Clean up after a Fire Extinguisher Discharge

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.