Fire extinguishers
are your first line of defense in fighting
small fires and an essential part of a
Balance Fire Protection plan. When used
properly, fire extinguishers can save lives
and property by putting out a small fire or
controlling a fire until additional help
arrives.
Consider: 94 percent of
the time a portable fire extinguisher is
used, it puts out the fire —typically within
the initial two minutes.
Fire
Extinguisher Services
Inspection
Inspection refers to a "quick check” of a
fire extinguisher to make sure that it is
available and will operate if needed. It is
intended to give reasonable assurance that
the fire extinguisher is fully charged and
operable. The fire extinguisher must be
checked to make sure it is in its designated
place, and that there is no obvious physical
damage or condition to prevent operation.
Fire extinguishers must be inspected when
initially placed in service and thereafter
at 30-day intervals.
Maintenance
Maintenance is a thorough examination of
the fire extinguisher. It is intended to
give maximum assurance that a fire
extinguisher will operate effectively and
safely. It includes a thorough examination
and any necessary repair or replacement. It
will normally reveal if a recharge, six-year
maintenance or a hydrostatic test is needed.
Maintenance on fire extinguishers must be
performed annually.
Recharge
A fire extinguisher must be recharged after
any use. When a fire extinguisher is
recharged, it is emptied of all its contents
and essential component parts are
dismantled, inspected and cleaned. At this
time, any defective or worn parts are
identified and replaced. The cylinder is
then filled with the extinguishing agent,
reassembled and pressurized.
Six-Year
Maintenance
A six-year maintenance
constitutes a complete maintenance of the
fire extinguisher shell, component parts,
and agent. The fire extinguisher must be
emptied and subjected to the applicable
maintenance procedures. Once the fire
extinguisher has passed an internal examine,
it is recharged and returned to service.
Hydrostatic Testing
Stored-pressure fire extinguishers must be
hydrostatically tested at certain time
intervals by following procedures specified
by NFPA and DOT (Department of
Transportation). A hydrostatic test is a
"pressure test". It is performed on an
extinguisher cylinder to check for
structural weaknesses or flaws. An external
and internal inspection of the cylinder is
also performed to check for excess pitting,
corrosion, or other physical deformities.
Once the fire extinguisher has passed the
hydrostatic testing procedure, it is
recharged and returned to service.
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