It is highly likely that you have multiple fire extinguishers set up around your business premises. Not only is this for safety during a fire hazard, but it is also a legal requirement that you need to follow.
That being said, fire extinguishers need to be serviced once in a while. Failure to do so can leave your extinguishers with a variety of problems, from leaks to blockages, all of which will negatively affect their performance when. You may also face penalties and fines if you do not have them regularly serviced.
If you have never serviced your fire extinguishers before, here is a quick guide that covers what you need to know:
When should you service fire extinguishers?
As a rule of thumb, you should have your extinguishers serviced once every month. However, extinguishers should also undergo specialized testing once every few years.
Monthly servicing is done in-house, meaning you or someone else trained for the procedure will perform the inspection. Additionally, you are required to record or document these monthly inspections. These records should contain all the pertinent information collected from the extinguishers and the name of the individual who carried out the inspection.
Specialized servicing is done by a certified and licensed professional. Note that the timespan between inspection for annual servicing will depend entirely on the extinguishers you are working with. For example, water-based extinguishers will need to undergo hydrostatic tests once every five years, while store-pressured extinguishers undergo the same test every twelve years. Ask the manufacturer or the vendor to find out exactly how often yours needs servicing.
How should you service fire extinguishers?
Monthly servicing will cover many different aspects. For example, you need to make sure the extinguisher is full and ready for use, that it is in clear view for easy access, and that the maintenance tag is still intact. There should also be no visible signs of damage on the fire extinguisher.
If you find that any of your extinguishers fail in any aspect, you will likely need to replace it.
Specialized servicing involves a professional who is trained to check various aspects of these devices. For example, the expert will ensure that all the canisters maintain the right amount of pressure and that their labels are visible, readable, and correct. The professional will also check for damages, such as cracks, leaks, and corrosions, and carry out tests like hydrostatic tests as needed.
Conclusion
Fire extinguisher maintenance is important for a variety of reasons, the main one being safety. In a scenario where a fire is raging, the last thing you want is a fire extinguisher that doesn’t work.
To prevent these potentially disastrous situations, you (or a trained individual) must carry out routine inspections every month and schedule specialized inspections as needed. If you are unsure about what you need to do, do not hesitate to contact a professional who can help you. That way, you can keep your workplace a safe environment and stay clear of costly penalties.
Atlantic Fire Protection are experts at fire protection, offering a variety of fire protection services from kitchen suppression systems installations to emergency light replacements. If you are looking for professional fire extinguisher inspections in New Jersey, get in touch with us today!