We all live our lives day to day thinking that nothing bad will happen. We never think that we will be the ones dealing with the cleanup of a house fire. Unfortunately, there are many, many families that suffer the impact of house fires each year. Last year, a close friend of mine was a victim of a house fire and since then, my life has been different. I have spent many hours researching fire prevention, causes, and teaching children about fire prevention and what to do in the case of a fire. It is my hope that my research can help those of you concerned about house fires make the necessary changes in your home and teach your kids what they need to know about fire.
Every place of business is required to have a fire extinguisher on hand as a basic safety rule. It's also the responsibility of the business owner to inspect or hire out the inspection of the extinguisher once a month. This way issues are caught and serviced before the fire extinguisher is needed to fight an actual fire.
1. Accessibility
The first thing to verify is that the extinguisher is an accessible place. It needs to be visible with no obstructions. It should also be mounted low enough so that anyone can reach it, regardless of height or mobility limitations. Further, it must be clearly marked and easy to remove from the wall mount to which it is attached.
2. Label Legibility
The label on the fire extinguisher shares three important pieces of information — the instructions, expiration date, and last official inspection date (typically performed by the local fire marshal or health department). This label must be legible; otherwise, it must be replaced. If the extinguisher is expired, a service needs to recharge it or it is time to purchase a new extinguisher. A fire extinguisher service can help with any label problems.
3. Canister Condition
A fire extinguisher canister must be in good condition. Dents and rust can cause damage that can lead to pressure leaks. They may also impact how well the canister functions. If there is external damage to the canister, then it is no longer usable. A fire extinguisher service must replace the canister with one that has no signs of external damage.
4. Hose and Nozzle Quality
The next thing to check is the hose and nozzle. Hoses should be supple without any cracks. Nozzles must be clear of clogs and clean. All attachments between the canister, hose, and nozzle must be secure with no pressure leaks. If there is any damage to the hose or nozzle, they can be replaced by the fire extinguisher service. There is no need to replace the entire extinguisher.
5. Pressure Level
The final check is the pressure gauge on the extinguisher. It must be registering in the green zone; otherwise, the fire extinguisher won't work as it is supposed to when it is needed most. If the pressure is low, a fire extinguisher service can test the pressure to verify the gauge is working properly. If it is, then the extinguisher will be recharged.
Contact a fire extinguisher service if you need to service or replace the canister following the results of the inspection.
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