Fire Safety: 4 Steps for a Quick Check of Your Fire Extinguishers

You probably never think about your fire extinguisher until there’s a fire. When you’re faced with an emergency, you don’t want to discover that your first line of defense isn’t working. Northland Fire’s fire protection equipment experts recommends checking your fire extinguishers once a month to make sure they are working properly any time you need it.

These fire equipment specialists suggest the following procedures to keep your fire suppression system in working order:

Check Access: Make sure your fire extinguisher isn’t blocked by furniture or other belongings, especially if it’s kept under a sink or in the laundry room. Also, ensure that everyone in your family knows where to find it in case a fire does break out.

Check The Tamper Seal: Look for the tamper or safety seals and make sure they’re still intact. While a broken seal doesn’t always indicate a problem, it might mean that your extinguisher has already been discharged or lacks the pressure to perform efficiently.

Check The Pressure: Most fire extinguishers feature a built-in pressure gauge with the proper pressure notated. A visual inspection will probably be sufficient, but some have a test indicator you should push to get a reading.

Check The Condition: Finally, look around the outside of the canister for signs of damage, corrosion, or leakage. If the nozzle or other components look damaged or untrustworthy, you should replace it.

The specialists at Fire Protection Equipment Co. can help ensure that your fire extinguisher is ready to assist when you need it most. With years of experience serving commercial and industrial clients throughout the upper midwest, they have the equipment to meet challenges of any size, from fire alarm systems to sprinkler system installations.