How Can You Maintain Your Fire Extinguishers?

Ever thought why fire extinguishers are important? It is imperative to have fire extinguishers in every building. Every time you enter a building, you will find an extinguisher. But what if that extinguisher does not function properly? The most common reason behind this is irregular inspection and fire extinguisher maintenance. Hence, it is very important that all the fire extinguishers are inspected and maintained on a monthly basis. Furthermore, there are various types of fire extinguishers that are used for different purposes. Below mentioned are some.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Before you buy or use a fire extinguisher, you should know what types of fire it is made to handle.

Class A: Materials, like cloth, wood or paper

Class B: Flammable liquids

Class C: Appliance, electrical

Class D: Metals

Class K: Cooking oils

Tips to maintain fire extinguishers

The first thing to do is to check whether the fire extinguisher is fully charged or not. This is one of the important things for keeping the regular pressure of fire extinguishers in case you want to use it. Next, based on different types of buildings, there are different types of fire extinguishers used. For example, a restaurant will have different fire protection than a library. In case you are not sure which fire extinguisher to use, check with the fire extinguisher maintenance company.

Furthermore, check whether the fire extinguisher is properly maintained or not. There are times when a fire extinguisher has some dents on it. But these dents don't necessarily mean that the extinguishers cannot be used. In fact, dented extinguishers are tested and returned to the service and all the history of the maintenance will be available on the inspection tag.

Test the Hardware

It is important to check and test the extinguishers because sometimes they get clogged. You can get in touch with a fire protection company if you think there is a clog. The experts will examine the situation and get it solved as soon as possible.

Clean

Check whether your fire extinguisher is tested properly or not. Also, check for other damages. Make sure you clean all the dirt that might have accumulated on it. Remember, most of the fire extinguishers can be used for a long time if cleaned and maintained properly. Additionally, do not forget to check the expiration date. In case it is more than 10 years, get a new one.

Most of the people out there tend to ignore the significance of fire extinguishers for the safety of their homes. Do your research and make sure you know how to use them. To know more about fire extinguisher compliance and maintenance, Contact Fireserv.

Why Do Your Employees Need To Be Trained In Operating Fire Extinguishers?

It is a general belief that after installing fire extinguishers, a building becomes fire-proof. However, just installing fire extinguishers is not enough. You need people who are able trained to use them. 

It is very important that occupants of a building undergo the training at the fire extinguisher service.  An effective training program will include so much more than just the basics of turning on the extinguisher. 

It teaches the employees or the trainees how to identify the sources of fire, understand the type of fire and know how to deal with it.

What does fire extinguisher training program include?

The general fire extinguisher training programs include:

1. Basic fire risks
   It is very important to know the basic structure of the building. The main objective of training the employees is to be able to understand the risk that the fire poses. The training involves knowing the places where fire can originate from. This will include the kitchen area, sources of electronic or heating. The training is structured to make the trainees realize the depth and risk that they will face in an emergency.
   
   The fire assessment risks in the building should be done at least once a month. The trainees should know the key risks they will face inside the building. Once the training is done, the fire safety audit needs to be done.

2. Types of fire and corresponding fire extinguishers
   During the training, the trainees are taught different types of fire and the extinguishers that will stop them. A wrong fire extinguisher can actually exacerbate the strength of fire. The basic classes of fire are:
   
   
1. Ordinary fire (wood, paper, cloth)
2. Flammable liquids (Alcohol and gasoline)
3. Combustible material (Titanium, magnesium and more)
4. Animal and vegetable oils
5. Electrical equipment
   
   

Fire extinguishers for the fires are:

• Class A extinguishers are for common fires
• Class B extinguishers are for fuel related fires
• Class E fire extinguishers combat for electrical fires
• Class F extinguishers are for oil or grease-related fires.

3. Locating the extinguishers
   The trainees are trained to look and locate the fire extinguishers during an emergency. It is very important to locate the extinguisher on time and use it to prevent the emergency. The employees are taught the skill to identify if the extinguisher is fit for the use and how should it be used.

4. Operating the extinguisher
   The employees are trained how to use, aim and stop the fire extinguisher. Normally, people have the tendency to panic during the event of the emergency. During the training, they are taught to overcome it and have the confidence to be strong and clear-headed in case of the emergency.

Thinking about getting occupants of your building training? Try FireServ. They are the leading fire safety equipment company from last 18 years. Next time instead if searching for fire extinguisher service near me, simply visit Fireserv.