Fire Extinguisher Refill in Santa Monica

Used it once? It needs a refill

An extinguisher that has been fired isn't ready to use again. That's true even after a one-second squeeze. After a short burst, dry chemical powder can get caught in the valve seal, and the pressure that's left often leaks out over the next few days or weeks. So a gauge that read green right after a small kitchen flare-up may be in the red by the next time anyone looks at it. Count any discharge as empty.

The same goes for a missing pin or a broken tamper seal. You can't tell from the outside how much agent is left. Extinguishers are the most common reason people in Santa Monica call us: 24 of the 45 service calls we've had from the city were about them.

Fire extinguisher recharge: what the technician does

Recharge and refill mean the same job. Here is how a standard recharge goes:

1. Release the pressure, empty the cylinder, and check the shell for dents, rust or damaged threads.
2. Inspect the valve stem, O-ring, hose and nozzle. Replace worn parts.
3. Refill with the right agent for the unit's class and size.
4. Pressurize the unit again, check it for leaks, and make sure the gauge reads in the operating range.
5. Put the pin and tamper seal back and record the service on a new tag.

With the unit open, the technician also checks its service dates. Stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers need an internal teardown every 6 years and a hydrostatic test every 12, while CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units are hydro tested every 5 years. If one of those dates is close, it usually makes sense to do it during the refill. Otherwise the cylinder gets opened twice.

Refill or replace?

Some extinguishers aren't worth refilling. Many cheap units with plastic valve heads are made to be used once and thrown away. A cylinder that fails the visual inspection gets replaced. So does one that's due for a hydro test it can't pass.

Here is what recent Santa Monica quotes have looked like:

• Annual service, or recharge and inspection: $30 to $40 per extinguisher. Parts or new chemical cost extra.
• Six-year teardown: $15 extra per extinguisher.
• 12-year hydrostatic test: $20 extra per extinguisher, if the cylinder passes the visual inspection.
• New certified 5 lb extinguisher: $75 to $85 plus tax.
• Wall mounting: $10 extra.

A new unit comes with its annual tag. On one recent quote, the new unit took the place of the $40 service fee for that extinguisher. When a 5 lb unit is around six years old and due for a teardown, we sometimes recommend replacing it.

Santa Monica Fire Department inspections and State Fire Marshal licensing

Santa Monica has its own city fire department. The Santa Monica Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division does commercial fire inspections. It checks fire protection systems against the Santa Monica Fire Code and issues annual fire permits. If you're not sure what an inspector will want to see at your site, call the division at (310) 458-8915.

Who can do the work? In California, extinguisher service has to be done by a firm and technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal. Our California work is done by Hedrick Fire Protection, which holds C-16 and C-10 contractor licenses and is licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for portable extinguisher service.

Replacing an old unit at home? Santa Monica residents can drop off used extinguishers at the city's Household Hazardous Waste facility at City Yards, 2500 Michigan Ave. Drop-off is on the second Wednesday of each month.

Booking a refill

Have a count ready. When you call, tell us how many extinguishers you have, their sizes, and whether any have been used. Some callers find out about an inspection a few days ahead and learn that our earliest opening is too late, so book as soon as you know the date. In a building with several units, it helps to collect the extinguishers in one spot (the bottom of a stairwell works) before the technician arrives.

Call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com for a quote and a date.

Santa Monica extinguisher refill questions

My gauge dropped into the red, but we barely used it. Why?

A short discharge can leave powder in the valve seal, and then the pressure leaks out slowly. A worn O-ring does the same thing. Either way, the unit needs a recharge and a leak check.

Do I need a new extinguisher or just a refill?

A refill, if the unit is rechargeable and the cylinder passes inspection. Units with plastic valve heads, damaged shells or a failed hydro test get replaced.

Our 6-year or 12-year service comes due before the next annual. Should we do it now?

If the unit is being refilled anyway, yes. Doing it now means the cylinder only gets opened once. If the unit doesn't need a refill, it can wait for its own date.

How many extinguishers does a 1,500 sq ft space need?

It depends on what's in the space and how far someone would have to walk to reach an extinguisher. California Fire Code Section 906 and NFPA 10 set those rules. Describe your layout and how the space is used when you call.

Is Santa Monica still in your service area?

Yes. It's one of our listed service areas.