What are the compliance requirements for a fire extinguisher to be sold?

Fire extinguishers designed for sale must comply with the standards set by authoritative organizations to ensure their reliability and effectiveness in fire emergencies. Compliance with FM (Factory Mutual) standards indicates that the extinguisher has been rigorously tested for performance and safety. These standards cover various aspects, including the extinguisher's ability to extinguish different classes of fires and the materials used in its construction.

Meeting these standards helps consumers have confidence that the product they are purchasing has undergone proper scrutiny. It also means that the fire extinguisher is rated for various fire types and has met safety and quality benchmarks necessary for commercial use.

In contrast, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates many products for environmental impact, it does not specifically examine fire extinguishers for compliance — that is typically covered by safety and fire codes. Additionally, while the use of safe vaporizing agents is an important aspect of fire extinguisher design, it is not a primary compliance requirement for sale. The age of the extinguisher is also irrelevant to compliance; in fact, it's important that fire extinguishers be maintained and replaced when necessary, regardless of their age.