Do You Know How To Inspect A Fire Extinguisher?
A fire extinguisher is a lifesaving device that can be used to combat small fires. Some people might not think so, but you are usually close enough to one right now without having gone out of your way for it! Like any other important equipment though - like emergency vehicles with their sirens blaring on approach- we want them operable at all times and ready when needed most which means inspection/maintenance protocols must be adhered to if the Fire Extinguisher will last long into years or decades after purchase time period has expired. In locations where fire extinguishers are more susceptible to rust, impact and tampering, you should inspect them more frequently.
According to the requirements, three sections are identified: inspecting, maintaining, and testing. It provides information about the steps (Procedures), the qualifications of the individuals who will perform the work (Qualifications), the frequency of each step (Frequency), and how to document the work (Recordkeeping).
Procedure
Checking your extinguisher before an emergency is the easiest way to ensure it will work effectively in case of fire. An inspection should at a minimum include these steps:
Make sure that it is positioned where it belongs
Extinguishers should be clearly visible or have signs indicating where they are located
in order for them to be accessed easily
Ensure the pressure gauge is set so it can be used
Ensure the extinguisher is full; you can do this by lifting it or weighing it
Wheeled extinguishers should have acceptable tires, wheels, carriages, hoses, and nozzles
Operate the pressure gauges on non rechargeable extinguishers
Qualifications
Frequency
In accordance with NFPA extinguishers must be inspected upon first installation and once a month thereafter. You should inspect fire extinguishers more often in locations where they are more susceptible to rust, impact and tampering.
Recordkeeping
Either mark or label the fire extinguisher new jersey with a record of the inspection or record it on paper or electronic media in order to maintain a record of the monthly inspections. Among the items to record:
Year and month of the inspection
The person who conducted the inspection
A minimum of 12 months must pass between the creation and destruction of records.
Maintenance Procedure
A fire extinguisher's mechanical components
include an extinguishing agent
release mechanism
based on physical conditions
External examinations complete this process. You may also need an internal examination as part of your regular maintenance. Fire extinguisher service manuals provide information on how to conduct internal examinations.
Qualifications
Frequency
External maintenance examinations are required for fire extinguishers once a year, during hydrostatic testing, or when indicated by an inspection discrepancy. The type of extinguisher determines how often extinguishers should undergo an internal examination. A dry chemical, stored pressure fire extinguisher, for example, needs to undergo an inspection every six years.
Hydrostatic Testing Procedures
When a hydrostatic test is done, the extinguisher must be completely dried out and then reassembled. If there are any leaks or distortions in couplings during the procedure it will fail which means that you have to throw away your old one so they don't Jennings Dry them up for good!
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