Amerex B402, 5 lb. ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher, with Wall Bracket

Like many of you, I first became familiar with Amerex extinguishers through using them at work (mainly the 10 lb. B456 model). Through many unfortunate encounters, I've seen just how well an Amerex works when the need arises. They're built like tanks and disperse the chemical well from at least a meter away from the fire. Simply put, any time I've used an Amerex, it has never let me down. Everything from the nuisance cigarette butt in mulch to the bigger forklift fires have all been extinguished handily.When the time came to replace my home extinguisher, I knew I was going with Amerex. While I've never actually used this B402 (thankfully!), I can attest to the build quality being just as solid as the larger B456. Being the B456's little brother, I expect the B402 to work just as well if the time ever comes where I'll need it as it's constructed with the same internal brass valve. Other manufacturers use a plastic valve that can grow brittle and break with time, which can not only affect how powerful the chemical sprays but can cause the extinguisher to fail altogether (I'm looking at you, Kidde!). I don't have to worry about that with an Amerex.Unlike the 10 lb. B456, the wall bracket included with the 5 lb. B402 is a quick release hanger style that suspends the extinguisher from a steel eyelet on the handle. If you'd prefer a fork style bracket that mounts the extinguisher from the neck like the one that ships with the 10 lb. extinguishers, you can also use one of those. The hanger style bracket is sufficient for most applications and is extremely sturdy.It's not often I give a five-star review to a product I've never used and hope I never have to use, but the B402 feels as much of a quality product as its larger siblings. I recommend skipping the 2.5 lb. version for your home use and buying one of these. It's a few dollars more, but it will be well worth it. You never know how large the fire will be if something ignites. You may as well have the extra peace of mind.

Good product.

These are nice, commercial grade fire extinguishers. I had several older fire extinguishers, by older I mean 25+ years old. They were decent but probably not worth trying to get recharged, I think they came out of my father in laws business building when they moved out back in the late nineties.I need new, fresh fire extinguishers for my house so I bought 3 of these, one upstairs, one downstairs and one for the garage. They are beautiful, I hope I never get a chance to use them.

I have been in a bad fire and had three smaller types extinguishers run out before doing nothing much to stop it. Lost the building. Got out alive but with 3rd degree burns. Get one at least this size and you might have a fighting chance. Also a metal valve assembly is a must. It won't break like cheap plastic ones when you are in panic mode. It has a LARGE pull ring. Good strong handle. It's well made. Most importantly it is an A,B,C extinguisher. Good for wood, grease/flammables and electrical. Some are just BC, not good on wood. Added bonus it is rechargeable. Cheaper ones say rechargeable and they are IF you can find anyone to do it. This is a pro model. I can't stress enough how important a GOOD home extinguisher that is well made, big enough to do most jobs and is pretty easy to lift and control. If you empty this on a fire and it does not stop it, GET OUT FAST. Building fires do not behave like a campfire. Mine imploded within 2 minutes. Blew the windows in and the extra oxygen causes a flash over. While you are here go buy some new fire alarms. Great product!

The tamper seal was broken when I received it but it didn't look like it had been discharged. There was another tamper seal in the box that I used to keep the pin in. Looks and feels like a quality extinguisher.

I can't really review this particular extinguisher yet, since it's fortunately un-used. However, the reason I bought this is because the same one, many many years older, saved us from some major fire damage. The picture is said old extinguisher. I never paid much attention to it. Our house was built in 1999. We bought it in 2004. That extinguisher sat in the garage next to the water heater each year, only a mental note to me as to where it was just in case. I never picked it up, never checked it's tag. 2 weeks ago we had a candle ignite a table cloth in our dining room with nobody in the room. By the time my wife noticed it and yelled, flames were 3 feet high and burning the pine table top. I ran to the garage, grabbed that extinguisher, pulled the plastic tab and with a few bursts of the bicarbonate, emergency averted. Running noses and blaring fire alarms aside, the night ended with only the table top ruined. No firetrucks and no nosy neighbors. 2 rooms completely covered in bicarbonate dust, but all pictures, etc, fine since no water was used. I knew right then I was buying Amerex again. After it was all over, I checked the tag; new in 1996, and last inspected in 1998. wow. We were lucky!