If you are purchasing a new extinguisher read this first.
U.S. Coast Guard approved portable fire extinguishers manufactured by Amerex Corporation and Buckeye Fire Equipment found counterfeited.
In a recent Shipping Alert the US Coast Guard warns that both companies are major producers of genuine approved fire extinguishing equipment and serve a worldwide 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 dry-chemical counterfeit extinguishers are size B-II.
Counterfeit units may have duplicate serial numbers. Genuine approved extinguishers will have a unique serial number for each extinguisher. For counterfeit Amerex extinguishers, the serial No V-654690 has been reported. There may be other serial numbers used on the counterfeits.
For counterfeit Buckeye extinguishers, the serial No K-094927 with a red handle and serial No YM- U76222 with a black handle have been reported.
The labels on counterfeit extinguishers may be simply printed. Labels on genuine approved extinguishers will include a security imprint / texture behind the UL LISTED logo, classification, testing and approval data.
Genuine Amerex Corporation extinguishers will have a pattern of scored “circles,” and genuine Buckeye Fire Equipment extinguishers will have the letter “S” scored into the label.
http://www.marinelink.com/news/extinguishers-counterfeit352771.aspx
