Dual Considerations of Environmental Protection and Safety: Why Can’t Fire Extinguishers Circulate Freely?

As critical equipment for fire response, the circulation of fire extinguishers often overlooks “potential hazards.” Though seemingly ordinary “safety tools,” once detached from a standardized circulation system, they may not only trigger safety accidents such as explosions and leaks due to their pressure vessel properties but also cause environmental pollution from fire-extinguishing agent components and ecological damage from improper disposal of waste cylinders. This dual superposition of “safety hazards” and “environmental risks” determines that fire extinguishers cannot circulate freely like ordinary commodities. This article will analyze the specific hazards of unregulated fire extinguisher circulation from two core dimensions—safety and environmental protection—reveal the necessity of standardized circulation by integrating domestic and international regulations and practical cases, and propose implementation paths for compliant circulation, providing references for balancing “equipment availability” and “risk controllability.”

I. Safety Dimension: “Time Bombs” Hidden by Unregulated Circulation

The safety risks of fire extinguishers stem from their dual attributes as “mobile pressure vessels + functional fire-extinguishing agents.” Unregulated circulation breaks the safety loop of “design-use-maintenance-disposal,” leading to uncontrolled risks in production, transportation, storage, and use, and turning them into “time bombs” threatening personal and property safety.

(1) Production Phase: Inferior Products Entering the Market, Undermining Safety Foundations

The primary safety hazard of unregulated circulation lies in unqualified enterprises producing inferior fire extinguishers, which flow into the market through irregular channels, planting safety loopholes at the source:

• Substandard Materials Causing Structural Vulnerability: Cylinders of standard fire extinguishers must use high-quality carbon steel or aluminum alloy with a tensile strength ≥ 490 MPa and pass a hydrostatic test at 1.5 times the design pressure. In contrast, inferior products often use waste steel or thin steel plates (with a wall thickness of only 1.0–1.2 mm, far below the standard 1.5–2.0 mm), and their welds are not inspected via X-ray flaw detection, resulting in defects such as incomplete penetration and pores. In 2023, a provincial market supervision bureau inspection found that 35% of fire extinguishers circulating through irregular channels failed hydrostatic tests, deforming when pressurized to 1.2 times the design pressure. Such products are highly prone to explosion when exposed to high temperatures or collisions;
• Cutting Corners in Fire-Extinguishing Agents Leading to Failure: Dry powder fire-extinguishing agents for standard dry powder fire extinguishers must comply with the Dry Powder Fire-Extinguishing Agents (GB 4066) standard, with strict requirements for fire-extinguishing efficiency and moisture resistance. However, inferior products often reduce active ingredients (e.g., ammonium dihydrogen phosphate content dropped from 85% to below 50%) and add fillers like talcum powder, significantly reducing fire-extinguishing performance. In 2022, a store used a dry powder fire extinguisher purchased through an irregular channel to put out an incipient fire. The agent failed to effectively cover the fire source, leading to rapid fire spread and 50,000 yuan in property damage. Post-incident testing revealed the active ingredient content of the extinguisher’s agent was only 42%, failing to meet national standards.

(2) Transportation Phase: Detachment from Hazardous Goods Control, Sharply Increasing Accident Risks

As previously mentioned, fire extinguishers are classified as “Class 2.2 Non-Flammable, Non-Toxic Gases” hazardous goods and require transportation by qualified logistics enterprises using specialized methods. Unregulated circulation drastically amplifies transportation risks:

• Unqualified Transportation Causing Collision and Rupture: Fire extinguishers in unregulated circulation are often transported via ordinary trucks without anti-vibration securing or temperature control measures. In 2024, an individual merchant sent 2 carbon dioxide fire extinguishers via regular courier. The courier company failed to package them in accordance with hazardous goods transportation requirements. During transit, one cylinder’s weld cracked due to package compression, causing high-pressure gas leakage. This led to a sudden temperature drop in the courier compartment, resulting in frostbite to one sorter;
• Concealing Attributes Triggering Chain Accidents: To reduce transportation costs, some shippers intentionally conceal the hazardous nature of fire extinguishers, falsely declaring them as “hardware accessories” or “mechanical parts,” leading logistics enterprises to neglect protective measures. In 2023, a logistics company accepted 10 dry powder fire extinguishers with false declarations. During transit, jolting caused valve loosening, and leaked agent formed a dust cloud. A spark from electrical equipment in the compartment ignited a small explosion, burning surrounding packages and causing direct losses exceeding 100,000 yuan.

(3) Storage and Use Phases: Improper Operation Triggering Risk Outbreaks

Fire extinguishers in unregulated circulation often lack professional guidance, and improper user operations during storage and use directly trigger safety risks:

• Inappropriate Storage Environment Accelerating Aging: Standard fire extinguishers should be stored in environments with temperatures between -10°C and 40°C, relative humidity ≤ 80%, and away from heat sources and corrosive substances. However, fire extinguishers in unregulated circulation are often stored in basements (humid), open-air warehouses (exposed to high-temperature sun), or near stoves (heat sources), causing cylinder corrosion and valve rust. In 2021, a restaurant stored a fire extinguisher in a kitchen corner. Long-term exposure to oil fumes and high temperatures thinned the cylinder’s welds due to corrosion. During a routine inspection, the cylinder suddenly ruptured, and high-pressure gas propelled it, injuring one staff member;
• Lack of Pre-Use Maintenance Leading to Failure: Standard fire extinguishers require pressure checks every six months, agent replacement every two years, and hydrostatic testing every five years. However, fire extinguishers in unregulated circulation are mostly “three-no products” (no manufacturer, no production date, no quality certification) without maintenance records or user manuals, leaving users unaware of maintenance requirements. In 2024, a family used a water-based fire extinguisher that had been stored for five years without maintenance to put out an electrical fire. The expired and deteriorated agent failed to spray effective extinguishing media, allowing the fire to spread to the entire room and causing 150,000 yuan in losses. Post-incident investigation revealed the extinguisher had exceeded its service life and never undergone maintenance.

II. Environmental Protection Dimension: “Ecological Burdens” Caused by Unregulated Circulation

The environmental risks of fire extinguishers are often overlooked. However, improper disposal of their fire-extinguishing agents and waste cylinders causes multi-dimensional pollution to soil, water bodies, and the atmosphere, making them “invisible destroyers” of the ecological environment. Unregulated circulation breaks the environmental loop of “eco-friendly design-standardized use-professional recycling,” leading to uncontrolled pollution risks.

(1) Random Discharge of Fire-Extinguishing Agents: Polluting Soil and Water Bodies

Random discharge of fire-extinguishing agents (e.g., direct dumping after expiration, residual leakage after use) causes targeted environmental pollution based on agent type:

• Soil Compaction and Heavy Metal Pollution from Dry Powder Agents: Dry powder agents (e.g., ABC dry powder) mainly consist of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium sulfate. Random dumping in soil lowers soil pH (increasing acidity), disrupts soil microbial communities, causes soil compaction, and impairs plant growth. Additionally, some inferior dry powder agents contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium (added as anti-caking agents), which seep into groundwater and contaminate drinking water sources. In 2023, a factory directly dumped 20 expired dry powder fire extinguishers in an open area on its premises. This reduced the pH of 500 m² of surrounding soil from 6.8 to 4.2, with lead content exceeding standards by 3 times. The environmental protection department fined the factory 200,000 yuan and ordered soil remediation;
• Ozone Layer Destruction from Halon Agents: Though gradually phased out, some old halon (e.g., 1211, 1301) fire extinguishers still circulate freely. These agents contain chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) components, which damage the ozone layer. One kilogram of 1211 agent has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) equivalent to 10 kg of CFC-11 and remains in the atmosphere for up to 60 years. In 2022, a warehouse randomly released 10 kg of 1301 agent while disposing of expired fire extinguishers. Detected by environmental monitoring, the warehouse was fined 50,000 yuan in accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Ozone-Depleting Substances;
• Water Eutrophication from Water-Based Agents: Water-based fire-extinguishing agents contain surfactants and preservatives. Random discharge into rivers and lakes causes water eutrophication, triggering excessive algal growth that depletes dissolved oxygen, leading to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms. In 2024, an individual merchant poured expired water-based agent directly into a sewer, which eventually flowed into a nearby river, causing a 100 m² algal bloom. The environmental protection department required the merchant to bear 80,000 yuan in water treatment costs.

(2) Random Disposal of Waste Cylinders: Resource Waste and Environmental Risks

After fire extinguishers are scrapped, random dumping or dismantling of their metal cylinders and residual agents creates dual environmental burdens:

• Resource Waste and Pollution from Metal Cylinders: Cylinders of standard fire extinguishers are mostly made of high-quality carbon steel or aluminum alloy, with a recyclability rate of over 90%. Random dumping in landfills not only wastes metal resources but also causes rusted cylinders to release heavy metal ions (e.g., iron, chromium), polluting soil and groundwater. Statistics show China scraps approximately 5 million fire extinguishers annually. If all are disposed of randomly, this wastes about 15,000 tons of metal resources and pollutes around 100,000 m² of soil;
• Secondary Pollution from Residual Agents: Waste fire extinguisher cylinders typically retain 5%–10% of residual agent. Direct cutting and dismantling without professional treatment cause agent leakage. For example, cutting scrap carbon dioxide cylinders with residual gas may trigger explosions, while massive carbon dioxide release lowers local oxygen levels, endangering surrounding organisms. Residual dry powder or water-based agents spread during cutting, causing air or soil pollution. In 2023, a scrap recycling station cut 10 scrap fire extinguishers without treatment. Two cylinders with residual carbon dioxide exploded, injuring one worker. Meanwhile, residual dry powder spread to nearby farmland, causing yellowing of crop leaves over 200 m².

(3) Unregulated Cross-Border Circulation: Pollution Transfer Due to Differing Environmental Standards

To evade domestic environmental supervision, some enterprises circulate fire extinguishers that fail to meet environmental standards to countries or regions with lower environmental requirements via irregular channels, causing “pollution transfer”:

• Cross-Border Circulation of Agents Containing Prohibited Ingredients: The EU, the U.S., and other regions have fully banned the circulation of agents containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). However, some domestic enterprises still produce such products and sell them to Southeast Asia, Africa, and other regions through gray channels. In 2022, an enterprise falsely declared 1,000 foam fire extinguishers containing PFOS as “ordinary mechanical parts” and exported them to an African country. Upon arrival, local environmental authorities detected the prohibited ingredient, detaining the cargo. The enterprise faced fines, bore return costs, and posed potential pollution risks to the local environment;
• Cross-Border Dumping of Scrap Fire Extinguishers: A small number of illegal enterprises dismantle scrap fire extinguishers in China, disguise the cylinders and residual agents as “used equipment” or “industrial waste,” and export them, transferring pollution liability. In 2024, a gang dismantled 5,000 scrap fire extinguishers, sold the cylinders to a Southeast Asian country, and dumped residual agents directly in an abandoned local factory. This contaminated surrounding soil and groundwater, triggering local resident protests. Ultimately, Chinese environmental authorities collaborated with local counterparts to investigate and punish the gang.

III. Core Logic of Standardized Circulation: Building Dual “Safety-Environmental Protection” Loops

The inability of fire extinguishers to circulate freely essentially requires the establishment of “safety loops” and “environmental protection loops” through standardized systems. These loops control risks at every stage of the life cycle, balancing “safe use” and “environmental friendliness.”

(1) Safety Loop: Full-Process Control from Production to Disposal

• Production Phase: Qualification Verification and Quality Supervision: Under the Special Equipment Safety Law and Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Fire Products, fire extinguisher manufacturers must obtain a Special Equipment Manufacturing License. Products must pass national mandatory certification (CCC certification), and each batch undergoes sampling for hydrostatic testing and fire-extinguishing performance testing. Non-compliant products are prohibited from leaving the factory. Market supervision departments conduct regular inspections and revoke the qualifications of enterprises producing inferior products in accordance with the law, preventing substandard products from entering the market;
• Circulation Phase: Hazardous Goods Transportation and Traceability Management: Fire extinguisher circulation requires qualified hazardous goods logistics enterprises using specialized vehicles and packaging. A “one-item-one-code” traceability system is established to record information on manufacturers, logistics enterprises, and sales channels. Consumers can scan codes to verify product authenticity and maintenance records, avoiding irregular circulation;
• Use and Disposal Phases: Professional Guidance and Recycling Management: Fire departments regularly conduct promotional training to guide users in proper storage and maintenance of fire extinguishers, specifying service life limits (e.g., 10 years for dry powder fire extinguishers). A “professional fire extinguisher recycling system” is established, where qualified enterprises handle scrap recycling—first draining residual agents, then testing cylinder materials. Qualified cylinders are recycled and reused, while unqualified ones undergo harmless disposal (e.g., cutting for industrial scrap recycling).

(2) Environmental Protection Loop: Full-Lifecycle Pollution Reduction from Design to Disposal

• Design Phase: R&D and Promotion of Eco-Friendly Agents: Enterprises are encouraged to develop eco-friendly fire-extinguishing agents, such as heptafluoropropane (with an ODP of 0, causing no ozone layer damage) as a replacement for halon, and biodegradable water-based agents (using plant-derived surfactants easily decomposed by microorganisms). Gradually, agents containing heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants are phased out;
• Use Phase: Regulated Discharge and Residue Control: Users are required to hand over residual agents to professional institutions for disposal after use, prohibiting random dumping. Fire drills using fire extinguishers must be conducted in open areas away from water sources and soil-sensitive zones. Residual agents are promptly cleaned after drills to avoid pollution;
• Disposal Phase: Classified Treatment and Resource Recycling: A “classified agent-cylinder disposal system” is established. Residual agents are treated based on type (e.g., dry powder agents recycled as industrial additives, carbon dioxide purified for food processing). Cylinders are classified and recycled after testing, achieving resource recycling and reducing environmental pollution.

IV. Typical Cases: Hazards of Unregulated Circulation and Effectiveness of Standardized Circulation

Comparing positive and negative cases provides a clearer view of the hazards of unregulated circulation and the necessity of standardized circulation:

(1) Negative Case: Accident Caused by Unregulated Fire Extinguisher Circulation in a Community (2023)

Case Background: In 2023, an individual merchant in a community purchased 5 “three-no” dry powder fire extinguishers through an irregular channel, storing them in a humid basement without maintenance. That summer, a small fire broke out in the community. When the merchant used one extinguisher, the agent failed to spray due to moisture-induced caking. Meanwhile, the cylinder, thinned by corrosion, ruptured under pressure. High-pressure gas propelled the cylinder, injuring two onlookers.

Cause: The fire extinguisher circulated through irregular channels, lacking quality control during production. Inappropriate storage accelerated aging, and pre-use maintenance was neglected—multiple factors combined to cause the accident.

Harm Consequences: The fire was not extinguished, and injuries occurred. Additionally, the ruptured cylinder and leaked agent caused minor soil pollution in the basement, with subsequent cleaning and soil remediation costing 30,000 yuan.

(2) Positive Case: Reduced Risks and Pollution via a City’s Standardized Circulation System

Case Background: In 2022, a city established a “fire extinguisher full-lifecycle management platform,” integrating production, circulation, use, and disposal. Manufacturers upload product information to the platform; circulation enterprises must hold hazardous goods transportation qualifications and record transit routes; users access maintenance reminders via the platform; and scrap recycling requires booking through the platform with professional services.

Implementation Effects: One year after implementation, the proportion of fire extinguishers circulating through irregular channels in the city dropped from 25% to 5%, fire extinguisher-related safety accidents decreased by 60%, the recycling rate of scrap fire extinguishers rose from 30% to 85%, and environmental pollution incidents caused by random agent dumping decreased by 70%—achieving dual improvements in safety and environmental protection.

V. Conclusion

The inability of fire extinguishers to circulate freely is an inevitable result of dual safety and environmental considerations. Unregulated circulation floods the market with inferior products, triggers frequent transportation accidents, and leads to in-use failures, threatening personal and property safety. It also causes environmental problems such as agent pollution and random cylinder disposal, damaging the ecological environment. Standardized circulation is not “restricted circulation” but establishes dual “production-circulation-use-disposal” loops for