Why Is The Maintenance Of Fire Extinguishers Necessary?

Maintenance of a fire extinguisher is a set of operations to check and ensure its operability. During the technical inspection of the fire extinguisher, you are informed about the possibility of its intended use, transportation, and storage, or the decision to repair, recharge the fire extinguisher, or to decommission it.

Fire extinguishers must be subjected to maintenance, ensuring they are in constant readiness for use and reliable operation of all of it throughout their life. Maintenance of fire extinguishers includes periodic inspections, major repairs, tests, and reloading.

Checking

A quarterly check includes an inspection of the installation site of the fire extinguisher and approaches to it, as well as an external inspection of the fire extinguisher. Periodic checks are necessary to monitor the condition of fire extinguishers, control the installation of its location, and the reliability of their attachment.

The annual inspection of a fire extinguisher includes an inspection of its installation location and approaches to it. During the annual inspection, the amount of leakage of the displacing gas from the gas cylinder or extinguishing agent from the fire extinguisher is monitored. Fire extinguishers are opened (full or selective), the condition of the filters is assessed, the parameters of the fire extinguisher are checked, and if they do not meet the requirements of regulatory documents, the fire extinguishers are recharged. All types of fire extinguishers belong to the group of vessels operating under pressure, so when working with them. During fire extinguisher maintenance, it is necessary to comply with the requirements for vessels operating under pressure.

Overhaul, reloading, and testing of fire extinguishers should be carried out following the instructions for reloading, and testing by organizations that have the appropriate license, and carry out their activities under the requirements of technical, and regulatory legal acts. Organizations that maintain fire extinguishers should be equipped with their equipment and measuring instruments. Measuring instruments and measuring equipment used during the maintenance of fire extinguishers must be subjected to metrological control.

Backup fire extinguishers should replace those that were taken out of service during repairs, tests, or recharges with similar parameters.

Basic requirements and procedure:-

During the external examination, you must pay attention to the following: 

•    The presence of dents, chips, and deep scratches on the body, and nodes.

•    Fire extinguisher control and nuts.

•    Condition of protective and paint coatings.

•    The presence of clear and understandable instructions.

•    The presence of a sealed safety device.

•    The health of the manometer or pressure indicator. 

•    Condition of the flexible hose and OTV sprayer.

•    The condition of the chassis and the reliability of mounting the case.

Before putting the fire extinguisher into operation, it must be subjected to an initial inspection, during which an external inspection is carried out. The complete set of the fire extinguisher and the state of its installation is carried out, as well as the readability and intelligibility of the instructions for work with a fire extinguisher. 

Fire extinguishers must undergo maintenance, ensuring they are in constant readiness for use and reliable operation of all components throughout its life. Therefore, the maintenance of fire extinguishers is very crucial.