A fire extinguisher inspection a day keeps the fireman away!

The majority of fires are extinguished in the early stages without the need to call the firefighters. Portable fire extinguishers are used in a vast majority of such situations. But they need to be available, ready to go and used properly in order to ensure fire protection.

Why should fire extinguishers be inspected regularly?

Obviously the first aim of inspections is to check that the fire protection equipment is in good working condition and accessibility. It promotes safety within the organization. Besides, it is a regulatory requirement and insurance companies require compliance given standards as well.

How often and who should perform a fire extinguisher inspection?

Inspections on portable stored pressure ABC types of extinguishers should be done

• Every month by yourself at home, on a boat, or a car and by any properly trained employee at work
• Every year by a licensed professional performing annual maintenance and certification
• Every 6 years by a licensed professional performing an internal examination
• Every 12 years by a licensed professional performing hydrostatic testing

Testing intervals of other types of extinguishers may be different. In case exceptional events, moving, extreme change of temperature, etc. one may be well advised to perform an inspection as well.

What should I look after during a fire extinguisher inspection?

Monthly inspections don’t take more than 3 minutes. They comprise 6 steps:

1. Is the fire extinguisher present, accessible and its location properly indicated? Does the location correspond to the spot notified on the emergency map? Is there any object or equipment blocking its easy access? Is it properly elevated from the floor?
2. Is it fully charged? Check the pressure gauge needle is in the operable range neither discharged nor overcharged. Pick up the extinguisher and check its weight to ensure it is still full.
3. Visually inspect the equipment so as to check whether there is any obvious sign of physical damage, corrosion in the metal parts, leakage or cracks in the hose and nozzle. Check the locking pin is in place and sealed so as to prevent accidental discharge
4. Are the operating instructions are readable? In case of fire, even trained personnel may be stressed and need to get reassured by reading the instructions again.
5. Look after the inspection tag and check that it has been regularly inspected. Date and sign your own inspection.
6. Check the fire extinguisher’s serial number and write a report with actions to be taken if any. Some actions should be taken immediately while notified in the report:

• Reposition the fire extinguisher and remove any obstruction
• Retrieve the equipment and forward to manufacturer or fire extinguisher provider for replacement in case of damage, overpressure or depressurization.
• In case you have those items in your supplies, or you have easy access to hardware stores, replace missing locking pins and broken seals (provided the other items of the inspection are ok)

What are the elements of a standard fire extinguishers checklist?

Once you have structured you site organization and the corresponding people you can start to build  your checklist.

A visual inspection checklist must answer to the steps described above  but be concise enough to ensure you don’t spend more than a few minutes per equipment.

Here is a common inspection list you should follow while performing your monthly fire extinguisher inspection:

visibility and accessibility:

• fire extinguisher is present
• fire extinguisher is easily visible (take pictures)
• fire extinguisher is easily accessible (take pictures)

fire extinguishers conditions:

• identify the fire extinguisher type (pressurized water, carbon dioxide wet or dry chemical extinguishers)
• inspect serial number and labelling
• check last inspection date
• inspect pull-pins and make sure pull pins seals are intact
• inspect overall physical state (dent, rust etc.)
• inspect hoses and search for potential cracks
• inspect pressure level (note or take pictures of the needle level)

Assistance of software during fire extinguisher inspections

Keeping track of inspections and writing reports may become a nightmare in large facilities. Some software can be of major help

• Keeping up-to-date inventory of equipment
• Storing the history of past inspections
• Monitor the agenda of inspections and dispatch to proper personnel
• Keeping track of anomalies to be corrected
• When installed on tablets, no more paperwork, checklists already available, and possibility to take pictures as evidence when needed

What else about fire extinguishers?

Having the equipment ready to be used is great; training people to use it is even better! As a matter of fact, in the workplace, in most countries, it is the duty of the company to train employees on the proper use of fire extinguishers. It should be done on an annual basis and by giving the opportunity to practice on actual situations.Don’t forget that beyond inspections, these training will also help enroll your employee into your global safety plan and improve their risk awareness.