Improvements to a portable fire extinguisher are disclosed. The improvements allow for frequent and simplified inspection and maintenance of a fire extinguisher with minimal training and without need for custom equipment. The improvements include an anti-bridging mechanism that can be articulated from the exterior of the chamber to fluff, mix or stir the powder within the chamber to keep it in a liquefied state. Additional improvements include a larger opening to more quickly fill and inspect the powder within the chamber. Another improvement includes the use of a CO.sub.2 cartridge located external to the chamber to allow easier servicing or replacement of just the CO.sub.2 cartridge as well as the ability to maintain the chamber in an un-pressurized condition, allows for non-HASMAT shipping. These features will extend the service intervals while maintaining the fire extinguisher in a ready condition.

A fire suppressant storage device (20) comprising: a tank (22) having a first port and an interior for storing fire suppressant; and a discharge assembly mounted to the first port. The discharge assembly has a discharge valve (48) and a discharge conduit (50) at least partially within the interior. The discharge conduit has an interior surface (60) and an exterior surface (58). The discharge assembly further comprises a gauge (80) on the discharge conduit.

A fire extinguisher includes a body defining a storage chamber containing an extinguishing agent, a gas generator configured to pressurize the extinguishing agent in order to dispense it outside the body through an exit opening. The exit opening is equipped with a misting nozzle, and the extinguishing agent has a solidification temperature less than −10° C., the saturating vapor concentration of the extinguishing agent taken at −10° C. and at 1 bar being less than the extinguishing concentration of the extinguishing agent determined according to the ISO 14520 standard for a heptane fire at 1 bar.

A pressure gauge for an aerosol container includes a scale attached to the container body and a pointer associated with and movable relative to the scale. The pointer is operatively coupled to a valve assembly of the aerosol container. The pointer moves relative to the scale in response to movement of at least a portion of the valve assembly due to internal pressure in the container body to provide a reading.

A method of manufacturing a self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution is disclosed. Here, the method can include purging air from a container, wherein the purging is performed via flowing an inert gas into the container, such that substantially inert environment is created within the container. In addition, the method can further include dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of foam concentrate into a container, dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of water into the container, and mixing the foam concentrate and water within the container, wherein the mixed foam and water within the inert container provide the self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution and having a pH ranging from about 6.8 to 7.8 moles per liter.

A method of operating safety mechanism includes extending a safety pin to block a poppet from opening a flow path from a pressure vessel in the event of the pressure vessel being unmounted from a bracket or in the event of the bracket being unmounted from a support structure. The method includes retracting the safety pin to allow free movement of the poppet for opening the flow path only in the event of the pressure vessel being mounted to the bracket and the bracket being mounted to a support structure.

A fire suppression system includes a feed port and a channel to couple the feed port to an actuation chamber. A solenoid valve controllably blocks a connection between the feed port and the channel. Pressure from the feed port builds up in the actuation chamber based on the solenoid valve unblocking the connection. A piston is in communication with the actuation chamber. The system also includes an inlet port closed off by a disc. The piston travels through the inlet port and burst the disc based on the pressure in the actuation chamber. An outlet port is coupled to the inlet port.

An apparatus may comprise: a vessel, a fire-suppression composition disposed within the vessel, wherein the fire-suppression composition comprises a fibrous clay mineral and a propellant gas; and a valve disposed on an outlet of the vessel wherein the valve has at least an open position with a flow path between an interior of the vessel and an exterior of the vessel and a closed position wherein the flow path is blocked.

A method of manufacturing a self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution is disclosed. Here, the method can include purging air from a container, wherein the purging is performed via flowing an inert gas into the container, such that substantially inert environment is created within the container. In addition, the method can further include dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of foam concentrate into a container, dispensing or filling a pre-determined amount of water into the container, and mixing the foam concentrate and water within the container, wherein the mixed foam and water within the inert container provide the self-expanding fire-fighting foam solution and having a pH ranging from about 6.8 to 7.8 moles per liter.

A fire suppression agent includes a potassium salt solution and vermiculite particles stored in isolation from the potassium salt solution. The vermiculite particles remain isolated from the potassium salt solution until triggered to mix with the potassium salt solution upon a discharge event.