Almost all fires have their incipient stage when they can be extinguished quickly if you have access to proper firefighting equipment such as a portable fire extinguisher. It also requires the person discovering the fire to have proper knowledge of firefighting rules. Portable fire extinguishers available online are efficient tools for putting out incipient-stage fires.
The portable fire extinguishers are primarily developed to minimize employee exposure to hazardous fire accidents. They have proved to be very useful in preventing fire hazards and promoting safe evacuation or rescue of employees in a commercial establishment. The common guidelines for the effectiveness of portable fire extinguishers are:
- The right fire extinguisher should be used based on the class of fire.
- They should be placed in a location where they are easily accessible for immediate use when needed. Also, they should be available in sufficient quantity and size to deal with the class of fire.
- They should be kept in good operating condition and should be inspected and maintained regularly.
- They should be operated by trained personnel.
Portable fire extinguishers online also come with recommended markings for easy recognition by the users of the appropriate fire extinguisher required for different classes of fire. One fire extinguisher wouldn't be enough to deal with all kinds of fires.
Anyone can understand the necessary ingredients required for most fires by learning this simple model called the fire triangle, which includes heat, fuel, and oxidizing agents. Any fire class can be prevented or extinguished by removing any of the three elements in the fire triangle.
You should know about the different types of fire extinguishers to choose the right one based on your requirement. Portable fire extinguishers contain a variety of ingredients to fight various fire classes. The three most common types of fire extinguishers that you should have in your office or home include air pressure water, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical.
Maintenance requirements for fire extinguishers
The maintenance requirements of fire extinguishers vary depending on the type of portable fire extinguisher. Here are a few factors that one should consider for maintenance purposes:
- The stored pressure or dry chemical-type fire extinguishers do not need an internal examination.
- The water or steam-type fire extinguishers are required to be discharged, disassembled, and inspected annually.
- Dry chemical fire extinguishers that require a 12-year hydrostatic test are needed to be emptied and are subjected to applicable maintenance procedures every six years.
- Non-refillable, disposable dry chemical extinguishers do not require any maintenance.
Portable fire extinguishers should be put to Hydrostatic testing to prevent unexpected in-service failure. Portable fire extinguishers can stop working due to various reasons, including internal corrosion, external corrosion, and damage from abuse. Hydrostatic testing should only be performed by trained personnel who have access to proper test equipment and facilities.
Fire safety at the workplace should be taken seriously for the safety of your employees. Everyone should have basic fire hazard management knowledge to know how to behave during fire emergencies. Portable fire extinguishers available online provide easy prevention of fire emergencies and promote fire safety.
