When was the last time you checked your building’s fire extinguishers to make sure they work?
Research shows 3,500 people died in the United States in 2020 due to fires.
Checking your fire extinguishers to make sure they work is critical to prevent fire-related deaths.
How often should you perform a fire extinguisher inspection in Arizona?
Let’s explore how often you should check extinguishers.
Visual Inspection
Visually inspect your business’s or home’s fire extinguishers monthly.
Confirm your extinguishers are still in their designated locations.
Make sure they’re also operational and fully charged.
A fully charged extinguisher’s pressure gauge will be in the green zone.
A needle in the gauge’s left or right red zone indicates the extinguisher needs recharging or is overcharged, in which case it’s dangerous to use.
Some extinguishers aren’t rechargeable. In this case, push your extinguisher’s pressure test button to make sure the equipment works.
Double-check to see if any objects are blocking your extinguishers, and remove them.
Your extinguishers should be easy for any family member or employee to see and access.
Look closely to see if your extinguishers have visible signs of damage.
These include dents, leakage, and corrosion. Replace damaged extinguishers with new ones.
What Else to Look For
Verify that your extinguishers’ pull-pins aren’t missing and that these pins’ seals are intact during your monthly inspections.
Lift your extinguishers to make sure they also feel full.
Do you have a wheeled extinguisher?
Ensure the following components aren’t damaged or missing:
- Nozzle
- Hose
- Carriage
- Wheels
- Tires
Finally, make sure signs point to your fire extinguishers’ locations if you manage a business.
Maintenance Inspection
Have you been asking yourself how often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?
Well, here’s the answer!
Perform a comprehensive fire extinguisher inspection every year in Arizona.
Hire a fire protection service company to handle this maintenance task.
A professional will have the necessary training and tools to make sure your extinguishers work.
They’ll also correct all potentially hazardous issues.
A reputable company will verify a positive inspection result with an inspection tag that will be good for a year (more on inspection tags later).
If your extinguisher doesn’t pass the professional inspection, you must replace or repair it.
Internal Inspection
Complete an internal fire extinguisher maintenance inspection every six years.
This type of inspection also requires the service of a professional inspection company.
The company will discharge the extinguisher and examine the internal components.
This will verify the unit is working correctly.
The company will also recharge the extinguisher so it’s ready to use.
Six-Year Hydrostatic Testing
A professional should perform a hydrostatic test at least every six years, too.
This test ensures a unit can safely contain pressure.
The pressure is used to discharge the chemical in the extinguisher.
Performing a six-year hydrostatic test is necessary for the following types of extinguishers:
- Wet chemical extinguisher
- Carbon dioxide extinguisher
- Pressurized water extinguisher
A wet chemical extinguisher contains potassium, which lowers a fire’s temperature.
This stops the blaze from spreading.
A carbon dioxide extinguisher sprays carbon dioxide onto fires.
This eliminates the oxygen the fires need to keep burning.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers are mostly used on fires started with flammable gases or liquids.
A pressurized water extinguisher is mostly filled with tap water.
Air is then used to pressurize the unit.
This type of extinguisher works like a squirt gun.
Use pressurized extinguishers on cloth, paper, and wood fires.
Twelve-Year Hydrostatic Testing
Do you have a dry chemical extinguisher?
Schedule a hydrostatic test every 12 years instead of every six years.
A dry chemical extinguisher keeps oxygen from getting to the fuel that has started a fire.
The unit sprays dust on the fuel to interrupt the fire’s chemical reaction.
The chemical used in a dry chemical extinguisher may be sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda.
Some units use potassium bicarbonate instead.
This chemical is similar to baking soda.
Extinguisher Recharging
A fire protection service company can also recharge your extinguishers every six years.
This service involves refilling or replacing your units’ extinguishing agents.
If you have a dry chemical extinguisher, that means replacing its chemical agent.
Don’t wait six years to recharge a fire extinguisher if you use it.
A fire protection service company must recharge the unit immediately after it’s been used.
The company will also replace or refill your extinguishers’ O-rings and tamper seals as part of their recharging service.
An O-ring seals two parts so that gases or fluids don’t leak where they connect.
A tamper seal is a plastic strip that wraps around a fire extinguisher’s safety pin to make sure the pin stays in place.
Maintaining a Record
All fire extinguishers should have securely attached tags or labels indicating they have undergone maintenance.
Each label should include the following:
- Year and month of last maintenance
- The person who performed the work
- The agency that performed the work
Extinguishers also need verification-of-service collars tied around their necks if they have been internally examined.
Each collar should list the year and month of the internal examination.
The agency that performed the inspection should also be included on the collar.
Help With Fire Extinguishers
Visually inspect your home’s or business’s fire extinguishers every month for signs of damage.
Hire a fire protection service company to inspect your extinguishers yearly.
Then, schedule an internal fire extinguisher inspection at least every six years.
This more in-depth inspection will ensure your extinguishers’ internal components work correctly.
Hydrostatic tests should also be performed every six to 12 years to ensure your units properly contain pressure.
Certizona Fire & Safety offers high-quality fire protection and safety equipment services.
Request a quote from us to learn more about our maintenance service, and partner with us today!
Looking online for fire extinguisher service companies near me? Ensure your safety with regular inspections. Certizona Fire & Safety is here to serve you with high-quality fire protection and safety equipment services! Customer satisfaction is our top priority. Call (623) 227-2092 or request an online quote today!
