

 

[Oh Lordy HepMe HepME]

Amerex link above says don't do that, see #30. Calls it a Myth if one takes time to read it.
People get set in their ways..lol

 

[Doofy]

I did school maintenance for 30 years and making sure the extinguisher powder was loose was part of our monthly visual inspection. We also had to remove the hose to make sure it was clear and check the gauge for proper pressure. If the extinguisher was powered by a CO2 cartridge, it had to be removed and weighed for the proper charge.

Having eyes and hands on your extinguishers can't hurt.

 

[Oh Lordy HepMe HepME]

Prior to WWII it was correct to shake, it seems somebody forgot to tell us to stop..lol
Best advice I read is right here-
" Ask anyone who advocates shaking to produce a manufacturer’s document that recommends it.”
More on it here..

WPV-CERT - Fire Extinguisher Myth

 

[Doofy]

Prior to WWII it was correct to shake, it seems somebody forgot to tell us to stop..lol
Best advice I read is right here-
" Ask anyone who advocates shaking to produce a manufacturer’s document that recommends it.”
More on it here..

WPV-CERT - Fire Extinguisher Myth

If it's on the internet, it must be true.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I worked for a BIG fires safety company once in the 80s. It was practice when re-certifying extinguishers to shake them to see if the powder still moved freely. Not a great definiitive test if you ask me. But the whole business was quite the scam!

I like my water and CO2 extinguishers. Especially since you can give them a squirt without being committed to service the cylinder. Never mind not making a HUGE mess!

 

[groundcover]

And they are handy for water fights !

 

[repete]

Shake the powder type occasionally AND when you go to use it. It may even be beneficial to smack it on a tire and shake before using if you have one mounted in a vehicle.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Shake the powder type occasionally AND when you go to use it. It may even be beneficial to smack it on a tire and shake before using if you have one mounted in a vehicle.

I can't see it doing any harm. I went through the local fire department's extinguisher training program about 20 years ago, and they emphasized having ABC extinguishers serviced on a schedule. They mentioned the Extinguisher Shimmy, which was only necessary if you didn't get your extinguishers serviced on time. I'm willing to bet that started life as somebody's sales spiel. Supposedly a metal valve can be serviced, so I took one in. It cost more than a disposable to service it, and the expensive valve leaked all the pressure. Those valves are like water heater relief valves. Once they open, they never seat again. The dry chemical is really hard to clean out of the valve seat.

 

[sixdogs]

What's the service life of a metal valve fire extinguisher when it should be tossed and replaced? Seems like servicing costs more than buying new for the higher quality household use ones.

 

[dnw64]

I can't see it doing any harm.

Did you read the myth? Not saying it WILL do harm, but they point out the possible negative points, and claim ZERO benefit to whacking a portable fire ext.

But one of the great things about the USoA is that you can mostly do what you want. Of course, if your building burns down and you used a fire ext in a non-compliant method to try and control the fire, the insurance company may deny your claim...

 

[Industrial Toys]

I wouldn't worry about that. The Insurance Company will do their best to deny (or limit) the claim anyway they can.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Did you read the myth? Not saying it WILL do harm, but they point out the possible negative points, and claim ZERO benefit to whacking a portable fire ext.

But one of the great things about the USoA is that you can mostly do what you want. Of course, if your building burns down and you used a fire ext in a non-compliant method to try and control the fire, the insurance company may deny your claim...

Does your state not have an insurance commission?

 

[dnw64]

Does your state not have an insurance commission?

You could probably find that out just as easily as me.

But maybe you could explain how it's relevant.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

You could probably find that out just as easily as me.

But maybe you could explain how it's relevant.

I assumed that you would have the normal citizen cognizance of your state laws and regulations.

It's relevant because insurance fraud will put them out of business overnight.