What needs to be done to pass fire extinguisher inspections?

Fire extinguishers can save lives if they are well-maintained and work properly during an emergency. This is why regular fire extinguisher inspections are done to ensure fire extinguishers installed in your commercial building are always ready to use. 

Fire safety should be the top-most priority for any property owner. Taking anything for granted, including a faulty fire extinguisher, can result in grave consequences during a fire breakout or hefty penalties if you fail inspections. 

Having fire safety measures in place is not enough. You want to run regular fire extinguisher testing to ensure your fire protection systems pass the inspection and save you from paying costly fines. 

How often should you run fire extinguisher testing?

It’s quite common to forget about fire extinguishers after their installation. They are always there in your building to help you extinguish any type of fire “just in case”. But we all spend our days hoping we never have to use them.

Although fire extinguishers are not always on top of mind, there can be nothing more dangerous than needing an extinguisher in an emergency and finding out that it does not work. Therefore, many inspection officers recommend running fire extinguisher inspections at least once a month. It can be a visual inspection, maintenance inspection, or internal maintenance inspection (required every 4-5 years).

Let’s see what you can do to ensure that you pass fire extinguisher inspections. 

• Preparing for fire extinguisher inspection 

When it comes to fire extinguisher inspections, there are certain things that a fire safety inspector looks for when performing his job. Some of the things that may be inspected by a fire safety inspector include

·         Your fire extinguishers compliance with the NFPA 10

·         Whether or not they are easily accessible by the occupants of the building 

·         Do the occupants of the building know where they are mounted and how to use them?

·         Are all the fire extinguishers charged completely?

·         Are the nozzles on the extinguishers in working condition?

What should you prepare before the inspection?

To ensure you pass fire extinguisher inspections, make sure you perform some portable fire extinguisher testing to check whether they are working or not. Also, run a visual inspection and check if all the fire extinguishers are labeled properly. Violation of this code may result in costly fines. 

Conclusion 

Inspections are done to ensure that the fire extinguishers installed in the building are in pristine working condition. It is important to keep these fire protection systems up to code. After all, their performance is crucial to the safety of yourself, your employees, and your assets. 

An ultimate fire extinguisher inspection guide

A fire extinguisher is an important part of the fire protection system. It is mandatory to have fire extinguishers installed in every commercial property. If property owners fail to get fire extinguisher installation service, they may have to pay hefty penalties. However, just getting them installed in the property is not enough. They need to be inspected on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis to ensure that they are in a working condition and can be used when required. 

Fire extinguisher inspections are conducted by a safety officer or a company providing maintenance and inspection services. Fire extinguisher systems help in putting out 90% of fires before they become serious. Therefore, a fire extinguisher malfunctioning can put many lives in danger. During monthly inspections of fire protection systems, the safety officer thoroughly checks the functioning of the extinguisher and keep up-to-date records to keep everyone in the building safe. 

During inspections of fire extinguishers, the safety officer checks the following 

• Accessibility 

The first thing that the safety officer checks is the accessibility of the fire extinguishers. He checks whether or not extinguishers are easily visible and can be accessed in case of emergencies. Also, he takes notes if the extinguishers are blocked by any object or equipment. 

• Evaluate the physical state of the extinguishers

Next, the safety officer thoroughly checks for any physical defects, overall condition, and proper labeling. He checks the serial number on the extinguisher and sees if the label is easily visible. The cylinder and hose of every extinguisher are also checked. It is made sure that they are secure and free of dents, damages, and corrosion. This extensive evaluation allows the officers to know whether these extinguishers are properly maintained or if they need replacement or repair.  

• Pressure gauge

During the inspection, the gauge needle is also checked closely. If the needle is in the left red zone, it means the extinguisher needs a recharge immediately. Also, if it is in the right red zone, it means the extinguisher is overcharged. The office checks it and often recommend a solution to fix the problem. 

• Inspection tag

It is noted if the extinguisher has an inspection tag. It signals that these systems are inspected and maintained on a regular basis. It is a good sign. 

Poorly maintained fire protection systems can not only put you and people inside the building at risk but also attract penalties. Therefore, it’s recommended to get fire extinguisher inspection services to ensure they are well-maintained.