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

The car is considered to be a means of transportation.For some, it is a demonstration of status or financial status, but that’s not the point. For any car need care and proper equipment. Many drivers do not think about the appointment and benefits of a fire extinguisher in the car. It can appear in the trunk only before a technical inspection or at the insistence 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 thatwill happen to him in the next moment of life. There are cases on the roads unpredictable, for example, you drive past a car that has caught fire and urgently need help from the outside. There is no guarantee that the test of fire will not affect your car. To do this, the fire extinguisher should always be in the car to avoid such force majeure.

But what kind of fire extinguisher for yourself to buy? To do this, you need to figure out what they are and how they act, assess their financial capabilities, and go for this purchase on the automotive market.

What makes powder fire extinguisher different from others?

There are three main types of extinguishing agents.fires in cars. These are carbon dioxide, foam and powder fire extinguishers. Shelf life for each species is different. There are still water fire extinguishers, but at cold temperatures they can not be used, so this type is not suitable for Russian conditions.

To have an idea about air foamfire extinguishers, you can remember a can of styling foam. Their working principles are very similar. When you press the button, foam is released, which extinguishes the flame. Unfortunately, such fire extinguishers do not extinguish vast areas, and sometimes this needs to be done urgently. Therefore, wanting to protect yourself and your car, it is better to give preference to more reliable types of fire extinguishers.

Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, as can be understood fromnames are carbon dioxide cylinders. In the event of a fire by pressing a button, the flow of gas under pressure can be directed to the right place. They knock down the flame and cool the source of ignition. The main advantage of using this type of fire extinguisher is that after using them a person can only see traces of a fire. Consequences and traces of it on other objects does not remain. But it is also necessary to remember that in the case of using this tool, new sources of ignition are possible. Therefore, it must always be complete, and even the smallest fire must be very carefully removed when extinguishing.

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

Mode of action

To power the powderfire extinguisher, you need to pull out a protecting check and press the button. Included in the composition of the substance block access of oxygen, thereby preventing further combustion. In case of fire in the car, it can be used in the cabin and in the engine compartment. According to the rules, you need to use a powder fire extinguisher at a distance of three or four meters.

Disadvantages of such a fire extinguisher

First, the unpleasant consequence ofSuch a fire extinguisher are traces of powder. It is not always possible to remove them from surfaces that were rescued after a fire. Various elements of the car may suffer not only from fire, but also from chemical powder. In this case, these components are not subject to resuscitation, and they must simply be replaced. But this is better than the defeat of large surfaces by fire.

Secondly, after some time, the powder inside the container may change and become unusable.

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

Fourthly, it is impossible to use them when extinguishing alkali metals. How and why to use it, written directly on the fire extinguisher.

What types of powder fire extinguishers are there?

Powder extinguishers are divided into several types:

• Upload. 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 pressure gauge.
• Gas generator. Most often used in passenger cars. Based on gas energy.
• According to various application parameters, such as temperature, pressure, size and service life, powder fire extinguishers are identified by numbers. For example, OP1 (h), OP3 (h), OP5 (h), OP70 (h).

Powder extinguishers. Shelf life

For proper and safe use of thismeans of extinguishing fires need to carefully monitor its condition and the final date of use. The shelf life of a powder fire extinguisher, as a rule, is ten years for the type 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 standard shelf life, on the basis of which one can understand what the maximum period a specific fire extinguisher can serve. A quarterly check confirms the health of the device.

The shelf life of an OP 4 fire extinguisher isA classic example of the service life of a standard instrument. He works for 10 years with recharging every five years. If you constantly recharge it and follow this tool, then you will be confident in the safety of your car.

Recharge powder extinguishers

Powder extinguishers with a shelf lifeallows you to use them for a long time, you can recharge for further work. Typically, such a recharge takes about five years. Depending on the model, the expediency of charging is determined. The shelf life of the powder fire extinguisher OP 2 is short due to the small volume. It is better not to recharge it, but simply to replace it with a new one. Many small-capacity models are also not rechargeable.

The expiration date of the powder fire extinguisher out what to do?

The use of fire extinguishers, which have deteriorated or can no longer be used, is of concern to many drivers. So how to apply powder fire extinguishers, which expired?

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