Is Servicing A Fire Extinguisher Every 3 Years Needed?
NFPA Today - Oct thirty, 2020
Guide to Fire Extinguisher Inspection, Testing and Maintenance
Portable burn down extinguishers are ofttimes times our showtime line of defense against small fires and chances are you aren't also far from one right now. Like whatever lifesaving equipment you lot want to ensure that information technology is operable at all times so it volition work when you need it most. With proper inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) protocols burn extinguishers can exist long lasting, reliable options for combating a pocket-size fire early on. This blog volition address the NFPA x, Standard on the Installation or Portable Burn Extinguishers requirements that assist ensure your extinguisher is set up.
The requirements are broken downward into three dissimilar sections on inspection, maintenance and testing. In each section in that location is data on what needs to be done (Procedures), who is immune to perform the piece of work (Qualifications), how often each step needs to exist done (Frequency) and how to document the work (Recordkeeping).
Inspection Procedures
Performing an inspection is the easiest matter you can practice to ensure your extinguisher tin exist used reliably and finer in an emergency. At a minimum, inspection needs to consist of the following steps:
- Make sure information technology is located in its designated place
- Make sure the extinguisher is visible or that there is signage indicating where the extinguisher is located
- Brand certain you tin hands access the extinguisher
- Ensure the pressure level estimate is in the operable range or position
- Make sure it is full, this can be done by simply lifting the extinguisher or you can weigh it
- For wheeled extinguishers, make sure the status of tires, wheels, carriage, hose, and nozzle are acceptable
- For nonrechargeable extinguishers, operate the push button-to-test pressure level indicators
Qualifications
You are non required to exist certified in order to perform an inspection; any knowledgeable, competent person should be able to practise information technology.
Frequency
NFPA ten requires extinguishers exist inspected when they are initially installed and once a month after that. You should inspect extinguishers more than frequently if they are installed in locations where they are more than decumbent to rust, impact or tampering.
Recordkeeping
Records of the monthly inspections need to be maintained past either putting a tag or label on the extinguisher or by having it recorded on paper or electronic files. The post-obit items need to be recorded:
- The month and twelvemonth of the inspection
- The person conducting the inspection
These records need to be maintained for at least 12 months.
Maintenance Procedures
Maintenance procedures must include the procedures detailed in the manufacturer'southward service transmission and a thorough examination of the basic elements of the fire extinguisher, including the following:
- Mechanical parts of all fire extinguishers
- Extinguishing amanuensis
- Expelling ways
- Physical condition
This is completed by doing an external examination. An internal examination tin likewise be required equally part of your maintenance. Details on how to practice an internal examination are located in your burn down extinguisher service manual.
Qualifications
Maintenance needs to be performed past a certified person. Certification requires that a person take a examination acceptable to the AHJ . A certified person needs to, at the very to the lowest degree, be familiar with the requirements in NFPA 10.
Frequency
Fire extinguishers need to take an external maintenance test conducted on a yearly ground, at the fourth dimension of hydrostatic test, or when specifically indicated by an inspection discrepancy. Extinguishers demand to take an internal examination conducted at anywhere from 1-vi yr intervals depending on the type of extinguisher. For example, a dry chemical, stored pressure fire extinguisher must have an internal exam every vi years, see NFPA 10 Table 7.3.three.1 for more details on other types of fire extinguishers.
Recordkeeping
Each burn extinguisher shall take a tag or characterization securely attached that indicates that maintenance was performed. The tag or label needs to identify the following:
- Calendar month and year maintenance was performed
- Person performing the piece of work
- Name of the agency performing the work
Extinguishers also need a verification-of-service collar located around the neck of the container if an internal examination was conducted. That collar needs to have:
- Month and twelvemonth the work was performed
- Name of the agency performing the work
Hydrostatic Testing Procedures
A hydrostatic test always begins with an internal and external examination of the extinguisher as described in the maintenance department. The extinguisher then has many of its components removed then information technology is stripped down to pretty much just the shell and hose and is filled with water at a certain pressure for a certain time. The extinguisher must then be completely dried to go rid of all of the water and is then reassembled and recharged. If there is any leakage, distortion or permanent moving of couplings the cylinder fails the hydrostatic test and it must be condemned.
Qualifications
People who do hydrostatic testing need to know what they are doing because it tin be dangerous if performed incorrectly. They need to exist trained, certified, and have the correct equipment and facility to perform the testing.
Frequency
Like internal maintenance, hydrostatic testing is washed at different intervals based on the type of extinguisher yous have. These are done either every 5 or 12 years. See Table 8.three.1 in NFPA x to meet which applies to your blazon of extinguisher.
Recordkeeping
For low pressure level cylinders a label is required to be attached to the extinguisher. It needs to contain:
- The proper noun of the person conducting the test
- The date of the test
- The pressure at which the test was performed
For loftier pressure cylinders the testers identification number and the date must be stamped onto the shoulder, superlative, head, neck or foot band.
This was intended to be a helpful guide to extinguisher ITM but it doesn't comprise all the details that the requirements in NFPA 10 contain. Since at that place are many different types of extinguishers, at that place are slightly different requirements based on the extinguisher's characteristics. Electronic monitoring, which is a feasible option as a replacement for your monthly inspections was also non addressed hither.
If you're interested in more data about portable fire extinguishers check out these resources:
- Location and Placement of Burn Extinguishers - Fact Sheet
- Where are Burn Extinguishers Required - Blog
Apply the comments below to share your experience with burn extinguishers. What challenges have y'all faces when conducting inspections? What have you constitute to exist the most common violation?
If you lot found this article helpful, subscribe to the NFPA Network Newsletter for monthly, personalized content related to the globe of fire, electrical, and building & life safety .
Important Find: Whatsoever opinion expressed in this column (blog, article) is the opinion of the author and does non necessarily stand for the official position of NFPA or its Technical Committees. In addition, this piece is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services.
Download the Burn down Extinguisher Location and Placement Fact Sheet
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