6 replies to this topic

[phildunford]

At the Illuminate course we had (used!) a silver, water type fire extinguisher that I'm fairly sure Steve said could be repressurised with a pump.

Does anyone know if this is the case and if so where I could get one?

I know such things exist in the USA but I suspect they are not certified for UK. It's really for minor scrub fires & damping down flaming cakes. I know I can use a garden sprayer, but it would just look more professional! Just that I don't want to have to buy a new CO2 bulb every time I use it...

Edited by phildunford, 27 July 2010 - 08:54 AM.

[BrightStar]

Stored pressure water extinguishers are quite common. You can usually identify them with the pressure gauge on the top - the CO2 bulb types don't have one.

I believe there is an additive in the water to reduce electrical conductivity in the commercially serviced variants - not a problem in our case.

[phildunford]

Stored pressure water extinguishers are quite common. You can usually identify them with the pressure gauge on the top - the CO2 bulb types don't have one.

I believe there is an additive in the water to reduce electrical conductivity in the commercially serviced variants - not a problem in our case.

Ah - easy to find when you know the proper name!

None of the sites seem to say how you repressurise them - does it need special equipment or can you improvise with a foot pump or something?

[Arthur Brown]

For damping down a garden sprayer is probably most convenient.

Even the stored pressure water extinguishers come in two types, with and without a schraeder valve (car tyre valve)

An extinguisher with a inflation valve is usually opened, refilled to the line with water, closed then pressurised to about 10 - 15 bar. Unfortunately this pressure is beyond a normal airline compressor, or a garage forecourt airline. The usual method is a regulator from a gas cylinder. Alternatively SOME compressors may be tweekable by a competent person to reach the working pressure needed.

Some extinguishers have a pressure gauge, but no valve. These are refilled with a special adaptor putting both the water and the pressurising gas in through the outlet hose.

In simple theory a person should have some approved training to work on pressure vessels.

[crystal palace fireworks]

This company sells to the trade, but also provides the tools & accessories to maintain most types of fire extinguisher.

http://www.thomas-gl...k/tgserver.php?

[manks]

What type of extinguishers are favoured out on sites?

[cooperman435]

Ive one of them Phil and you can definitely fill them with a foot pump though it works better if I fill it lower than the line to allow a better air space to be compressed. With my car compressor it fills it to full pressure in a few minutes no problem.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3caf493299

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item3caf3a741b

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item35ab0070b3

I think these should be suitable but best email them and ask if they have a car tyre valve filling point first.