An industry executive explains that in Russia about half of the market for automatic fire extinguishers is controlled by Yarpozhinvest, and his assessment is that a five-year-old car extinguisher is unlikely to perform reliably during a fire. He notes that safety rules require extinguishers to be serviced and refilled every five years. In practice, the device may still operate, but the propellant powder often becomes stale, hardens, and can hinder discharge when needed.

The expert adds that while an extinguisher might technically work after five years, the actual service life depends on the quality of the powder inside and the humidity conditions to which the unit has been exposed. The reliability is therefore a function of manufacturing quality and storage history as much as of the elapsed time itself.

Official penalties apply for missing or nonfunctional extinguishers and for missing first aid kits, in line with the relevant provisions of the Russian Administrative Code. In certain cases, traffic police can issue a citation, with fines typically administered as a fixed amount for operating a vehicle under unsafe conditions.

From his perspective, the propellant ingredients, often phosphate-based and ammonium sulfate, are similar to agricultural fertilizers. This means an extinguisher that is compromised may be discarded or repurposed, and in some instances the cylinder is recycled or disposed of under local guidelines.

The market notes a significant share of counterfeit extinguishers, sometimes exceeding a third of units seen. These fake devices may be filled with inert materials such as sand, talc, or marble that cannot withstand fire exposure, undermining safety and reliability.

Legally, drivers are expected to carry a working fire extinguisher, but possessing one alone does not guarantee safety in a vehicle fire. Proper preparation and regular replacement or servicing are emphasized as essential components of on-road safety.

In practical terms, if a vehicle catches fire, relying on a single extinguisher, especially one stored in the engine compartment area, is rarely sufficient. The expert recommends carrying a larger extinguisher, around four kilograms, to improve the chances of controlling early-stage fires or buying time until help arrives.

There is ongoing discussion about how vehicle security features, such as chip keys, interact with theft risk, including scenarios involving devices left inside a vehicle. The overall emphasis remains on robust prevention and prompt response strategies to protect both people and property.