How
to clean up after a Fire Extinguisher Discharge ?
So you have managed to put out the small fire
in your office or living room and rescued the day. Well done, your fire
extinguisher and your bravery protected you from some potentially very
expensive fire damage or worse! However, your powder extinguisher has caused a
wintery landscape in the room and your mouth tastes of some sort of unhealthy
childhood lolly. How do you clean up the mess? Here are some helpful hints.
Protective Equipment Required
|
|
Powder extinguisher
|
Dust mask, gloves,
goggles. The chemicals in a powder fire extinguisher can be an irritant to
lungs, eyes and throat.
|
Foam, Wet Chemical
|
Impermeable Gloves,
goggles. The chemicals in foam fire extinguishers can be carcinogenic.
|
Cleaning Measures
|
|
Foam, Water
additive, wet Chemical fire extinguishers
|
1.
Wear
the protective equipment as listed above
2.
Soak
up the foam or liquid from the wet chemical or water extinguisher with either
paper towels or old towels that can be thrown away
3.
Wash
the area thoroughly with water and use paper towels or an old towel to soak
up any excess
4.
Place
all towels into a plastic bag and seal before throwing it away into the usual
waste bin
|
Powder fire
extinguisher
|
1.
Wear
the protective equipment as listed above
2.
Use
a vacuum cleaner to clean up the powder residue, or a brush to sweep it away
if you do not have a vacuum cleaner
3.
Place
all the powder from the vacuum cleaner or that has been swept up into a
plastic bag and seal it. Dispose of this bag in the usual waste bin
4.
Use
a damp cloth to clean any residue of powder off furnishings, do not use
copious amounts of water. There is a risk that any residue left may start to
eat away at soft furnishings. Curtains should be washed if possible
|
Tips:-
1. Remove fuel, oxygen or heat to eliminate the
fire. If one of those 3 elements are missing. the chemical reaction to create
fire cannot occur.
2. Shake dry chemical extinguishers once a month
to prevent the powder from settling or packing. Check the manufacturer's
recommendations.
3. Many local fire departments will happily
demonstrate to you how to use a fire extinguisher. Call your local one to find out
more. You will need to set up a time to do this. Many towns have monthly
demonstrations.
4. The US Fire Administration does not recommend
the use of fire extinguishers by untrained persons. While this is only a
recommendation and may be unrealistic sometimes, it is often easy enough to get
training from your local fire department, so make the most of this opportunity
to become "trained".
5. Always have a household plan of escape in the
event of fire, as well as working smoke alarms in place. A carbon monoxide
detector can be useful also.
6. Immediately replace the extinguisher if it
needs recharging or is damaged in any way.
7. Pressure test the extinguisher (a process
called hydrostatic testing) after a number of years to ensure that the cylinder
is safe to use. Find out from the owner's manual, the label, or the
manufacturer when an extinguisher may need this type of testing.
8. Fire extinguishers need to be regularly
checked to ensure that:
9. The extinguisher is not blocked by furniture,
doorways, or anything that might limit access in an emergency.
10. The pressure is at the recommended level. Some
extinguishers have gauges that indicate when the pressure is too high or too
low.
11. All parts are operable and not damaged or
restricted in any way. Make sure hoses and nozzles are free of insects or
debris. There should not be any signs of damage or abuse, such as dents or
rust, on the extinguisher.
12. The outside of the extinguisher is clean.
Remove any oil or grease that might accumulate on the exterior.
