Question:
I am serving on the California State Fire Marshals Office, Portable Fire Extinguisher Advisory Committee. I am a Fire Prevention Captain for the Watsonville Fire Department which is located on the Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco. I chair one of the two subcommittees for the SFM and would like to know if anyone has any information/history on the recommendation of NFPA for an 6 year breakdown/service of the portable fire extinguishers. In California, we require an annual breakdown/ service and are examining different time frames. Has any one had any powder "packing" problems with the 6 year breakdown/service? Any other problems with the 6 year breakdown/service? Concerns or opinions on the annual breakdown/service?

Answer: During my time (two years) in the extinguisher maintenance shop the only times I ever recall having problems with "packing" was with extinguishers that had been getting annual breakdowns/service. And this was mostly because the people doing the work hadn't performed the work according to specifications (working in humid or damp conditions, etc.). I cannot recall an instance where a dry chemical extinguisher had become "packed" during the first 6 years of service when not tampered with. IMHO, it's a complete waste of time and money to break the seal on modern dry chemical extinguishers every year.