Extinguishers dumbed down!

Arminius

Arminius

Well-Known Member
Oct 30, 2019
1,061
Seattle
Boat Info
Bowrider 200 Select, 2003
Engines
5.0L MPI, 260 hp w/Alpha 1 Drive
Fire extinguisher grenade pins no longer retain themselves but are a sloppy fit with breakaway zip ties retaining them. It appears the nanny state is enforcing the one use-then discard or recharge rule! Don't cut that beaded zip-tie as the extinguisher is useless without it.
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Are you being serious or joking? You're leaving the anti-tamper zip tie in place? In an emergency do you plan to throw the fire extinguisher into the fire vs actually use it? Yikes...this post makes me uncomfortable.
 
Airiminus, You got me scratching my head. If you cut the yellow beaded zip tie, the extinguisher can't be discharged until you pull the pin, right? So what is the yellow zip tie there for?
 
Most fire extinguishers have the pin "seals" unless it's built into the pin keeper like some throw away/non rechargeable fire extinguishers.
 
Fire extinguisher pins have always held themselves in the extinguisher body by being slightly oversized or having a built in locking feature like serrations. This is gone and the pin is only held in by a special weak zip-tie (beaded) that can be broken by the force of pulling the pin. You can find replacement break-away zip-ties on the web if you remove the manufacturer's in the erroneous belief that it is mere packaging. I found this to be true in 2 sizes of Kiddie extinguishers that I just purchased. As to the image above, the black thread is too long to retain the pin in the handle but prevents its loss. The yellow beaded wire-tie is the unfortunate innovation.
 
Hmm...weird. I cut all of mine off when I received my new extinguishers from Kidde last year. I would have never imagined they were supposed to stay on. I also can't imagine my kids could have easily broken them off if they needed to in an emergency? The definitely seemed to need cutting...but I guess I didn't try too terrible hard.

An interesting note - the manuals for the Kidde Marine 110 extinguishers I found doesn't mention the zip ties being in place when you go to use the extinguisher.
 
I understand what @Arminius is discussing....Though, while I understand his concerns, I'm not certain he's correct.

I too, over the years, have seen a change. Extinguishers, as I recall, used to have more metal and better pull pins that had some tension on them so they didn't just fall out.

Now, it seems, the pins will simply fall out if you tilt them down...Not the best for making sure the handle doesn't get pressed inadvertently. Further, the handles are likely plastic and could be prone to breaking.

Personally, I don't think it's a requirement to leave the zip-tie on. I can see why someone might, but it might also be a detriment in a fire scenario.

@Arminius - If I was you, with the extinguisher image you posted, I would simply cut off the zip-tie and remove the metal pin. Then I would bend the metal pin ever so slightly so that it creates just enough tension that it doesn't fall out, but will be easy to pull, and then put it back in place. On a metal pin and handle you can do this easily.
 
The real danger is that purchasers will fail to read the instructions and get rid of all the wrapping paper, boxes, and break-away wire-ties. They will then find that the pins fall out and the extinguisher can be accidentally discharged. Next, they will tie the pin back in with a standard small wire-tie. In a fire, it will be impossible to pull the pin and their structure or boat will burn down. If you have a Twitter account, please tell President Trump in 167 characters or less as this is a more serious matter than triple flush toilets or mandatory Navy showers, not to mention purchasable grocery bags that always tear out and ............
 
Arminius said:
The real danger is that purchasers will fail to read the instructions and get rid of all the wrapping paper, boxes, and break-away wire-ties. They will then find that the pins fall out and the extinguisher can be accidentally discharged. Next, they will tie the pin back in with a standard small wire-tie. In a fire, it will be impossible to pull the pin and their structure or boat will burn down. If you have a Twitter account, please tell President Trump in 167 characters or less as this is a more serious matter than triple flush toilets or mandatory Navy showers, not to mention purchasable grocery bags that always tear out and ............
Click to expand...

Probably quite plausible. I've got 3 of the Kidde extinguishers with the metal "loose" pin onboard my boat. None of the zip ties remain. After one full summer of boating I've not yet had a pin fall out.

I still find the marketing a bit confusing. Some online photos show the zip ties in place, others do not.

I sleep better with mine removed. I guess I'd rather have an accidental discharge than have someone struggle to remove the pin in a real emergency...

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/kidde--mariner-110-fire-extinguisher--18770990?&mrkgcl=481&mrkgadid=3280891059&cm_mmc=PS-_-Google-_-GSC>NonB>Product%20Type-_-18770990&product_id=18770990&creative=108421552804&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&lid=92700049310972570&ds_s_kwgid=58700005416296614&ds_e_product_group_id=427483152897&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_e_ad_type=pla&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007545409&gclid=Cj0KCQiAm4TyBRDgARIsAOU75soViGthiigWFDYuVFWIjhTecyjs1Bdp1ruRyekx_Z4iw4cYk2zEJrcaAmwNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
I carried a standard extinguisher in my truck for years. An opportunity for use arose when I came upon a Volksbus with a flaming engine compartment. Heroically, I jumped out and doused the flames but the long haired owners did not seem particularly grateful. It just seemed best to leave. Their engine compartment was now covered with messy thick white powder.
 
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