Maintenance and Upkeep of Fire Extinguishers

by Unknown 22:11 1 comments fire extinguishers refilling India

One of the requirements of designing or equipping a home, office, factory or public space, is to install a comprehensive and credible security system. A vital part of this is the fire security system. This is not just a matter of ensuring protection for both property and life, it is also a legal imperative.

But, just installing a fire safety system is not enough. In fact, this could just be called a beginning, of starting with good intentions. It is equally important that this commitment to security is maintained over time and action. Ensuring regular maintenance of your fire fighting systems, including fire extinguishers refilling India, is just as important as buying and installing one. The last thing you want is that your portable extinguishers fails just when an emergency strikes.

Why we need maintenance?

A good idea here will be to see you extinguisher as an asset. It is an investment into your security. An extinguisher is your first line of defence against any fire breakout. Hence, it is your investment into minimising any loss of property or life. As an asset, your extinguisher requires proper attention to see that it works properly.

A poorly maintained fire extinguisher will either not be filled or it will have faulty parts — either of the scenario are disastrous. It may also means that the extinguisher will have to be discarded. This could again be a loss in more ways than one. To begin with, your investment into an extinguisher fails in case you have to replace it.

You are caught unawares if a tragedy strikes. This could mean a catastrophic loss that could have been easily avoided. And lastly, it also open you to litigation for criminal negligence. In other words, without proper and timely maintenance, you could face massive losses and jail time!

How to ensure that your extinguisher is properly maintained?

To ensure that the extinguisher is properly maintained one has to regularly inspect it. Basic visual inspection can be carried out yourself, while a more detailed inspection must be done by a trained person.

Visual inspection: This is the basic inspection that can be carried out by anyone. Some of these steps can be carried out everyday and are more about staying alert. A monthly inspection is recommended. However, it should be more frequent in areas where an extinguisher is more likely to be tampered with, such as public places.

Some of these steps are:

-    Check that the tamper seal and safety pin are intact and in place.

-    Check for signs of external corrosion or damage, especially if it could impair the working of the extinguisher.

-    Check the manufacturer’s labelling. It should be legible.

-    Check that the pressure gauge indicator is in the green zone. You can also check if the gauge is working or not through the gauge test or the pin test.

-    Check that the extinguisher is mounted at a safe place that is easily reachable.

-    Check the servicing label. It will show if it is due for servicing or fire extinguishers refilling India.

-    In case of a cartridge operated extinguishers, check if it is more than 10 years old. You may need to change it.

Maintenance: You will need specialist help with this. You can contact the extinguisher vendor or go to a specialist maintenance centre. The vendor is often recommended because they have designed the extinguisher. However, extinguisher designs are pretty much standard. So, a good maintenance agency can also carry out regular maintenance work. You can, though, get a good service deal from your vendor at the time of purchase. It will also be easier to replace the extinguisher if required.

The reason we recommend that a specialist agency be used for proper maintenance and servicing is because you will need special equipment and knowledge. For instance, you need the right equipment for refilling the cylinder, something which is only carried by agencies that offer fire extinguishers refilling India.

Extinguishers are tested for the right pressure through proper methods, like hydrostatic testing. See that the date of maintenance is clearly marked on the extinguisher. This is an important record that will help you to remember when next servicing is due.

Conclusion

Maintaining an extinguisher is as important buying one. Your extinguishers should be inspected daily with proper servicing carried out when required. Above all, make sure that you keep it full by an agencies specialising in extinguishers refilling India.