Fire Extinguisher Inspection Tips And Maintenance

Fire Safety Plans, Fire Extinguisher Inspections And How They Work Together

Fire safety around the home or business is normally a process that is not thought about till it is too late. Taking a small amount of time today to plan and prepare for a fire emergency will pay huge dividends in your future even if no fires happen. Safety awareness is more about prevention than being proactive.  Once you become safety aware you start to be aware of potential safety issues before they happen.

Having a written safety plan and emergency escape map in the event you do have a fire is key.  In the process of making your plan you will be come aware of storage or debris that can block access. Be conscious of rope ladders for multi floor units and how to use them. And your safety awareness heightens even more  as you solidify your fire safety plan. Fire extinguishers are an integral part of a fire safety plan. Many home or business fires could be eliminated by just have a properly inspected and working  fire extinguisher available in key locations. Fire extinguishers should be placed properly, have a current inspection and  be maintained recently.

Fires Fall Into Six Categories;

• Class A – fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper or textiles.
• Class B – fires involving flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils.
• Class C – fires involving gases.
• Class D – fires involving metals.
• Class E – fires involving live electrical apparatus. (Technically ‘Class E’ doesn’t exists however this is used for convenience here)
• Class F – fires involving cooking oils such as in deep-fat fryers.

For this article we are going to focus primarily on ABC fire extinguishers and F fire extinguishers as they are the the common one used in the majority or residential homes and small businesses.

For a list of requirements from Municipal Affairs Alberta go here

For a fire extinguisher inspection checklist go here

Make Sure Your Fire Plan Is Reviewed 

Once your fire safety plan is written it should be reviewed by all members of the family once a month preferably, or every quarter minimum . Check to make sure that emergency items such as rope ladders are in place and fire extinguishers are located and inspected. Fire extinguishers in kitchen areas should be able to deal with Class F fires that include cooking oil and lard.

Proactive In Fire Prevention

The best way to fight a fire is to prevent them from starting in the first place.

• Do not smoke in the home, politely ask smokers to smoke outside in a designated smoking area
• Never leave a stove burner on and leave the kitchen
• Remove all combustable items like paint and gasoline from your home
• Use a qualified electrical contractor for all electrical upgrades and repairs
• Store items such as lighters, candles and matches in safe place away from children
• Keep flammable material such as firewood, long uncut grass, dead trees away from the home
• Create a fire barrier around your home if you live in remote areas with large forests

Ask For Help

If you need help with any of the above issues or concerns do not be afraid to ask for help. Local fire halls, municipal affairs and your local home inspector can help you develop a fire plan, inspect for potential hazards, inspect your fire extinguishers, make sure you have the proper emergency equipment in place and keep your home safe.

Added Bonus

Ask your home insurance company about a reduction in premiums with a proper fire prevention  plan in place.