P50 fire extinguishers are composed of a 5-layer extruded plastic container that holds the fire-fighting media. The fire fighting foams can be aggressive and corrosive to metal. Using an inert plastic container encapsulates the contents, preventing any chemical reactions between the contents and the cylinder.
P50 extinguishers are equipped with multiple safety features:
- Instead of just one gauge, the extinguisher is equipped with two gauges to reduce the possibility of a gauge needle becoming stuck and showing the wrong pressure. It is possible to tell if gauges are displaying different results with a quick glance.
- In the event that the extinguisher was exposed to extreme temperatures, a pressure release point on the inner cylinder has been created. P50s are safer than traditional metal extinguishers, which can explode if exposed to heat. For P50 Fire Extinguishers, visit https://www.lsfiresolutions.co.uk/fire-extinguishers/ecoextinguishers/p50
P50 Extinguisher Design
Metal extinguishers that are traditional either have a lining painted or sprayed on the inside if the media is water-based, or they allow direct contact of the metal with the extinguisher. It is possible that the lining can become detached or porous, causing corrosion. This corrosion is not visible from the outside and is dangerous. Metal extinguishers need to be emptied/discharged and then internally inspected, before being refilled with new media. Most servicing companies no longer refill extinguishers, but instead replace them with brand new extinguishers every 5 years!
Only a service engineer is able to verify that the gauge works correctly on traditional extinguishers, as they only have one gauge. They must drill a hole in the front of the gauge, attach a pressurising device and visually check that the needle moves.
A metal extinguisher with a ding creates stress, which can lead to corrosion. The extinguisher is then condemned instantly. Extinguisher engineers visit metal extinguishers every year to fix these design issues.
There is no need to service the P50 extinguishers annually as they are protected from ageing, do not corrode and have duplicate gauges.
The customer should instead perform a visual inspection every year, and record the results on the extinguisher’s back and in the fire safety logbook.