Fire Extinguishers and their Upkeep

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Fire extinguishers are likely found in the majority of, if not all buildings/homes you’ve been in. They are there to prevent fires with flame-retardant chemicals. They are only effective, however, if people know where they are and when to use them. 

Types of Fire

There are different types of fire extinguishers that are effective for different types of fires. Fires are classified by what causes the fire in the first place. For example, wood, paper, cloth, etc. is different from an electrical fire. Because of this difference, there are different types of fire extinguishers to stop them. It takes certain chemicals to stop a fire and if the wrong chemicals are used it can make it worse. There are dry chemicals, carbon dioxide, water, and wet chemical fire extinguishers and if the wrong one is used it will likely be ineffective or make the fire worse.

Fire Extinguisher Upkeep

According to the National Fire Protection Agency(NFPA), these are the recommendations for upkeep and inspection procedures:

-Make sure the location is in a designated place.

-Keep it visible or have a sign to indicate the location for those who may not know.

-Make sure there is easy access to the extinguisher.

-Be sure that it is always full (weigh it).

-Pressure gauge should be in the operable range.

Testing should be done on fire extinguishers but the time between each test depends on the type of extinguisher. If it doesn’t pass the testing, then the fire extinguisher should immediately be replaced.

Keep your home safe from any fire that may happen. It is always an unexpected event and being prepared with a fire extinguisher may help there be less damage. Here at SERVPRO, we want to help you with any fire damage repair or restoration that you may need! Better to be safe and prepared than sorry.