Fire bottle expiry?!?

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to see if anyone else had heard this...Another racer from up here said he heard somewhere that the new 17.1 firebottles are only good for 2 years then need to be recertified or junked or something??? Any truth to this? Sure hope not!

Thanks!

 

Nathan, according to the SFI spec., there is no experation date at this time.
Hope this helps. DT.

 

If you check the NHRA rule book at the back, page 271, where they list all the SFI specs they give a two year interval for re-certification on the 17.1 fire bottles.

I have a hard time with this too Nathan.

 

Oh GAWD I just looked in the rule book - page 271 - Spec 17.1 - Onboard Fire Extinguishing Systems - 2 years.

So like, what the hell, and when did this come into effect? First it's just about $2000 CDN for me to buy the system and get it up here, now I have to send perfectly good fire bottles away so someone else can tell me that they're still full...

S#&*!!!

Is this perhaps a rule book error?

 

Unfortunately it is not a rule book error. When I spoke with Firefox about this they said they expire every two years. It gets better, To ship them back for re-cert, they have to be emptied of pressure, not set off, just remove the pressure charge in them. Then it's $135.00 per bottle for re-cert plus a $20.00 SFI sticker, $310.00 total.

Just sucks.

 

Yikes! I Talked to Nicole at Firefox this morning, the impression I got was it was $175...but I just assumed it was for both. For that much money I won't be re-certing the bottles, I'll buy replacements which she said were about $626 USD for the pair. By the time I sent the bottles there, got the recert done, and then got them sent back, it'd be the same as new ones anyways. I'll keep the old ones for spares and if we have to use em we have to use em I guess, I can't afford to keep 2 sets of fresh bottles certified every two years. Just another one of those things that is just assumed that we knew about the 2 year deal when they brought in the 17.1 spec...

Fantastic!

 

Nathan, Try Richard Smith at Phoenix fire systems. I have used his stuff for years and he indicated to me that he would send me the stickers for free to recert mine. As long as they are full which is checked by the tech guys. Richard is a great guy and has always treated me well. Also Brian Hough will be carrying his stuff so if you need a bottle at the track Brian can sell one to you.

 

Nathan, Call Jeff McGaffic at J&B Motorsports and see if he still has bottles available. (724) 495-6860