You are in a kitchen when a small fire breaks out, and you run to get the fire extinguisher only to realize it has stopped working. This frightening situation would easily take place if regular maintenance is neglected. An inadequately maintained unit may fail to release pressure at a critical time or, even worse, break when pressurized. Such types of malfunctions highlight how crucial regular maintenance schedules are.
Choosing and installing proper fire safety equipment is crucial and required, and it is the first and most important step in protecting yourself, those around you, and your property. But the process continues after installation. Routine fire extinguisher inspections and maintenance are necessary so that the units will function properly when needed.
Fire extinguishers require regular maintenance for several reasons. Regular servicing ensures that fire extinguishers work successfully in an emergency. As time passes, fire extinguishers can get clogged, broken, or lost pressure, making them useless when needed.
Why Fire Extinguisher Inspections Are Important
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), around 30% of fire extinguishers in use need to be in proper working state. There is a huge safety risk in both household and business environments, as this concerning statistic makes clear.
Failure to use a fire extinguisher in an emergency can have disastrous effects, including deaths, significant property damage, and possible legal consequences. For this reason, routine checks of fire extinguishers go beyond simple legal obligations.
Regular fire extinguisher inspections can identify issues that would otherwise go overlooked. A failure or damage to an extinguisher’s internal components, such as the valve, hose, or nozzle, might cause it to stop working properly.
It is necessary to have fire equipment inspections conducted on a regular schedule for many reasons:
| Safety: | Fire equipment, including fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and sprinkler systems, is intended to protect you and your property from the harmful effects of fire. Your fire prevention systems should be regularly inspected to make sure they work correctly. To reduce the possibility of harm or property loss in the event of a fire, this is essential. |
| Compliance: | Many jurisdictions demand regular inspections of fire equipment to confirm compliance with the code. If you don’t follow these rules, you risk penalties, legal consequences, and possibly even a business shutdown. |
| Early Detection: | Regular inspections help identify concerns early on before they get worse. As a result, you don’t need to do costly repairs or displacements down the road, and can help to keep your fire equipment continuously in working condition. |
| Peace of Mind: | You’ll feel more at ease knowing that your fire equipment has been examined and working as expected. It is vital to understand how you and your property remain safe in the case of a fire. |
How to Inspect a Fire Extinguisher
Did you know that fire extinguishers with low or no maintenance usually experience more regular malfunctions and have a shorter lifetime than those with high maintenance? Fire extinguishers are more likely to corrode, clog, or undergo serious damage during use if they are not properly serviced.
At home or work, a fire extinguisher inspection is an easy but important duty. Here’s a step-by-step instructions:
Step 1: Locate the Fire Extinguisher
Make sure the fire extinguisher is in the proper location. It must be visible, unhindered, and not hidden by furniture or other obstructions. So that even a person who is not familiar with the area can locate the extinguisher easily in an emergency.
Step 2: Check the Tamper Seal and Pull Pin
The tamper seal and pull pin of the fire extinguisher must be secure. If the tamper seal is damaged or the pull pin fails, the extinguisher may have been used or manipulated. Experts have to change out or recharge used fire extinguishers right away.
Step 3: Examine the Physical Condition
Search for any clear indications of wear, tear, or damage like leaks, dents, corrosion, or rust, on the extinguisher body. These problems might have an impact on how well the extinguisher works. Inspect the hose and nozzle for damage, cracks, and obstructions as well.
Step 4: Check the Pressure Gauge
A pressure gauge with green and red-marked sections is typically found on fire extinguishers. The needle’s position must be in the green region, showing that the extinguisher is properly charged. The fire extinguisher could be overcharged or undercharged if it is in the red zone, and it will have to be repaired or replaced.
Step 5: Verify the Weight
The majority of fire extinguishers are labeled with their weight. You usually understand if an extinguisher is working properly by lifting it and checking its weight. If it feels significantly lighter than it needs to, it could mean that the extinguisher has shed part of its firefighting chemicals and requires to be changed or serviced.
Step 6: Check the Inspection Tag or Label
Check the inspection tag or label to verify that it represents the most recent professional fire extinguisher inspection, this is normally required annually under NFPA and OSHA guidelines. If the tag shows that the last inspection was more than a year back, arrange an expert fire extinguisher service right away.
Step 7: Record the Fire Extinguisher Inspection
After the fire extinguisher examination write down the date, the examiner’s name, and any findings or faults discovered during the testing process. By keeping records, you can access the history of every fire extinguisher’s inspections and identify any recurring problems.
How Often Should Fire Extinguishers Be Inspected?
Fire extinguishers must be checked regularly to maximize their efficiency when needed in an emergency. The typical guidelines for how frequently you examine a fire extinguisher include two types of inspections:
Monthly – Visual Inspections
However, how often should fire extinguishers be inspected? A visual inspection of your fire extinguisher should be done once a month, whereas servicing and maintenance are only required annually. Some of the different factors you need to look out for include:
- Any damage indicators, such as leaks, corrosion, or evidence of tampering with the fire extinguisher.
- Verify that the extinguisher’s pressure dial is facing the green.
- Pull the extinguisher to ensure it is full.
- Make sure the fire extinguishers are accessible and nothing is blocking their path.
- Verify if any service labels are missing. The tags and labeling on a fire extinguisher must be readable.
- A cracked or insecure handle.
- Damaged or vacant locking pins or seals.
- A clogged, damaged, or fractured nozzle or hose.
When checking your fire extinguishers every month, there are a few key things you should look out for. Checking that your monthly fire extinguisher inspections have been recorded is essential. This guarantees that sufficient data is available for when the fire extinguishers undergo more extensive maintenance.
Yearly – Professional Inspections
A trained specialist must examine your fire extinguisher at least once each year. They will verify that the extinguisher satisfies all legal and safety requirements during this inspection, looking for more serious problems such as interior corrosion or damaged parts.
If necessary, they will also perform any servicing according to the BS5306 requirements and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The extinguisher will be labeled and dated once it has completed the annual servicing. If maintenance is not acceptable, you will have to buy a new fire extinguisher.
Extended Fire Extinguisher Service
When you have powder, water, or foam extinguishers, you must have them serviced at least once every five years, whereas CO2 extinguishers must be serviced every ten years.
How Long Does a Fire Extinguisher Last?
A powder, foam, or water extinguisher typically lasts around 10 and 12 years. This is predicated on the extinguisher staying in excellent condition, without rust or breakage. During this time, it is recommended that the fire extinguisher be changed. CO2 extinguishers that are in excellent operating order, must be repaired or replaced after 10 years from the date of manufacture.
A well-maintained fire extinguisher might last up to 20 years, according to most manufacturers; on average, it lasts 10 to 12 years. Following National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regulations, below are the two fire extinguisher lifespan parameters that each company owner or facility manager should be aware of:
- Disposable fire extinguishers must be replaced once every 12 years.
- Rechargeable fire extinguishers must be recharged once every 6 years.
Storage Conditions: Fire extinguishers stored in moist, corrosive, or severe conditions may have a shortened lifespan because of damage or corrosion.
Where to Find the Fire Extinguisher Expiration Date
The year and month printed on a fire extinguisher tag indicate when it expires. The extinguisher is only valid for one year compared to the date on the labeling. The expiry date is written at the bottom of the fire extinguisher label.
The fire extinguisher’s expiration date is normally found on the label, beside the date of manufacture or inspection data. Some extinguishers have stickers or stamps on them that show when they were made or last inspected.
If a fire extinguisher has been kept in a home or workplace for over fifteen years, it is likely that it has “expired” and has to be replaced. You may not be aware of the device’s age or the date of purchase, though. Read the label or the bottom of the extinguisher for its manufacturing date.
Can a Fire Extinguisher Explode?
Fire safety is important in all environments, including homes, workplaces, and public spaces. Fire extinguishers may explode for the following reasons:
| Over-Pressurization: | Overpressurization is frequently the main cause of explosives from fire extinguishers. When the pressure rises above a specific point (often 1200 psi or greater), the extinguisher may burst. |
| Physical Damage: | Any obvious scratches, damage, or marks should cause immediate concern. The fire extinguisher may become prone to failure if physical damage compromises its structural integrity. |
| Corrosion: | In moist environments, corrosion becomes a major concern, particularly for older fire extinguishers. Furthermore, exposure to heat resources and chemicals increases corrosion. Corroded spots damage the metal container, making it incapable of controlling its internal pressure and thus prone to explosion. |
| Exposure to Extreme Temperatures: | Although most fire extinguishers are made to tolerate a wide range of temperatures, extremely high or low temperatures might cause issues. It’s crucial to remember that fire extinguishers typically become dangerous when placed in temperatures higher than 300°C, or 572°F. |
Safety Tips
Always keep fire extinguishers from of immediate heat sources and store them somewhere cool and dry. You should also frequently check their condition to reduce the chance of malfunctions.
Can You Leave a Fire Extinguisher in the Sun?
Frequent and continuous exposure to direct sunshine, rain, humidity, and other factors can damage the fire extinguisher, so store it properly in a cabinet to avoid this. Additionally, keeping fire extinguishers in cabinets protects against tampering.
Yet, extended exposure to direct sunlight can increase the signs of aging and distortion of the extinguisher’s parts, raising the chance of an explosion. To prevent possible risks, store the fire extinguisher in a shaded, cool location far from direct sunlight.
Can a Fire Extinguisher Freeze?
Based on the filling within a unit that has different freezing points, a normal fire extinguisher is sensitive to freezing such as water, dry chemicals, foam, and occasionally even CO2 units. When it occurs, in the case of a fire, it won’t function properly.
The ideal temperature range for storing fire extinguishers is between -40 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Fire extinguishers placed under -40 degrees Fahrenheit can cause the valve or hose to fracture.
This is usually not too problematic for most households. Many individuals maintain their homes properly over that 40-degree sign even throughout the cold winter months. However, in the following situations, it could become a problem:
- A fire extinguisher is kept in an uninsulated space, such as a garage or shed.
- There is no central heating in your house.
- You own a commercial establishment, but you don’t keep the space heated at night.
To keep your cold-weather-sensitive extinguishers secure while working, place them in an indoor or well-insulated position. If keeping in a cold region is compulsory, use low-temperature extinguishers like dry chemicals or CO2.
Tips for Fire Extinguisher Maintenance
The British Standard BS5306:3 (2017) states that servicing your fire extinguishers should be done once a year. However if the pressure of the extinguishers drops, or if any problem is found throughout the monthly visual inspection, an essential repair might be required more than once per year.
Here are a few tips to keep your fire extinguisher functioning at its best:
- Monthly Visual Inspections: Inspect the pressure gauge, safety pin, hose, and overall condition of the extinguisher.
- Annual Professional Servicing: Check your fire extinguishers thoroughly once a year, especially with a registered professional.
- Refills and Replacements: With any use, even partial, the extinguisher must be refilled or replaced.
- Proper Storage: Keep in a dry, cool location without exposure to heat or cold temperatures to ensure easy access in case of an emergency.
- Know the Expiration Date: Replace the extinguisher after it has reached its expiration date or shows indications of wear.
Conclusion
Regular fire extinguisher inspections and maintenance are required for the safety of your home or office. You may be sure that your extinguisher will function properly when you need it if you follow its recommended usage instructions and do routine checks. Fire safety must always be the main concern, and maintaining your extinguisher in excellent condition is an important part of that.
