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The exam for fire engineers in 2016 will be held on November 12th–13th. With less than a month left, it’s unclear how well the candidates are preparing. To assist them in their preparation, we have compiled information on \"Classification and Disposal of Fire Extinguishers – Key Points for Fire Engineers\", in the hope that it will be helpful to everyone. I. Classification of fire extinguishers Fire extinguishers can be classified into five categories based on the extinguishing agent they contain: 1. Dry powder fire extinguishers. There are mainly two types of extinguishing agents used, namely sodium bicarbonate and ammonium phosphate extinguishing agents. 2. Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. 3. Foam fire extinguishers. 4. Water-type fire extinguisher. 5. Halogenated alkane-type fire extinguishers (commonly known as “1211” and “1301” fire extinguishers) can be classified into three categories based on the type of pressure used to operate them: 1. Gas-charge type fire extinguishers. 2. Pressurized gas-type extinguishers: Extinguishing agents are propelled by the pressure of compressed gas or liquefied gas released from a gas storage cylinder in the extinguisher. 3. Chemical reaction-type extinguishers: Extinguishing agents are driven by the pressure of gases generated as a result of chemical reactions within the extinguisher. II. Disposal of extinguishers: There are four situations in which an extinguisher must be disposed of: first, those listed in the elimination list issued by relevant authorities; second, those that have reached their designated end-of-life period; third, those that have suffered severe damage or major defects during use; fourth, those that exhibit serious damage or defects after maintenance. After a fire extinguisher reaches the end of its useful life, the building management unit replaces it in accordance with the principle of equivalent substitution. 1. The following types of fire extinguishers, which are listed in the **issued phase-out list**, pose certain risks to operators during use: some are included in this list because their extinguishing agents are highly corrosive or toxic, while others require to be inverted for operation. All such fire extinguishers must be scrapped once they are identified – (1) acid-base type fire extinguishers. (2) Chemical foam fire extinguishers. (3) Inverted-use fire extinguisher. (4) Chlorobromomethane, carbon tetrachloride fire extinguishers. (5) 1211 fire extinguishers, 1301 fire extinguishers. (6)**Other types of fire extinguishers explicitly designated for elimination by policy. Fire extinguishers that do not meet the market access requirements for fire protection products are scrapped after inspection. 2. Expiration date for fire extinguishers: Portable and wheeled fire extinguishers shall be retired from service once their date of manufacture reaches or exceeds the following limits: (1) 6 years for water-based fire extinguishers. (2) Dry powder fire extinguishers and clean gas fire extinguishers have reached 10 years since their manufacture. (3) The carbon dioxide fire extinguisher has been out of production for 12 years. 3. Fire extinguishers with severe damage or defects shall be scrapped if they exhibit any of the following conditions: (1) The cylinder is severely corroded (with large areas of paint loss, the corrosion area exceeding one-third of the total cylinder surface area, or pits appearing on the surface), or the connection parts and the bottom of the cylinder are severely corroded. (2) The cylinder is significantly deformed, with severe mechanical damage. (3) Those with defects such as cracks in the tip or the absence of a pressure relief mechanism. (4) The cylinder has unreasonable structures such as a flat bottom. (5) Portable fire extinguishers without an intermittent spraying mechanism. (6) Those without the manufacturer’s name and production date (including those with a missing nameplate, or where the manufacturer’s name on the nameplate is unclear, or the stamp indicating the production date cannot be read). (7) The cylinder and nozzle show signs of repair such as soldering, brazing, or patching. (8) Burnt by fire. For fire extinguishers that meet the criteria for disposal, after confirming that there is no pressure inside them, the extinguisher cylinder and gas storage tank are subjected to processes such as drilling, crushing, and sawing to render them unusable, with the details of each disposal process being recorded separately.