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Counterfeit portable fire extinguishers - DEV imca
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Counterfeit portable fire extinguishers

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has published the following report regarding counterfeit portable fire extinguishers. The USCG has become aware of counterfeits of USCG approved portable fire extinguishers ostensibly manufactured by approved suppliers serving a world-wide market. These counterfeit extinguishers present a significant safety hazard. Their capability to extinguish a fire is unproven; they may be charged with a powdery substance that is not a fire extinguishing agent, the pressure cylinder is not DOT approved, and the pressure gauge may not function or give false readings.

The USCG strongly recommends that vessel owners and operators inspect their equipment. Those suspecting that they have counterfeit extinguishers should contact the Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards immediately. Please provide a description of the suspect units, including if possible photographs showing full front, rear, and bottom views of the extinguishers, along with close-ups of all labels, and submit this information to typeapproval@uscg.mil with a copy to anticounterfeiting@us.ul.com.

Further information, including useful graphics and photographs to assist with identifying the counterfeit equipment, can be downloaded from uscg.mil/tvncoe/Documents/safetyalerts/CounterfeitExtinguishers.pdf.


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IMCA makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in the documents it publishes, but IMCA shall not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained. The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual’s or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.