In a message dated 03/24/2001 9:21:31 AM Pacific Standard Time,
saltracer@awwwsome.com writes:
<< Doug,
You don't say whose system this is, but, I am a few hundred miles from
my system supplier and have been allowed to have them weighed by a fire
extinguisher service organization and tagged. Of course, you need to
know what the correct weight is. Originally, the weight of the empty
bottle and bottle with content will be affixed to the bottle. Jim Deist
says, "testing of the lines that deliver the product is the most
important." If you get a leak in the bottle, it will likely empty itself
anyway. Short of shipping the bottles back to the supplier for
certification, I know of no other way to meet the requirements. As for
testing of the bottle, I know of no standards, I suspect though that
there are some. Any pressure vessel has a service life expectancy.
Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/GCC
>>
Tom,
My bottles are the Phoenix aluminum type which supposedly cannot be
refilled, although my local aircraft Halon guy will gladly do it.
Where I first had the problem was after the bottles passed their 5th
birthday and the "old-time" traditional fire extinguisher shop balked at
continuing to certificate the weight without hydrostatic testing, even though
I had a letter from Phoenix stating that the bottles were not to be emptied
and refilled. I think that Phoenix was just angling for more business.
It was then that I discovered that the rule that bottles had to have 5
year hydrostatic testing or they couldn't be transported on the hiways
referred to commercial carriers only.
Regards steel bottles, I believe that most extinguisher service places
can do the hydrostatic testing job every 5 years. I have no knowledge of
anybody being required to furnish application standards for the end use of
the extinguisher.
The aircraft extinguisher place that does mine in Oakland just weighs the
bottles annually, compares that weight to the sticker figures, affixes a
supplemental sticker, takes my $20, and everybody parts company with a
smile.......Ardun Doug King
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