Fire extinguishers should be serviced in the following cases: a)If the shell or the fire extinguisher cylinder is damaged b)When there is corrosion on the cylinder c)If the extinguisher has been burned in the event of a fire.

During a monthly inspection, you should be keen to check the following from the extinguisher a)Are the fire extinguishers well mounted on the wall? b)Are the fire extinguishers easily accessible? During installation, fire extinguishers should be placed in areas where they can be easily accessible. All instructions on markings on the extinguishers should be clear and visible. c)Are the extinguishers in working condition? Check if the discharge opening is clogged or clear. Also check if the extinguishers are fully charged as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. d)Check if the seals are intact

In the event of a fire, the best thing to do is to sound the alarm. The sounder alerts everyone at the workplace that there is an emergency and everyone should vacate the building. You may also be required to use a portable extinguisher. There are many types of portable fire extinguishers just as there are various types of fires

Using the wrong type of extinguisher may make matters even worse. For instance, using water fire extinguisher on cooking oil fires may spread the fire even further. Again, using water extinguishers on electric fires may pose the danger of been electrocuted. Although the dry powder fire extinguishers are considered as multipurpose, powder extinguisher is not recommended for indoor fires as the powder can contaminate food and clog electrical appliances. Additionally, although the CO2 fire extinguishers are ideal for electrical fires, they do not have the cooling effect as in the case of foam fire extinguishers. This, therefore, poses the risk of re-ignition.

Fire extinguishers put off fires by the use of pressurized agents (propellants). While extinguishing a fire you are recommended to use the PASS technique. P- Pull the ring A- Aim the nozzle S- Squeeze the handle S-Sweep across the fire After squeezing the handle, the valve normally opens and releases the extinguishing agent. Due to the high pressurization, a small discharge from the extinguisher can lower propellent level such that there is no room for any other discharge. You can easily monitor the pressure levels for the extinguisher by just checking the pressure gauges. The arrow on the gauge should always point at the green section. At this section, it shows that the fire extinguisher is fully charged. Even if you have slightly used the extinguisher, it is mandatory that the extinguisher is serviced or recharged. Remember you cannot plan for a fire.

There are various factors to consider to know how long the extinguisher is effective. First, check on the extinguishers date of manufacture. For some manufacturers, refilling of the extinguisher is done after 5-6 years. If your extinguisher is older than that, it is advisable to seek guidance from a professional fire expert. Secondly, check on the annual inspections report. Fire extinguishers should be checked and inspected monthly. On each extinguisher, there should be a tag from a licensed company, that shows when it was serviced and the date for the next inspection. It is also recommendable to designate one office member to regularly check the extinguishers if they are easily accessible and if they gauges are on the green level.

You should NEVER fight a fire IF: a)You do not know the exact type of material that is burning b)You do not know the type of extinguisher to use c)You do not know how to correctly use a fire extinguisher

There are different types of fire extinguishers that extinguish the different types of fires. Each type of extinguisher has its own limitations and capabilities a) Water Fire Extinguishers Water fire extinguishers are good while dealing with Class A fires. Class A fires are fires emanating from solid materials such as wood, plastics and cloths. Water extinguisher contain 70% water and the rest is pressurized air. When used, they put off the fire by removing the heat from the consumable solids. DO NOT use water fire extinguishers on electrical fires as water is a good conductor of electricity and thus you risk been electrocuted. Also DO NOT use water portable extinguishers to extinguish fires from cooking oil and flammable liquids as they are in effective and only continue to spread the fire. b) Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers Co2 fire extinguishers are good for class B and C fires. The main extinguishing agent is pressurized carbon dioxide. These types of extinguishers put off the fire by displacing oxygen and forming a blanket over the burning material and thus stopping the reaction. The hard horn helps one to aim the base of the fire. DO NOT Use carbon dioxide extinguishers in confined area as the gas displaces oxygen and hence may lead to breathing difficulties. Only use in confined spaces if the user has the correct gas masks. DO NOT use carbon dioxide fire extinguishers on class A fires as they do not remove the heat from the burning solids and hence pose a risk of re-ignition. c) ABC Dry Powder Fire extinguishers This is the most common type of extinguisher. ABC type of extinguisher is ideal for Class A, B and C fires. They do extinguish the fire by forming a blanket on the burning material or fuel. The fine powder cuts the oxygen supply on the burning material and thus break the chemical reaction. Be careful while using the ABC Dry powder fire extinguisher as the residue can damage computers, motors and other electrical appliances.