Fire is one of the most devastating hazards we are faced with in
our homes, offices and workplace. It capacity for destruction and devastation
is legendary. It can burn down buildings, assets and take lives in a matter of
minutes. In our tightly packed urban spaces, fire is doubly hazardous, capable
of spreading in seconds and engulfing everything in its path.
This is why a comprehensive fire safety system is important. One
of the most basic elements of a fire safety system is the fire extinguisher.
With increasing awareness of fire hazards and government rules, fire safety extinguishers suppliers
are seeing more business than ever before.
Despite this, there are many who are still hesitant to invest in
a fire extinguisher. To ease their doubts, let us look at the pros and cons of
a fire extinguisher:
Pros:
-
It comes in several sizes —from
portable extinguishers to bigger cylinder. This makes it ideal to deploy in an
equally wide range of locations. The small size will fit into small spaces like
your car! In fact, it is the only fire safety equipment suitable in a small
confined space.
-
It is easy to instal. Fire extinguishers can be
mounted on almost any vertical surface, be it your kitchen wall or the car
body.
-
It is easy to operate. Sure, you do need to read
the instructions, but an extinguishers works on a simple method and can be used
by almost anyone (barring kids, of course).
-
It is the first line of defence when fire breaks
out. Figures show that when an extinguisher is used, an all out tragedy has
been avoided in as many as 80%.
-
It is portable, which means you can carry it
with you wherever you go. Unlike static objects like sprinklers, it can be
taken to a nearby location when required, even if it is the next room.
-
It is cheaper than many other alternatives like
sprinklers.
-
It can be used on an individual basis. Unlike
other centralised systems like alarms and sprinklers, there is no need for an
elaborate system.
Cons
-
There is no one size fit all. Different kind of
fires (depending on the combustible material) require different types of
extinguishers. In other words, the extinguisher in your kitchen may not work in
your home office. You may have to invest in more than one extinguisher by a fire safety extinguishers suppliers.
-
Certain extinguishers like ABC powder
extinguishers use a fine powder as the extinguishing agent. This powder can be
quite messy, coating everything in a thin layer and requires heavy clean-up
later on.
-
The fine powder used in some extinguishers can
be harmful for someone with respiratory problems, causing irritation and
shortness of breath.
-
It has limited effectiveness against fires. An
extinguisher only works as a first line of defence. It is designed to put out a
fire before it spreads and is pretty useless in case of a raging inferno.
-
It requires regular maintenance. Every fire safety extinguishers supplier
recommends regular maintenance to ensure that the extinguisher is in top
working condition.
-
It has to be refilled every time it is used,
even if a small test amount is expelled. In some cases the refilling of
extinguisher may turn out to be more expensive than buying a new extinguisher!
-
It requires expert services in refilling and
maintenance. This is because extinguishers are refilled using special
equipment. This adds to the cost.
How to select an extinguisher
Check the equipment or material in the room. Different
extinguishers carry different agents because these are designed to douse a
specific kind of fire. For instance, fine powder extinguishers may be extremely
effective in dousing flammable liquids, but they can prove to be disaster when
used machinery. Instead, opt for CO2 extinguisher for your machinery.
Decide on the area covered. A small portable extinguisher may be
adequate in a small areas where a fire can be contained, but it will prove
dangerously insufficient in a large are like a hall.
Check that the supplier provides trolleys for large cylinders.
This can crucial in an emergency when quick deployment is required.
Check that the supplier has all the required certifications,
including ISO mark on the cylinder
Check that the instructions on how to use the extinguisher are
clearly mentioned on the cylinder.
Check that there are no cracks on any part of the extinguisher.
