common fire extinguisher mistakes fire safety services london south east
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When you take on the role of fire marshal at your place of work, it can often feel like a daunting task as it comes with a lot of responsibility. When you undertake your training, you will have comprehensive training in many areas, including how to use a fire extinguisher. We came across the following article on safewise.com which looks at common fire extinguisher mistakes…

  • Don’t ignore the instructions: Thoroughly read the operating instructions that came with your fire extinguisher. Make sure all able members of your home read and understand the instructions. Review them regularly when you conduct fire drills and go over your evacuation plan.

 

  • Don’t use the wrong type of fire extinguisher: Never use a fire extinguisher for a class of fire that is not indicated on the label. Most importantly, extinguishers that are labeled for Class A fires only cannot be used on electrical or grease fires. However, it is safe to use an extinguisher labeled for Class B and C fires on a Class A fire. While Class K fires are technically a subset of Class B fires, other contents in Class B extinguishers can make Class K fires worse, so it’s best to get a separate extinguisher for cooking fires.

 

  • Don’t let your extinguisher go bad: Fire extinguishers come with an expiration date, after which the extinguishing agent is no longer effective. Know the dates on your fire extinguishers and replace them as needed.

 

  • Don’t neglect fire extinguisher maintenance: The extinguisher’s pressure needle should always point to the green zone. When it drops to the red zone, it doesn’t have enough pressure to release the extinguishing agent. This can happen even if the extinguisher is never used. Adding pressure (also called “recharging”) makes the extinguisher fully functional again, but this isn’t a DIY job. A certified fire services company should recharge the fire extinguisher for you. OSHA requires portable fire extinguishers in the workplace to be recharged or tested every 6 years. Homeowners can follow the same timeline.

 

  • Don’t forget about exits: When you decide where to keep your fire extinguisher, make sure it is in an easily accessible location near exterior doors. Also, consider the most common places where fires occur in a home and businesses and place your extinguishers accordingly.

 

  • Don’t keep it a secret: Make sure that everyone in your building knows where the fire extinguishers are kept. Share the location, along with your entire fire escape plan.

You can read the full article on safewise.com .

At Total Safe UK, we provide fire marshal training courses to ensure your fire marshals feel confident in their role and are comfortable using fire extinguishers should the need arise. We also provide fire extinguisher maintenance which is vital to ensuring your extinguishers are ready to be used in the event of an emergency. Find out more – call our team today.