Extinguishers: All Extinguisher Tamper Seals Must be UL Listed Components

It is important to remember that replacement tamper seals must comply with the same specifications, manufacturing quality, and reliability criteria as the original tamper seals. This ensures they can stand up to expected performance in the field and break easily when the ring-pin is removed. Here are some of the basics to make sure your customers’ replacement tamper seals comply with code requirements.

Purpose

A tamper seal holds the ring-pin in place, and it provides an indication of when the ring-pin has been removed from the extinguisher. It is needed to make sure the extinguisher does not discharge inadvertently, prior to use on a fire. Tamper seals also provide a visual record of periodic replacement and code compliance. A missing or broken tamper seal indicates the need to take corrective action and perform further servicing, prior to installing a new tamper seal.

UL Listed Tamper Seals

The original tamper seal installed on extinguishers, and the replacements, are designed and manufactured to strict standards, so when the pull pin is removed, the tamper seal breaks easily. All tamper seals must be UL listed and break with a maximum force of 15 lb, when the pull pin is removed. Brooks’ Original FireTech, FireTech FT “Flame”, Genuine Brooks Flag and EJB Tamper Seals display the appropriate UL Marking, making them easily identified as UL Recognized Component listed tamper seals for fire extinguishers.

Periodic Replacement

There are several important reasons that tamper seals are installed on extinguishers, including providing indication of code compliance. NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, requires them on newly installed extinguishers, but also requires periodic replacement during annual maintenance. The extinguisher ring-pin must be easy to remove during a fire emergency. Therefore, they are required to be removed annually to make sure they are not bent or corroded, which could cause them to become stuck and prevent extinguisher operation during a fire emergency.

• Annual Maintenance — Remove pull pin, which breaks tamper seal. (NFPA 10, 7.3.2.2)
• Broken Tamper Seal — Required to be replaced by a New Listed Tamper Seal. (NFPA 10, 7.3.2.2.1)

Replacement tamper seals are installed during annual maintenance, at the time of 6-year teardown, after recharging, and when an extinguisher is hydrostatically tested. A new listed tamper seal is installed prior to the extinguisher being returned to service.

Color-Coded and Date-Embossed Tamper Seals

If not already required by your state, it is best to use different colors and seals with the year printed on them. That way it is easy for you and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to identify code-compliant extinguishers and those that are in violation of the NFPA 10 requirements.

Tamper seals keep the ring-pin in place until the extinguisher is needed for a fire emergency. Using UL listed replacement tamper seals helps the AHJ ensure the extinguishers are code compliant and the extinguisher ring-pin can be easily removed. Your customers will appreciate code-compliant extinguishers that are ready to operate in the event of a fire emergency.