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How To Use The Fire Extinguisher Like A Pro

by Norman Holden on 08/18/14

It is without a doubt that you have seen a fire extinguisher in your life. You probably have seen one as you go to banks, restaurants, and other commercial buildings. You might even have one or more in your home. But the question is this – do you know how to use one? If you see something on fire inside your house, it would be your instinct to grab your fire extinguisher. But once you grab it, are you sure you know how to use it? Read more and find out about using the fire extinguisher.

*   Make sure you can use one effectively - Before using the fire extinguisher, it is important to know that you are indeed capable of using one. There are some factors that prevent people from becoming effective users of fire extinguishers. Some examples include physical disabilities and old age. If you are too old or too weak to hold a fire extinguisher, then you better let someone handle it.

*   Make sure you have an escape point - You should make sure that you have an escape route in case you fail to douse the fire. So many people have fought fires quickly and as they did so they realized that they have been deprived from all possible escape routes. If your surroundings are too engulfed in flames, then it would be appropriate for you to get to the outdoors as fast as possible.

*   Remove the safety pin - To start using the fire extinguisher, you must first remove the safety pin. Most fire extinguishers have one. The safety pin is what prevents the fire extinguisher from being used accidentally. It is usually a plastic or a metal ring. Sometimes, the safety pin is secured with a seal. You have to break that seal.

*   Hold and aim - Once you break the seal, you have to hold the nozzle with one hand and the switch with the other hand. Your nozzle should be aimed at the base of the fire, not its tips. Shooting into the flames or over them is a waste of time. Stop the flame by targeting its base, its source. Sweep the nozzle from side to side as you spray the fire extinguisher contents at the base.

*   Ask another person to help you - If the fire is not too big and you have a spare fire extinguisher, ask somebody to help extinguish the fire for you. The fire would be a lot easier to put out if more than one fire extinguisher is being used. Just make sure that the fire extinguisher is used properly for maximum effectiveness.

*   Get rid of your fire extinguisher - Suppose the fire has been put out. Assess the area immediately and make sure that there would not be any chances of re-ignition. As to the case of your fire extinguisher, you have to dispose of it. It has been depleted. It has served its purpose. It would be very practical for you to get a new one.

These are some tips on using the fire extinguisher. Do not have a fire extinguisher in your home yet? Need your old one to be replaced? Contact Northern Academy Fire Protection INC.

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Secrets Behind Installing Fire Extinguishers To Perfection

by Norman Holden on 08/18/14

It is important for every establishment to have a fire extinguisher in it. In fact, there should be at least one fire extinguisher for every floor. Are you planning to install fire extinguishers in your home or in your office building? If so, consider these tips on proper fire extinguisher installation.

*    Make sure that your fire extinguisher is accessible - Fire extinguishers must be accessible in that they should easily be grabbed in case of emergencies. So many people install fire extinguishers in areas where these are blocked by various things such as photocopy machines, desks, and other objects. This is wrong. Also, do not let your fire extinguishers be hidden by curtains and other décor.

*    Make sure everyone can easily access it - When mounting your fire extinguisher on a wall, make sure that it is neither too high nor too low. It would be practical to install your fire extinguisher at a height where it would be accessed even by kids. Big kids must be taught to use the fire extinguisher too, you know?

*    Make use of fire extinguisher stands - Sometimes, it is impossible for fire extinguisher to be mounted on walls. There might be limited wall space or the fire extinguisher might be too large or too heavy to be mounted. If this is the case, it is practical to make use of a fire extinguisher stand. Using a stand is a lot better than letting the fire extinguisher stand on bare ground. Fire extinguisher stands are not really that costly.

*    Have a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen - According to most statistics from around the world, fire usually starts in the kitchen. This is not a surprise since it is in this room where people light flames and use various types of electronics. Thus, if possible, install your fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Or better yet, have one reserved for the kitchen and another one allotted for the entire floor. Install your fire extinguisher near the kitchen door for easy access. Again, make sure that it is not blocked by anything.

*    Have a fire extinguisher in the garage - Next to the kitchen, the garage is the second most common area inside the home to catch a fire. It is easy for the garage to catch fire because of the solvents and other flammable materials that are stored there. That is why it is advised to have a fire extinguisher in the garage. Install your fire extinguisher as close to the entryway as possible.

Now, you should know where you should install your fire extinguisher. Never underestimate its importance. If there is no fire extinguisher yet in your home, or if there is not any of it at your workplace, you should consider getting a couple or more as soon as possible. Fire extinguishers are very effective at preventing fires; they are basically effective at preventing your properties from getting destroyed by fire. If you ever need top quality and affordable fire extinguishers, consider buying from Northern Academy Fire Protection INC.

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Extinguish Any Doubts You May Have On Maintaining Your Fire Extinguisher!

by Norman Holden on 06/11/14

Even though a fire may begin from a small flame, the potential dangers of a fire can be life threatening. It is essential to have a fully functioning fire extinguisher ready in your house or in any premise to ensure everyone's safety. A small flame that is out of control can spread like wildfire and burn everything nearby very quickly if it is not extinguished promptly.

Thus, having a fire extinguisher within reach is of utmost importance to fight a fire. However, if it is not regularly maintained and kept in a good working condition, it will probably be ineffective when you need it the most. Appropriate fire extinguisher maintenance is vital to lessen the chances of a mishap.

Even though the consequences of a fire can be deadly, we must remember that these consequences can be easily avoided with just a little bit of diligence and effort to check your fire extinguisher. It is necessary to maintain your fire extinguisher at least once a month. In this way, the disaster of a fire in any premise can be avoided. Here are several steps that you can take on your own to make sure that your fire extinguisher is prepared and ready to be used whenever the need arises.

Steps to properly maintain your fire extinguisher

Firstly, ensure that your fire extinguisher is within reach. Also, check that residents in a house or users of a building are aware of the location of the fire extinguishers.

Ensure that nothing, such as furniture, is blocking your fire extinguisher.

Ensure that the pressure dial of a fire extinguisher is checked regularly so that it is adequately charged and is always ready for use.

Verify that the pull pin is secured properly within the handle and is fastened in place by the tamper seal.

Check that the instructions on the fire extinguisher are clear and visible in case of emergency.

Make sure that no alterations that may hinder the performance of a fire extinguisher are carried out.

Ensure that your fire extinguisher is not damaged

In addition to these guidelines, do take some time to check that your fire extinguisher is free from damage such as cracks or dents. This may prevent your fire extinguisher from functioning at its best during the time of need. Additionally, if your fire extinguisher is badly damaged and shows signs of leakage, it is potentially hazardous. The canister of a fire extinguisher may explode which can be extremely hazardous. As such, if you feel that your fire extinguisher is in a poor condition, do notify a professional fire extinguisher company and ask them to inspect it straightaway.

Service your fire extinguisher promptly after use

Lastly, once your fire extinguisher has been used, it is imperative that you either replace it or have it serviced or refilled right away to make sure that you have a fully functioning fire extinguisher readily prepared in case of another emergency. With such precautions in place, fire related tragedies could be minimised to ensure safety for everyone, including your loved ones.

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Understanding The Importance Of Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

by Norman Holden on 05/23/14

Every building ought to have at least one portable fire extinguisher and that is easy to access. My home, for example, has three fully serviced and functioning fire extinguishers, one in the garage, the furnace/laundry room and the kitchen. Why three, you might ask. Well, once you have been in a fire tragedy, then you know that having just one in a home isn’t good enough.

All the same, it is important to realize that a fire extinguisher should be well maintained so as to extend its life and ensure optimal performance incase of a fire tragedy. For example, the pressure gauge needs to be inspected on a monthly basis and recharged if need be. Note however that a fire extinguisher should be properly inspected and maintained by an experienced professional at least once a year. It is not mandatory in Ontario to have this done in your home, but it offers a line of defence against the unexpected and can save you on your insurance costs.

(talk to your insurance provider to find out about discounts)

Properly maintaining a fire extinguisher

An improperly maintained fire extinguisher is likely to be useless when needed the most, and hence the importance of properly maintaining yours. Proper fire extinguisher maintenance lessens the likelihood of fire tragedies and also assures your peace of mind.

Here are some guidelines to ensure that your fire extinguisher will be working in the event of a fire..

1.   Ensure it is located in an easy to access location.
2.   Make sure that yours is set up in a proper manner for ease of handling and that it is firmly secured to the wall and not falling down.
3.   Ensure that the tamper seal is intact and that there is no physical damage or corrosion on the cylinder.
4.   Check the pressure dial to ascertain that yours is fully charged. Simply put, the fire extinguisher should be fully charged at all times and ready for immediate use.
5.   Ascertain that the pull pin is correctly secured and is inside the handle. The pin should be held in place by a tamper proof seal.
6. Make sure that there are no modifications on your fire fighting equipment that might affect its level of performance. Such as the hose assembly being removed.
7.   The affixed instruction label needs to be visible and legible at all times.

What happens if a fire extinguisher is improperly maintained?

Improper fire extinguisher maintenance has grievous consequences in a majority of cases. So, to avoid issues with your fire fighting equipment, a proper maintenance routine has to be implemented. An inspection needs to be done on a monthly basis - at least once per month and if you discover any problems they should be corrected as soon as possible. This way, small fires in homes, office buildings, restaurants, etc, can easily be contained. Simply put, a flame can instantly be doused or contained with a correctly functioning fire extinguisher.

Can a corroded or dented fire extinguisher canister explode?

If a fire extinguisher is badly damaged or is seriously corroded or dented or has visible signs of a leak, then it is potentially dangerous for it is possible for the canister to rupture. So if you suspect yours is in bad shape, then better to have a professional fire extinguisher service provider in to inspect it. If replacing it is the only viable option, then have it replaced. It is better to be safe than sorry!

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What Is Checked During Fire Extinguisher Maintenance?

by Norman Holden on 04/29/14

Fire extinguishers can and do save lives, and they are often also very important in preventing damage to property as well. This means that if you have either commercial or residential property, it would be necessary for you to do as much as you can to ensure that the ones you have in your premises are as trustworthy as possible. The only way to do this is by doing periodic checks on the extinguishers to make sure that they are always functional. This is a service that should be provided by a professional firm, since some of the things that need to be checked are technical and can not be done by just anybody. Some of the things that should be checked include:

Is the extinguisher there?

The first issue that needs to be sorted out is if the fire extinguishers that are supposed to be there are. In addition to that, one has to make sure that they are clearly visible, and can be reached with ease. Remember, in case a fire breaks out, chances are that people will go into a panic about what to do. In case the fire extinguisher is not easily visible or accessible, it will definitely be useless at this point in time, which defeats the purpose of spending money on it in the first place.

Is it in working order?

The other issue that must be checked during the inspection is if each extinguisher is in good working order. This means that the hose and nozzle should not be blocked, the tamper seal should be intact, the pin should still be in place and the pressure should be in the operational area. All of these factors affect how the extinguisher performs in case of a fire. In case any of these issues are compromised, it would be necessary to either replace the extinguisher or repair the damage that has been done. It would also be necessary to figure out if the extinguisher is full by examining its weight as well

In addition to that, it should be established that the instructions on using the extinguisher are still in place, legible and facing the potential user. .

Is it the right extinguisher in the right place?

Different types of extinguishers have to be used for different applications. For instance, in case the risk of an electrical fire is strong, it would make sense to use a dry chemical or Co2 fire extinguisher since this reduces the risk of harm in such a setting.

When was it's last maintenance?

All fire extinguishers have to undergo maintenance at least once a year if they have not been used during that period. All extinguishers should be inspected every month, during inspection it is important to check the tamper seal is not broken, the pressure is in the operable area, it is not falling down off the wall or obstructed in any way and check the tags to make sure that maintenance has been done within the last twelve months. In case more than twelve months have elapsed and the extinguisher has not been serviced, it would be important to schedule one such service to make sure that it keeps working.

Once all the above pointers are in order, one can be assured that the fire extinguishers are in good condition, and that they can be depended on in case of a fire.

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