The availability and proper service of functional fire extinguishers that are delivered on a regular basis is one of the most effective fire safety precautions for all households and companies. Portable fire extinguishers can prevent the occurrence of fire-related loss of life and property through controlling the fire before it becomes uncontrollable. But they have to be well maintained and this comes with regularity in order to perform their anticipated order when a disaster occurs. Here are the top 5 reasons regular professional fire extinguisher maintenance is so crucial:Here are the top 5 reasons regular professional fire extinguisher maintenance is so crucial:
Maintenance Safely Secures That Extinguisher Is In Appropriate Working Condition
Hire licensed personnel to inspect the fire extinguishers so that you will be assured that the fire extinguishers are in their right conditions and perfect for use in case of the event. This is because they shall check the general condition, the pressure gauge, weight and mechanical systems. In case, there exists a defect in the extinguisher, they will look forward to fixing it or replacing the same. This helps ensure that the extinguisher has not been manipulated and will work as supposed in the event it is most required.
Examination for Signs of Abuse or Interference
During service visits, the technician inspects your extinguishers and looks for any signs of damage or anything that may hinder operation. This includes; looking for signs of leakage, blocked hoses, mechanical parts that have been corroded or blocked in the dispensing nozzle. They can then fix any problems as emergent to ensure they are running smoothly as possible. Those which are in bad shape or have some sort of obstruction hamper ones effort in putting off fires.
Recharges Pressurized Extinguishers
Some of the common types of extinguishers include CO2, dry chemical and other pressurized extinguishers and they need to be recharged every time they lose pressurized interior. As time goes on, pressure is known to reduce naturally. Qualified fire extinguisher technicians will conduct checks and refill the interior pressure of such extinguishers during servicing in order to determine if they will produce the extinguishing agent when expelled.
Adds Extinguishing Agents to its proper fill level
Maintenance personnel also routinely inspect how much of the extinguishing agent each of fire extinguisher has in order to establish whether it is a full tank or a empty one. Fire extinguishers, even when they have been used and may have been partially discharged due to an incident or an accident, needs to be filled to a certain level. Technicians will ensure standpipe extinguishers have the correct aforesaid fill levels to ensure every extinguisher has adequate suppressant for complete firefighting capacity.
Provides Updated Inspection Tag
Technicians who are licensed put a fresh tamper proof inspection label on each fire extinguisher to indicate that service has been done. This inspection tag reveals the day of service and the day on which the next check and maintenance after six years are required. The new tag alerts customers that your fire extinguishers are maintained according to the National Fire Protection Association regulations. The tags also enable fire marshals to verify that the extinguishers have been inspected and serviced as required, with ease.
Ordinarily, licensed service companies that conduct maintenance checks on fire extinguishers propose to do so once in one year. Accompanied by external work, more comprehensive maintenance involving disassembly and inspection of the internal parts is required annually or at least every 6 years. Conducting the maintenance checks as prescribed by the manufacturer and as outlined by the NFPA helps guarantee that one’s fire extinguishers stand prepared to assist in firefighters’ efforts to put out fires in case of an emergency. Fire inspectors also check on new inspection tags in case the existing ones are expired in terms of safety compliance.
Most local fire ordinances mandate that all businesses and other places where people congregate must have operational and well-tested fire extinguishers. If your fire extinguishers fail to have the correct inspection labels due to expiry or absence of the tags, you may be prosecuted or even fined. You also expose yourself to the chance of being sued in case someone gets injured in a fire emergency since you never ensured that your fire safety equipment’s were well maintained for them to function as required. Ensure the safety of your customers, your neighborhood, your assets, and your business through proper maintenance of all fire extinguishers in accordance with all relevant fire codes.
Tips on Selecting the Best Fire Extinguishers Maintenance Company
There are quite a number of service companies available in the market for fire extinguisher services but not all of them are professional and possess professional knowledge and skills in providing quality fire extinguisher services and most important, being reliable. If you want to find the best maintenance provider then try to make some research before choosing the provider you want to hire. The right company should:
- Be licensed or certified while attending to issues of fire extinguisher maintenance and repair.
- There are generally known for their speed, efficiency, and affordability.
- Supply certified inspection tags that meet the legal regulations of the region
- Include additional maintenance contract plans for those who prefer to have them, or not bother with them.
- Ensure that staff is always on standby especially for instances where the supply of fuel is low or in the event that cars need to be refueled urgently.
To remain compliant with the necessary and recommended schedule of maintenance, we need to keep ourselves diligent.
Although many organizations ensure their fire extinguisher is taken care of at least once a year, it is also important to have it disassembled and inspected internally every six years for it to work as expected. In due course, heat, vibrations, corrosion, usage, accidental damages or any other cause can weaken or deteriorate elements of seals, hoses, gauges and other important parts. Addressing internal systems, components, or parts at least once in 6 years offer an additional layer of assurance in the smooth running of the aircraft.
Do not relax your vigilance about this life-and-property-preserving apparatus. Perform maintenance as required by manufacturers’ recommendations and NFPA periodicity. Make sure your service technicians review not only the exterior of the fire extinguisher but also the interior to warrant the squeaky clean reliability in any fire menace. Ensuring regular checks on fire extinguisher will prove to be very helpful when a fire that has the tendency to spread fast occurs in your home/office. Maintenance records should be stored and can be produced anytime in order to show the company’s compliance. It may be something you can take today and avoid major loss and the terrible aftermath tomorrow.
