Disposal of dry powder fire extinguishers

Wightdiver · 28 April 2020, 12:22

Hi Guys

I have 2 dry powder extinguishers and the handles have rusted beyond safe, the safety pins have seized solid and broke when I tried to remove one.

Two new ones on order but how should I safely dispose of the old ones?

Andy

Tim M · 28 April 2020, 13:08

Discharge them off in your garden and then put them in the bin.

Wightdiver · 28 April 2020, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Discharge them off in your garden and then put them in the bin.

Have you ever seen one go off the mess and dust cloud is unbelievable?

Tim M · 28 April 2020, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wightdiver

Have you ever seen one go off the mess and dust cloud is unbelievable?

Yes I have. Let it off in an old pillow case that you've dampened down if you're worried about getting white dust on your windows

Wightdiver · 28 April 2020, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Yes I have. Let it off in an old pillow case that you've dampened down if you're worried about getting white dust on your windows

Thanks, I was more worried about getting dust on South Hampshire!!!!

spartacus · 28 April 2020, 18:00

A little later in Hampshire!

draketc · 28 April 2020, 20:19

Many years ago we had some out of date extinguishers at my workplace. It was decided to let the Scouts have a practice with them. Unfortunately the base of one of them was so badly rusted inside (no evidence of rust on the outside) that when it was discharged the bottom of the extinguished blew off, badly injuring the Scout. So any sign of rust please do not use.

diver 1 · 28 April 2020, 20:21

I once tried to test one by giving it a really quick blast in the garden before a project to cut an old leaky fuel tank out. It was rusted up but worked fine, trouble was when I let go of the trigger it wouldn't stop, I had dry powder everywhere within seconds. Its toxic. It killed all the plants and grass very effectively...

GuyC · 28 April 2020, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by diver 1

Its toxic. It killed all the plants and grass very effectively...

Don't say that, you'll have the Trump suggesting eating it.

jeffstevens763@g · 28 April 2020, 21:44

https://www.safelincs.co.uk/how-to-d...extinguishers/

lakelandterrier · 28 April 2020, 22:49

Don't discharge it, it will make a b*gger of a mess. Just store and take to local tip /recycling centre when they open up again.

I've still got 2 sets of expired flares sitting in the garage as I haven't been able to find a way of safely disposing of them.

Given the amount of stuff dumped in the sea over several hundred years - including oil / ordinance / pollutants from 2 World Wars and all the ammo dumped by the Navy over the years, will a few flares really make a difference in deep offshore water? It is sort of tempting

Wightdiver · 29 April 2020, 08:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Don't discharge it, it will make a b*gger of a mess. Just store and take to local tip /recycling centre when they open up again.

I've still got 2 sets of expired flares sitting in the garage as I haven't been able to find a way of safely disposing of them.

Given the amount of stuff dumped in the sea over several hundred years - including oil / ordinance / pollutants from 2 World Wars and all the ammo dumped by the Navy over the years, will a few flares really make a difference in deep offshore water? It is sort of tempting

I have to say that thought did cross my mind!!

Wightdiver · 29 April 2020, 08:42

Hi Guys, many thanks for your replies, recycling center it is once they open.

I saw one used on a small fire on a boat in a marina some years ago, whilst they only used a few blasts to get the fire out the resulting mess was unbelievable. My car was over 150 meters away but still had coating of white dust.

Stay safe all.

Andy

spartacus · 29 April 2020, 09:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

I've still got 2 sets of expired flares sitting in the garage as I haven't been able to find a way of safely disposing of them.

Me too, 2 full sets. Took them back to the Fisherman's Coop in Stornoway where I bought them - wouldn't touch them. They said it costs them to have them uplifted?

Stuggling to work out who is responsible? RNLI won't touch them, and the coastguard on certain ad-hoc days. I've more chance of seeing a once in a lifetime lunar eclipse than getting rid of them.

jeffstevens763@g · 29 April 2020, 09:31

flare wise i dont use now but i let mine off bonfire night when i did, smoke i went up the field out the way so no residue on cars etc

paintman · 29 April 2020, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

https://www.safelincs.co.uk/how-to-d...extinguishers/

Link not working.
Think this is the relevant bit from it:
Whilst powder extinguishers are no longer recommended for domestic indoor use, there are still a large number of them found in houses across the UK. If you want to avoid the trip to the recycling centre, you can empty a powder extinguisher by tipping it on its head and discharging what is left in the dip tube into a fabric bag (for example the leg of a jeans with the end closed off; this will catch most of the powder while letting the pressurised air escape), but be aware that this can be messy! The powder can then be disposed of safely into your household waste.

GuyC · 29 April 2020, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wightdiver

I saw one used on a small fire on a boat in a marina some years ago, whilst they only used a few blasts to get the fire out the resulting mess was unbelievable.

Whilst I guess mess may be the last of your worries, the relatively new watermist extinguishers seem very good.

https://www.safelincs.co.uk/videos/4...extinguishers/

I did discuss getting them Wheelmarked but I don't think the company thought the volume of sales justified the testing.