Safety From Fires | 3 Fire Extinguisher Preservation Guidelines To Prevent Major Catastrophes
Posted on: 13 September 2016
Victoria faces nearly 3,000 home fires every year, while NSW faces over 4,070 fires in 2015 alone. With over 7,000 home fires occurring in two of Australia's most populous states, it's clear that the problem needs speedy solutions to prevent mishaps in the future. While fire equipment is usually fitted in most homes, the real issue arises when they fail to function during a blaze because of poor maintenance. Here are some preservation guidelines for your fire extinguisher to prevent major catastrophes.
Get The Fire Extinguisher Inspected Based On Specified Timelines
Standards Australia published a revised edition of AS 1851-2012, which covers aspects related to routine service and maintenance of fire equipment. According to these standards, all portable extinguishers must be inspected, checked and tagged once in six months. Make sure the extinguisher is tagged after every inspection or servicing. The label should include information with respect to the last inspection and next inspection date to make these checks transparent and compliant with regulations.
Get The Pressure Checked Based On Recommended Timelines
The pressure may be checked every few years based on recommended timelines to ensure sufficient fire-dissolving components remain inside. Depending on whether or not the extinguisher has a pressure gauge, the fire equipment professional may weigh it to examine whether it is full or needs refilling. All testing intervals should ideally be recorded and tagged on the unit to ensure that you're complying with stipulated guidelines. According to guidelines, you will need to get the pressure tested every 5 years. If your state is using the AS 1851-1995 standards, then you will need to get pressure tests every 6 years.
Use Thermal Protection For Warm Climates
Difficult or hot weather conditions can have an impact on the performance of your fire equipment. In turn, this may influence the maintenance and inspection schedule of your extinguisher. For instance, exposure to extreme heat and moisture can cause the pressure to drop, which will result in a dysfunctional fire extinguisher. Similarly, vibrations from areas around railway tracks and factories can affect the working components inside, so more frequent inspections may be necessary. As a general rule, you may want to use thermal protection for your fire extinguisher if it is installed in temperatures that do not fall within a range between 5 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius. You can talk to your fire equipment expert if you think that thermal protection is right for your fire extinguisher.
Follow these fire extinguisher preservation guidelines to prevent major catastrophes. Apart from extinguishers, make sure your other fire equipment is functional too. For more information, contact local professionals like The Fire Protection Specialist Company Pty Ltd.
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