Alan de Enfield Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 That would always be the insurance Cos 'wriggle room'. You knowingly retained extinguishers on board that were 'out of date' and did not replace them - sorry about your loss, but we are not paying out. Ah, thanks DC. So the cheapest route is, after the first 5 years if that's the expiry period, to service at half the cost of replacement just before each BSS inspection. Otherwise, if you find it unacceptable to have 'out of date' extinguishers, replace every 5 years with new ones showing a 5 year life. Regular annual servicing quickly becomes more expensive than 5 year replacements. Does that sum it up correctly? That would mean that you have out of date, untested extinguishers for 3 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 (edited) All of mine have the little dial on the top. The inspector ensured that the dial was in the green and that the sizes were appropriate. No dates were checked. ditto ............... that's a funny word when you say it out loud, innit? Edited December 19, 2015 by Murflynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 That would mean that you have out of date, untested extinguishers for 3 years Well yes, indeed it would Alan, which may be unacceptable but I was interpreting earlier posts rather than advocating that course of action. It does seems a little odd that, on the one hand, a new extinguisher can be OK unchecked for 5 years, but then needs annual servicing at half its replacement cost, whilst on the other hand, if it's old enough not to have a date on it, it doesn't go out of date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham.m Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Been doing some digging. Apparently the 12 month servicing of extinguishers applies to commercial premises and not domestic premises. So at home they never go out of date. Wondering out loud, why on my domestic boat do the rules suddenly apply? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayke Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 All of mine have the little dial on the top. The inspector ensured that the dial was in the green and that the sizes were appropriate. No dates were checked. Ditto.2 Just t had mine and friends BSC done on the 17th, mine passed, extinguishers nine years old, only manufactures manufacture date on them with dials in the green. Friend had replaced his with new ones but failed to replace like for like so needed an extra one, examiner supplied one for £20. Examiner advised to shake extinguishers at least once a month to loosen up power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHutch Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 I wonder who advised you.I wonder if it could be the same person who advise me to keep my foam extinguishers aboard. Think I am going to have bring mine home and find someone local to service them, otherwise the insurance Co may not be happy if there is a fire. I have no idea, clearly. As for getting them serviced, when we spoke to our two local fire extinguisher outlets they suggested the 'service' would be on an exchange basis, and that it was highly likely that the old ones unless their own would simply be scraped. The price reflected that, and we could under-cut them by about 40% by looking online. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterboat Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 i had my bss last week i had lost an extinguisher dont ask me how so replaced it with a 9 kilo one working on less wiggle room for the insurance company, plus for me it gives me more chance in the event of a fire of saving me and the boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham.m Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 I have no idea, clearly. As for getting them serviced, when we spoke to our two local fire extinguisher outlets they suggested the 'service' would be on an exchange basis, and that it was highly likely that the old ones unless their own would simply be scraped. The price reflected that, and we could under-cut them by about 40% by looking online. Daniel Regrettably I have to agree with you, but it is sad that in this day and age of trying to be green that they have to be dumped. Have you found anywhere that will recycle them rather than them going to landfill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Have you found anywhere that will recycle them rather than them going to landfill? There are continual fires in landfill sites, some may even burn continuously - maybe sending extinguishers there is a good thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham.m Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 There are continual fires in landfill sites, some may even burn continuously - maybe sending extinguishers there is a good thing! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Midland Chandlers were giving £5 off for every old one taken in when buying a new one. Not sure if this was just a trade deal or whether it is still going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidal Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 I'm curious about the cost implications of this. Until recently I ran a small business and the the cost of servicing the fire extinguishers (powder) was about £12 each. That was significantly cheaper than replacement and included all parts and certification. The checks were annual so slightly more costly than those on a boat?Or do out of date extinguishers have to be re-certified annually on boats too? I find the wording of the BSS statements slightly confusing on this area and would like clarification Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHutch Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 I too would like to know more about it, as I would much rather have a pair of 4kg powder ones that where signed off as ok, than a pair that are 'out of date' with two less-able 2kg units by their side to fulfill the BSS, its messy and makes me unsure which I would grab first! That said, here is one online for £16.20 which is very close to the £12 you have quoted. Two delivered being £38.40, and thats just the very first one I found on a google search. http://www.fireprotectionshop.co.uk/fireshield-2kg-abc-dry-powder-fire-extinguisher.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAwNmzBRCaw9uR3dGt950BEiQAnbK96w9CDh3rykGpCYKmzj7NvtS2s1UX02zxAzJYQxWg2CAaAhtJ8P8HAQ Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidal Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 A fair point on the costs Daniel I still think that I need further clarification of the requirements just so I can make the right judgement call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 What's involved in servicing a fire extinguisher anyway? Just checking the needle is in the green and giving it a shake to check the powder is mobile, I bet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 What's involved in servicing a fire extinguisher anyway? Just checking the needle is in the green and giving it a shake to check the powder is mobile, I bet! Mine were discharged and refilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacka Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 What's involved in servicing a fire extinguisher anyway? Just checking the needle is in the green and giving it a shake to check the powder is mobile, I bet! Don't forget the most important bit - putting a label on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Don't forget the most important bit - putting a label on it. And writing on the label... you have to be able to write. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacka Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 And writing on the label... you have to be able to write. Rules me out of that job then :-(( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHutch Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 What's involved in servicing a fire extinguisher anyway? Just checking the needle is in the green and giving it a shake to check the powder is mobile, I bet! Indeed When I watched them re-stickering the ones at work it appeared to be a fairly quick process. You can't unscrew the top and inspect, etc. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 The ones we have are serviced annually, after the initial 5 years 'service after' date was met. The service company unscrew the top, check the condition of the contents / powder, they unscrew the gas cylinder and weigh it. ( if weight is OK it is reused, if not it is replaced). Water extinguishers are checked for the correct strength of 'antifreeze'. Each extinguisher has its label applied. One-in-five extinguishers are 'fired off' to ensure they work and are then replaced on a new for old basis. We are given a certificate of inspection (stating the number / size / type of extinguishers serviced) to pass to the insurance company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidal Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 That is what happened with mine too Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHutch Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 The ones we have are serviced annually, after the initial 5 years 'service after' date was met.And if that's the case everywhere and for the bss, that's the real killer, a new one is only fractionally more than a service and lasts five years not one. Unless you just service them every four years for the bss. I don't know the practical implications are, or the reason for it being annual after the first five years. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham.m Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 Rules me out of that job then :-(( You could always use a printer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcol Posted December 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2015 Okay looked at extinguisher, look like new, all show in the middle of green line But has date stamped, which all 4 are marked as 10-2009 So what is the verdict, they all have been polished and shook. But should all 4 be replaced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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