Monthly fire extinguisher inspections: Everything you need to know!

Fire extinguishers are extremely important in every commercial as well as some residential buildings. Due to their small size, most people live with the misconception that they can’t provide fire protection, especially in NYC where rescue operations are quite difficult. But this is not true. In fact, fire extinguishers are the first line of defense to put out small fires in any residential and commercial buildings. As a result, they prevent fires from spreading throughout the building and eventually save you a lot of money. However, like any other system, fire extinguishers also have a limited lifespan and require regular maintenance and inspection to work properly. 

There are quite a number of people who think that fire extinguishers need to be inspected quarterly or annually by professionals for maintenance and refilling. But to ensure your fire extinguishers remain in working condition at all times, you need to consider monthly fire extinguisher inspections. However, hiring a professional isn’t necessary for monthly fire extinguisher service inspection. It can be done by a building manager or owner.  

Here are a few simple steps that involve a monthly fire extinguisher service! 

Check the gauge - Please keep in mind, checking the gauge doesn’t replace the annual charge test conducted by a professional. During monthly inspection, you need to check whether your gauge is visible or not. Dropped gauge usually indicates a low charge in your extinguisher, which could result from any leakage. 

Inspect the tank and nozzle - Apart from checking the gauge, you should also inspect the tank nozzle during monthly inspections. You should look for any signs of corrosion or leaks around the nozzle, as damaged nozzles can break during a fire emergency, leaving the extinguisher useless. On the other hand, when inspecting the tank, you need to make sure it is free from any dust, grease or debris. 

Shake it - If your building has dry chemical extinguishers, then you may require to shake them once a month. This will ensure the powder inside is fluffy and ready to dispense. Lack of monthly shaking usually causes the powder to settle down, which may fail to dispense during an emergency. 

Besides this, you also need to look for tamper seals and the expiring date when performing a monthly inspection on your fire extinguishers. No tamper seal means the extinguisher has been already used, which needs to be refilled immediately.