Thursday 3 October 2013

Flares, how to store them?

This subject came up today in a conversation about used flares, the topic was an idea by a fellow HBYC member and can we hold a controled demonstration where members with old flares could practice setting them off?


Flares well out of date and made in 1984, so expired in 1987, they are still in a good (visual) condition having been stored in a red plastic screw top container.

They were always kept with the screw top to the top, the flares may have been either way up though?





The same flares and lying down, which I am now told is a mistake as its possible for the chemicals inside
to move to one side, this can be responsable for flares launching sideways as has happened in local waters.


Please store your flares in dry containers  or a dry cupboard and always with the flare the correct way up and never use a RED flare for testing! It should be noted that normally Port Control is required to give permission for any type of flare testing.


The place where flares are stored should be well marked.


This is under the deck head and a very dry place, flares are the right way up and share the same cupboard with other safety related items. The emergency water proof lights are upside down to ensure that the slide switch will not come on while in storage, they are fitted with Duracell batteries for long life.

Roy

Note, the sea safety expert I spoke to does not think testing used flares to be a great idea, as I was told 'Even the new ones can discharge wrongly"