Fire Extinguisher – Buying guide

Fire Extinguisher – Buying guide

A fire extinguisher may not be very effective against a large-scale developed fire, but it is extremely effective in dousing an incipient fire before it goes out of control. This is what makes them so perfect for homes and offices. Now use of fire extinguisher is increasing every day. Thanks to FSAI that many people start understanding the use and value of the extinguisher as it saves from hazardous things like fire. Extinguishers have the advantage of portability that can be very handy in dousing fires that are difficult to reach by other mechanisms.

There are lots of stuff that you need to know before you go for shopping when it comes to this, apart from this there are companies related to fire extinguishers refilling in India, who can help you when your extinguisher require refilling. But before that, you should understand few basic kinds of stuff to avoid any kind complication in future. Here is our handy extinguisher guide:

✅Specialist or wide range: Fire safety equipment involves more than just fire extinguishers and you may want a more comprehensive system. In that case, you should check if the fire safety extinguishers supplier offers other firefighting equipment like fire blankets and fire alarms. You can choose to go with a separate vendors or manufacturers, but a single vendor is more likely to give you competitive pricing apart from saving your time and effort.

✅Which size do you want? Well, the size of your extinguisher does not affect the working as it only means that you have the larger volume in the fire extinguisher. However, it depends on the need and the location/area you want to cover.  A multi-stored building will need an extinguisher on each floor. The area of the floor and partitions within will again decide the number of extinguishers. For instance, a large floor with multiple rooms, offices or homes may need multiple extinguishers, while a small floor may work perfectly well with a single extinguisher. Your car with its limited space will require a small portable extinguisher.

✅Selecting the right type: All extinguishers may look the same, but they are actually quite different. Extinguishers are classified according to the type of fire, which depends on the accelerants present. The accelerant is be the material that is found on the premises and will differ from one location to another. The classification of fire is as follows:

-    Class A: Fires involving organic solids like paper and wood.

-    Class B: Fires involving flammable liquids like petrol and diesel.

-    Class C: Fires involving flammable gases.

-    Class D: Fires involving combustible metals.

-    Class E: Fires involving electrical equipment.

-    Class F: Fires involving cooking oil and fat.

The type of fire will decide the agent that we use to extinguish the fire. Agents used in firefighting are water, wet chemical, foam, dry chemical, dry powder, carbon dioxide, and vaporizing liquid. Type A fire requires a water extinguisher, while a Type D fire requires a dry powder extinguisher. So, a water extinguisher may work in your bedroom, but for your kitchen you may need a wet chemical extinguisher.

✅Location: Decide on the location of the extinguisher before you buy it. There are a few rules here that you must keep in mind:

-    It must be installed above ground.

-    It should be placed in a location where nothing obstructs it path.

-    It should be clearly visible.

-    It should be placed near an exit so that one does not have to walk into the fire to retrieve it.

-    It should not be placed near an inflammable substance.

✅Complexity of the extinguisher: Some fire extinguishers are more difficult to operate Carbon dioxide extinguishers, for instance, must be handled very carefully since the gas expelled is extremely cold. In such cases, it is important to ensure that you have people trained to use such extinguishers.

✅How to use it? Not just buying is a hectic stuff but also knowing how to use the fire extinguisher is another thing that you should consider. However, these modern extinguishers are much easier to use as you just have to follow PASS which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep. After using it, make sure to refill it again. These are important factors will help you to buy whatever kind of extinguisher you need. Also, do know about the refilling a recharging process. Make sure your extinguisher is properly maintained and ready to use when it is needed. Apart from that, do check the working and the overall extinguisher to make sure it’s safe for use or not.

✅ Mounting Guidelines:
If a fire extinguisher weighs more than 40 lbs, the top must be mounted no higher than 3.5 ft (1.07 m) from the ground.
If it weighs less than 40 lbs, the top can be mounted up to 5 ft (1.53 m) high.
In both cases, the bottom of the extinguisher must be at least 4 inches (102 mm) above the ground.

✅ Coverage Area Considerations:
A single extinguisher should effectively cover an area within a 75 ft (22.7 m) radius, ensuring no unprotected gaps.

✅Rechargeable or Disposable: Rechargeable extinguishers have a metal valve where disposable extinguishers have a plastic valve. While the rechargeable may seem more expensive, it is more economical in the long-term. However, if you need the extinguisher for just a short time span, you may consider disposable extinguisher.

✅Placement of the extinguisher: Fire Extinguisher travel distance as per hazard types are shown in below:

✅Refilling services: A fire extinguisher requires refilling at certain intervals. This will be specified by the manufacturer. In addition, it must be refilled every time gas is expelled. You must keep these expenses in mind when buying an extinguisher. Find a fire extinguishers refilling India agency that offers the best package. For instance, some agencies offer a comprehensive maintenance package that includes repairs as well as refilling services that may be more economical in the long run.

✅Certification: Every extinguisher must comply with the proper ISO certification. This means that it meets all the regulations regarding its working and safety. This is the minimum quality control that you must maintain.

✅Check for service terms: It is important to see what kind of services the supplier is offering. Extinguishers need regular servicing. So, any supplier who also has a servicing facility wins brownie points. See if you can get a favorable deal along with your extinguisher. Many suppliers offer complimentary service for a limited period. This should also be considered in the overall pricing.

So, before you buy an extinguisher, find out the type of fire that is likely to take place, the area and availability of fire extinguishers refilling India.

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.