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Class K fire extinguisher
Can we refill a class K fire extinguisher without taking it somewhere. I have never seen one in person. Are they like water fire extinguishers or like dry chem? The photos look like water cans with a longer wand. If we can fill it, Is there any place we can buy the Wet Chemical agent?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Dobson on
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Thanks mike, I thought we could fill them like water cans with just a air chuck. Well now I know.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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As Mike already mentioned, only an authorized fire extinguisher dealer is able to recharge such extinguishers. Really the only ones a fire dept can, or should do, are their own water can and cartridge operated dry chem. Any other stored pressure extinguisher, should be taken to a dealer.
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Permalink Reply by ashfire on
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I just found my old 2.50 lb Purple K extinguisher. The gauge shows needing to be recharged. I live in the Washington DC area and the problem is finding a company nearby to take it to. Around here you have to travel to find a place to do it and if they are open on weekends.
I have bought fire extinguishers a 2.50 lb which I keep next to my driver seat and 2 five lb I carry in the storage box in my van so I feel I have something if I need it.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
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John, if you want to remain in compliance with NFPA 10, then you would need to have your Class K fire extinguisher recharged by a licensed fire equipment company. The company that does the fire extinguishers at your F.D. could do it.
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I just found my old 2.50 lb Purple K extinguisher. The gauge shows needing to be recharged. I live in the Washington DC area and the problem is finding a company nearby to take it to
First, chances are the extinguisher is too old and it would be more cost effective to just buy a new one. There are required 6 year maintainence and a 12 year hydrotesting.....of which the costs alone would be more than just buying a new one. Besides if the pressure is down, that means it is a seal issue and new nitrogen just can't be injected....the whole thing needs to be taken apart.
Secondly, purple K is a BC rating, an ABC gives you a little more versatility and a small extinguisher like that can b bought at most hardware or home improvement stores.
As for finding a place around DC to do such a thing, I find that hard to believe. We have a few companies around here and we are very small as compared to DC. Just look in the phone book/internet for fire extinguisher dealers or just check the service tag next time you are in a business, the address and phone number is typically on them.
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What I was saying is that most of the places around here are way on the other side of DC or a trip around the Beltway to get to them. I am in the southern end of the area and there is not many places around here that fill extinguishers so most of them are in the northern end or in another county. I could call a dealer to come pick up a extinguisher but I work five days a week and sometimes its hard to get off from work to get to do anything.
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Something like that, I would just suggest buying new from a hardware store or home improvement store. A 2.5# really isn't going to do much and unless you are looking for a higher quality extinguisher, what you find at a hardware store would suffice.
Otherwise, if looking for a higher quality and don't mind paying a bit more, you can always call such a dealer and they can come to your house and recharge or sell you a new one. I used to work for such a company in the past and there were some people that had us come to their homes. Most trucks do carry new extinguishers with them though, but you can definately save money by going to a hardware store, etc.
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There is a guy on a local city fire dept that has a fire extinguisher business. We use him on all of are ABC fire extinguishers.
I Have never seen a class K fire extinguisher in person. I did not know if we could fill them like are pee cans (water fire extinguishers). So I thought I would ask here from someone who has.
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I Have never seen a class K fire extinguisher in person. I did not know if we could fill them like are pee cans (water fire extinguishers).
Class K are found in restaurants or places with a deep fryer. The "K" agent is the same stuff as in the hood system and the "K" extinguisher is a backup means if the hood system were to fail. It used to be a BC rated dry chem as a backup, but the oils used for fryers today are hotter and take more to extinguish than what the BC rated did.
If you did fire inspections with an inspector (if you don't) you should see a "K" extinguisher at restaurants, etc. Not sure what you would have for inspections in your area though.
The extinguisher does look like a regular water can, but even most fire equipment dealers would have to bring the extinguisher back to the shop for a recharge....most trucks don't have the capabilities to recharge it.
I thought I would also mention, due to the topic, the reason I mentioned that only a dealer should recharge such extinguishers is about the liability. Such companies do have insurance covering them in the event of a fire, that the extinguisher will operate accordinly. If it doesn't they are covered. A local fire dept....if recharging extinguishers, should not be assuming that liability and if the extinguisher fails to function properly in the event of a fire, the fire dept that recharged the extinguisher could be found liable for the fire.
I ran across many people who said they just have the local FD check the extinguishers (typically in rural areas with volunteer depts). Sometimes the local FD did do such a service in the past, but stopped with the liability issues. Another thing to consider is a conflict of interest by doing such a service. A fire dept should remain impartial to vendors, but is the authority to ensure businesses are in compliance with code.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Class K extinguishers are typically a "Wet Chemical" extinguisher. They should be refilled and maintained by a licensed fire extinguisher company.
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