| Do fire extinguishers last forever? |
Kind of!?
When serviced properly as required by law, a fire extinguisher essentially can last forever.
However, there are circumstances that may require you to replace an old fire extinguisher. Most commonly, this is damage and/or age.
If the cylinder of a fire extinguisher is damaged to the point that the structural integrity may be compromised making it unsafe for use, then it must be condemned and replaced. This could be caused by being dropped or crushed, etc. In outdoor locations, rust can cause the cylinder to be damaged and weak.
Fire extinguishers manufactured prior to 1984 do not meet the requirements of todays law's and should also be replaced. As a rule of thumb, if a fire extinguisher is more than 20 years old and needs additional service such as recharging, Six-Year Maintenance, Hydrostatic Test or even repairs, it should also be replaced. This rule is mainly because parts often times are no longer available from the manufacturer.
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