Fire Extinguisher Service
For commercial use, your fire extinguisher’s pressure gauge should be checked monthly to be sure that the extinguisher is holding pressure. The monthly checks can be made by you or someone assigned to do so in your business. The monthly checks should be documented on the back of the service tag.
In addition , each fire extinguisher should be inspected and certified annually by a fire protection equipment company. A complete breakdown and internal inspection must be done every 6 years. Both the annual and 6 year inspections shall be done by a fire protection equipment company.
How do they work?
A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire.
Classes of fire
Fire extinguishers are designed to tackle specific types of fire. There are different classes of fire and several different types of fire extinguishers.
-
Class A.
Class A fires are fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and many plastics.
-
Class B.
Class B fires are fires in flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, alcohols. Class B fires also include flammable gases such as propane and butane. Class B fires do not include fires involving cooking oils and grease.
-
Class C.
Class C fires are fires involving energized electrical equipment such as computers, servers, motors, transformers, and appliances.
-
Class D.
Class D fires are fires in combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.
-
Class K.
Class K fires are fires in cooking oils and greases such as animal and vegetable fats.
