If you own an office or even at your home, you must have fire extinguishers. You may never know when an accident can occur, and thus you always have a fire extinguisher in handy.
It will help in case of small fire breakouts and prevent them from turning into something huge.
However, let me tell you that it is not just enough to hang a fire extinguisher; you also need to maintain the fire extinguisher from time to time and also get them inspected by fire extinguisher service to make sure that they are in good condition and ready to use in case of an accident. This post will discuss some of the steps that will help you take care of and maintain your fire extinguisher.
Visually inspect your fire extinguisher.
You need to get your fire extinguisher inspected once a month and see any signs of trouble. You should make sure that the fire extinguisher is not damaged in any way. You can start by looking at the safety seals and hoses if they are intact in place.
Also, make sure that the fire extinguisher is in such a place where you can reach it easily in case of an accident.
- Hire a professional annually to maintain a fire extinguisher
It is not just enough to visually inspect the fire extinguisher as, at the end of the day, you are not a professional and may miss out on something. So, it would help if you got the inspection done by a professional as they will be able to inspect the mechanical parts of your fire extinguishers and make sure that everything is intact in place.
- Conduct a six-year inspection of your fire extinguishers
Now, you may think, what is the difference between an annual and a six-year inspection? The biggest difference here is that during the six years inspection, the fire extinguisher will be emptied so that the technician can have a closer look at all the mechanical parts inside the extinguisher.
If your fire extinguisher is fine, it will be cleaned and refilled, re-sized, and resealed, and you are good to go.
- Shake the dry chemical in the extinguisher
Let me tell you that some of the manufacturers recommend shaking the dry chemical extinguishers once a month to prevent the powder from setting and packing. In fact, the fire extinguishers should be pressure tested after several years to ensure that the fire extinguisher cylinder is safe to use.
Make sure that if the extinguisher is damaged or needs recharging, replace it immediately.
- Using fire extinguisher
Apart from the maintenance fact, it is also important that everyone in the home or office knows how to use fire extinguishers. Here is what you can do so that everyone knows how to use a fire extinguisher at the time of an accident. Share the manufacturer’s instructions with all the residents and employees and teach pass.
- Pull the pin with the nozzle pointing away from you.
- Aim low at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever smoothly.
- Sweep from side to side.
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Conclusion:
So, these are some tips on how and why to get the fire extinguisher maintained and inspected from time to time. The timely maintenance will ensure that the fire extinguisher is in good condition so that when there is a fire breakout, you can control it with its help before it turns into a nightmare and ruins everything. So, what are you waiting for? Get your fire extinguisher inspected today!
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