Fire Extinguisher Inspections – One of the best safety items you can have in any home, business, or vehicle is a fire extinguisher. An appropriate extinguisher in the hands of a trained user can dramatically reduce the damage done by a fire. With that said, there are three key things that must be in place for the fire extinguisher to do its job.
The first is that the extinguisher must be of the appropriate type. Not every extinguisher is suitable for certain types of fire so it is important to understand the difference between classifications of extinguishers. The ABC type is designed to handle all but the most specialized fires and will take care of almost anything you’ll encounter. Click here for the Best-Selling Fire Safety Products.
The second is that users must know how to operate the extinguisher. If not, the extinguisher could be fully discharged without actually controlling the fire. The user could also fail to discharge it at all. Appropriate training is essential. Check with your local fire department to see if they can provide training to the employees at your facility. Everyone who is physically able to handle a fire extinguisher should be trained in its proper use.
The final piece of the puzzle is extinguisher maintenance. A fire extinguisher needs attention at least once a month. During that inspection, you can verify that it is as ready as possible for use in case of fire.
The first step is to examine the area where the extinguisher is mounted. Make sure that the unit is properly stored in a cabinet. Check the door to make sure it opens, closes, and latches properly without binding or sticking. Examine the area for obstructions. Remember that the need for a fire extinguisher is urgent. There can be nothing blocking access to it. If there is, move it right away and take steps to communicate to others in the facility that the extinguisher must be kept in the open at all times. Be sure that the extinguisher is visible. There should be adequate signage near the unit to identify its location so that it can be found quickly in case of fire.
Next examine the handle. The bottom handle should move freely in its full range of motion. The top handle should be held in place by a pin, but you should still be able to move it a little bit. If there is any issue with the movement of the handles, the extinguisher should be repaired or replaced. Look at the pin. It should pass fully through the handle and be secured with a plastic tie. If the pin is bent, it will not come out easily when needed.
Now it’s time to check the cylinder of the extinguisher. Fire extinguishers store high pressure. If there is any weakness in the container, it could slowly depressurize or, worse, rupture unexpectedly. Check the cylinder from top to bottom. Look for any type of dents, corrosion, scrapes, or other damage. Pay particular attention to the bottom, which is often overlooked during inspections.
The next step is to check the pressure gauge. This is a small dial located at the top of the extinguisher. It may have a numbered scale on it, or it might simply have a color-coded range. The range will include an area where pressure is too low, possibly labeled “RECHARGE”. It will also have an area indicating that pressure is too high. This section may say “OVERCHARGED” or something similar. In between those two ranges is an area labeled “CHARGED”. Your first step is to make sure that the needle is in that area. It will probably be colored green, and the other two areas will probably be red or some other warning color. Give the gauge a gentle tap to make sure it hasn’t gotten stuck.
Some smaller extinguishers may not have an actual gauge. This is often the case with the kitchen-sized ones that are designed for easy storage. On these units, there is typically a pop-up button to indicate pressure levels. Simply push this button in. If it immediately springs back out, pressure should be fine. If it stays in, the extinguisher needs to be replaced.
Inside the extinguisher is the dry chemical material that puts out the fire. It is a very fine powder that can settle and pack into place over time. During your inspection, turn the extinguisher upside down. You should be able to hear the chemical slide from the bottom to the top. If not, it may have become compacted and need to be loosened up. To do this, simply use the heel of your hand or a rubber mallet to pat the bottom of the extinguisher, much the same way as you might try to get a bottle of ketchup moving. When the powder has dislodged, the extinguisher will sound hollow as you tap it. Repeat the process until you can tell that the powder is moving up and down the cylinder each time you invert it.
Give the nozzle or hose your next attention. Some extinguishers discharge directly from the valve area, while others have a short rubber hose attached to the side. Both of these designs allow you to unscrew the discharge point from the valve for inspection. The hose or nozzle can become clogged by insects or even mischievous humans. Make sure that there are no obstructions inside the discharge area or in the orifice that it screws into.
At this point you’ve gone through the full inspection process. The extinguisher is ready for you to initial and date the inspection tag. Make sure you do this step so that there is verification of the extinguisher’s condition. Any inspection authority that reviews safety in the building will be checking extinguishers to make sure tags are in place and current.
With properly maintained fire extinguishers and trained personnel to use them, any building is much safer. Make sure the extinguishers in your facility are reviewed monthly and kept as ready as possible for use so that they’ll perform when needed.