Ordering the wrong bracket is one of the most common mistakes in fire equipment purchasing, and it's rarely the buyer's fault. Amerex model numbers don't tell you which bracket fits, bracket part numbers don't tell you which extinguisher they hold, and the unit you bought probably shipped with one bracket already in the box.
Here's the logic that makes it straightforward, along with Amerex's own compatibility data.
Brackets fit by cylinder diameter, not by model
This is the whole thing. A bracket doesn't care whether it's holding ABC dry chemical, Purple K or Halotron — it cares about the diameter of the cylinder it's clamping. Amerex builds portable extinguishers on a small number of standard cylinder diameters, and every bracket is designed around one of them.
| Cylinder diameter | Typical models | Capacity range |
|---|---|---|
| 2.63" | A344T, A384T, A620T | 1–1.4 lb |
| 3" | B417, B417T, B403, B410T, C352TS, B385TS | 2.5–3 lb |
| 4.25" | B402, B500, B424, B453, B479, B355T, B386T | 5–5.5 lb |
| 5" | B441, B443, B456, B461, B460, B369, 720 | 6–13 lb |
| 5.25" | 322 (CO2) | 5 lb CO2 |
| 6" | 397, 398 (Halotron I) | 11–15.5 lb |
| 7" | A411, 423, A413, 330, 331, 361, 760, C571, Z-Series 13.2/20 lb | 10–30 lb |
| 8" | 332 (CO2), B570, B571, Z-Series 30 lb | 20–30 lb |
Once you know the diameter, the bracket question narrows to two decisions: how the unit is mounted, and what environment it lives in. If the unit is going in a vehicle, our companion guide covers which bracket construction survives which duty — 1-strap, 2-strap, box-type, or rubber strap.
The five bracket families
Wall brackets. The simple hanger that ships with most units. Fine for an office corridor or a warehouse column. Not rated to restrain a cylinder against vibration or impact.
Vehicle, marine and aviation brackets. Strap-retained mounts built to hold a cylinder through movement. Amerex's 817 and 818 are the single-strap versions; the 817S, 818S and 845S add a second strap. On anything that moves — a truck, a boat, a forklift, an aircraft — the second strap is worth the few dollars.
Heavy-duty box-type vehicle brackets. The serious end: a formed steel enclosure that captures the cylinder body. The 809 (5.25"), 810 (7") and 811 (8") cover most of the range, with the 807 for 4.25" cylinders and the 812 for 6". These are what you specify for service vehicles, heavy equipment and industrial installations where a wall hanger will not survive.
Rubber strap brackets. Models 860, 862 and 864, matched to cylinder size. Used where vibration isolation matters.
Dolly carts. The 859 option, available for most 7" and 8" cylinders, turns a 20 lb unit into something one person can reposition without carrying.
Compatibility, by model
This is Amerex's published data. "Included" is what ships in the box; "optional" are the alternatives listed as compatible with that cylinder.
| Model | Cyl. | Included | Optional brackets | Rubber strap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B417 / B417T | 3" | 4834 wall / 817 vehicle | 817S | 860 |
| B402 / B402T | 4.25" | 16591 wall / 818 vehicle | 818S, 821, 821S, 807 | 860 |
| B500 / B500T | 4.25" | 16591 wall / 818 vehicle | 818S, 821, 821S, 807 | 860 |
| B424 | 4.25" | 16591 wall | 821, 821S, 807 | 860 |
| B443 | 5" | 00546 wall | 808, 809, 889HB, 895 | 862 |
| B461 | 5" | 00546 wall | 808, 809, 846, 889, 895 | 862 |
| B456 | 5" | 00546 wall | 808, 809, 846, 889, 889HB, 895 | 862 |
| B441 | 5" | 01007 wall | 808, 809, 889HB, 895, 846 | 862 |
| B460 (Purple K) | 5" | 01007 wall | 808, 809, 846, 889HB, 895 | 862 |
| A411 / 423 | 7" | 00577 wall | 810 | 864 |
| A413 / 415 (Purple K) | 7" | 00577 wall | 810 | 864 |
| 322 (CO2) | 5.25" | 00546 wall | 809 | 862 |
| 330 (CO2) | 7" | 00575 wall | 810 | — |
| 331 (CO2) | 7" | 00575 wall | 810 | 864 |
| 397 / 398 (Halotron I) | 6" | 00575 wall | 812 | — |
| 332 (CO2) | 8" | 22290 wall | 811 | 864 |
| 720 / 721 / 722 (High Flow) | 5" | 01007 wall | 808, 809, 889HB, 895, 846 | 862 |
| 760 / 761 / 762 (High Flow) | 7" | 00577 wall | 810 | 864 |
| B570 / B571 (Class D) | 8" | 00577 wall | 811 | 864 |
Two patterns are worth internalising. A "T" in the model number means the unit ships with a vehicle bracket rather than a wall hanger — a B402T is a B402 that arrives ready to mount in a truck. And an "S" on a bracket part number means two straps rather than one.
Marine and Coast Guard installations
If the installation has to satisfy the US Coast Guard, the bracket is not a free choice. Amerex publishes a specific USCG bracket for each model, and using a different one — even a heavier, more expensive one — can put the installation outside its listing.
Check the model, not the cylinder size. For most 7" units — the A411, 423, A413, 330, 331, 760 and C571 — Amerex lists the standard 810 as the USCG bracket. The 810CG is a distinct part number specified for the Coast Guard approved wet chemical models, the C260CG and C262CG, where Amerex states the unit "must use 810CG bracket." Ordering an 810CG for an A411 is not an upgrade — it is a different part for a different listing.
If a vessel inspection is in your future, work from the model number and keep the documentation.
For corrosive environments generally, every Amerex bracket is built to the current UL salt spray requirement — 240 hours at 20% salt solution under ASTM B117 — and carries a one-year manufacturer's warranty. Where the exposure is severe, the galvanized heavy-duty brackets such as the 809G are the step up.
Two situations that catch people out
Replacing a bracket without the extinguisher in front of you. Measure the cylinder diameter rather than working from the model number on a work order. Amerex has produced a lot of models over the decades and several share names across cylinder sizes.
Buying the extinguisher and the bracket separately. Most units ship with a bracket already included. If you're mounting in a vehicle and you order a wall-bracket model plus a vehicle bracket, you've paid for a hanger you'll throw away. Order the "T" variant instead — it's usually the cheaper route to the same result.
If you'd rather not work it out
Send us the extinguisher models and where they're being mounted, and we'll come back with the right bracket part numbers, pricing and lead time. If you're outfitting a fleet or a facility and need quantity pricing or a standing supply list, that's exactly what our quote desk is for.
You can also browse the full range in brackets
Sources
Cylinder diameters, included and optional bracket assignments, USCG bracket designations and the salt spray specification are taken from Amerex Corporation's published hand-portable fire extinguisher catalog. Where a bracket is required to satisfy a listing or an inspection, confirm the part number against the extinguisher's own label and Amerex's current documentation before ordering.
ShopAmerex.com is owned and operated by Centurion Holdings Group LLC, an independent authorized distributor of Amerex Corporation products. We stock genuine Amerex brackets and factory OEM service parts. We do not perform inspection, service, hydrostatic testing or recharging.