Amerex Model B410 fire extinguisher review and test

Filmed in July of 2021.

Here’s a video review of an Amerex Model B410 fire extinguisher. First I give an explanation of the extinguisher itself then I test it on a live fire to see how it performs in action and will give a recommendation from there. Please note that I am not sponsored by Amerex for this review.

Disclaimer: I bought this extinguisher with my own money to test and review to give you an accurate result on how it performs. If you are in the market for a fire extinguisher and are watching this review, I recommend taking notes to the details and hear my overall rating of each fire extinguisher that I review. Is this fire extinguisher right for the intended application? You be the judge.

The Amerex Model B410 is one of Amerex’s smallest fire extinguishers in their Purple K lineup and is best used in locations where the use of Class B materials are present. This fire extinguisher can also be used for automotive use and is suitable for use in small cars up to full size vehicles including big rigs. This unit also features high quality all metal construction with the only plastic used being the tamper seal. While mounting hardware is not included, the mounting bracket for this extinguisher can be attached in any location desired and it securely holds the unit in place.

This fire extinguisher is filled with 2.5 pounds of Purple K (potassium bicarbonate) dry chemical and is pressurized with nitrogen to 195 psi. This agent is only effective on class B and C fires only. (Class B fires are flammable liquid fires. Class C fires involve live electrical hazards). This extinguisher has a UL Rating of 10B:C meaning that the unit can extinguisher up to 10 square feet of flammable liquids and the agent contained does not conduct electricity back at the operator. Purple K was designed and developed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory in 1959 as an improvement over the regular sodium bicarbonate. While Purple K and sodium bicarbonate both have the same job at attacking Class B fires, Purple K has been tested and proven to be more than twice as effective than sodium bicarbonate and is even 4 to 5 times more effective when compared to Carbon Dioxide.

After doing the live fire test, I was definitely impressed with the performance of the extinguisher. It was so powerful it literally blew away the fire! (I will be making changes to how I do my Class B test fires so that doesn’t happen again). I would say for the pros that the unit has very quick knockdown as soon as the agent comes into contact with the fire. The only negative I’ve found with this unit is that it is pricy when it comes to purchasing the unit and also when you need to recharge it in the event you use it to put out a fire. Recharge costs vary depending on who you use to recharge the extinguisher, but it cost me about $31.30 to recharge mine. Another thing worth mentioning is that while Purple K works very good on Class B fires, it’s not only very messy but it does become toxic and highly corrosive when it comes into contact with the surface of the burning material.

Overall this is a great fire extinguisher and if you pick one up, I recommend putting it near places where Class B materials are commonly used and present. This unit also makes a good automotive extinguisher for those wanting premium protection but without using the even more expensive clean agent type fire extinguishers.

My Rating:
5/5 stars

As always, thanks for watching!

Recording devices:
Canon PowerShot SX540HS
IPhone XR

Disclaimer:
If you would like to use my video for anything please ask for permission first. Thanks!

[blackmaxima]

So apparently Amerex stopped making regular sodium bicarb extinguishers in 2021. Their BC extinguishers now are PK only. The itty bitty 1 pound sodium bicarb units they had before are now replaced with the A376T one pound PK with a 2BC rating. I still have my old chrome 1lb BC but just snagged a 1lb PK. (No chrome though, I couldn’t find a chrome PK). I prefer PK in my cars over the destructive ABC powder.

[djoc]

Great video. I keep a B410T within arm's reach when driving (the narrow cylinder allows it to fit underneath the seat). I also have a B479T and am thinking of getting the brass valve 10-pounder B460 to add to my garage, to supplement the junky Kidde 5.5 lb ABC that's out there now.

[Fredengle]

HI ZACH SORRY if already asked but my question to you is this size should be a good size for kitchen? Ps I just bought an automatic fire extinguisher that contains a potassium bicarbonate but the manf is hesitant to call it purple k any ideas I mean I was a former distributor of purple k actually the amerex type and the advertisement of course is that you really don't need a lot to put out a fire I mean it seems this or similar should be good first home grease fires? I mean it seems that updated research states that sincan it has a higher decomposition temperature I think it has been found to be more effective than baking soda on liquids . I guess you will tell me you would find it hard to belive that any thing contain ing potassium bicarbonate would not work well on a home grease fire on my stove? Thoughts please thank you

[zacharykorbet]

Sometimes I wonder why so many fire extinguisher browns use 195 psi versus just 200 it’s like turning the radio to 19 instead of 20 it just aggravates some people

[Fredengle]

Hi Zach some of your videos were able to help my fire protection page any way my last request to test purple k may have been expensive but I have a video that is an apporoximation of that if your reading this for research purposes if you are in a good mood possibly the following request is cheaper than pk can you get the new kidde extinguisher that has a cone nozzle that is designed as a speical purpose unit and try it on a dish towel based on the video I saw of something similar ( regular baking soda type normal short nozzle )since the 2.5 lbs baking soda take 12 seconds to discharge the a report stated that it was effective on a dish towel at 21 seconds since the unit only takes 12 seconds to discharge it seems it was only effective on a dish towel after the agent lingering in the air for a while if you do manage to be able to test it it would be great if you can send me a video copy as it would help my page for scientifc research purposes if you ever manage to be able to make a video that would enhance my page it would be greatly appreciated if you in the future could make the video I have requested thank you

[dialecticalmonist]

Is this supposed to be a quality company?

I ordered a three pack and two had broken tamper seals, with one having a broken HANDLE.

Yes, the handle was somehow broken, with a screw completely bent.
There is no POSSIBLE way this happened during shipping, because it was double boxed and arrived without any damage.

They SHIPPED a broken unit, and are hoping I don't complain. Lol.