Five Components of Extinguisher Service and Support
Understanding Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers inside your offices and facilities are a critical component in your business's safety plan. They provide the first line of defense against fires, potentially saving the lives of your employees and guests while minimizing property damage. However, simply having fire extinguishers on site isn't enough. As a safety-minded leader, you need to have working knowledge of these five fire extinguisher focus areas.
Installation
Properly installing fire extinguishers in your buildings is the first step. This involves selecting the right type and size of extinguishers for different areas of your business. Ensuring the extinguishers are easily accessible and correctly mounted is equally important. But don’t worry. Professional installation service companies can help with installation, so your business fully complies with local fire codes and regulations.
Inspection and testing
Regular fire extinguisher inspections (done monthly and annually) are crucial to ensure your fire extinguishers are in working order. When performed by a certified fire extinguisher service professional, these inspections check pressure levels, physical damage and expiration dates. Your annual inspections must be conducted by the professional you hire. The monthly inspections can also be performed by your certified professional. (Ask your service provider if they can train and certify some of your employees to carry out monthly visual inspections.)
Maintenance
If any issues are found during inspection and testing, extinguisher maintenance services are necessary. This can include recharging extinguishers, replacing damaged parts and performing hydrostatic testing. This required maintenance, completed by your fire extinguisher service provider, helps extend the lifespan of your fire extinguishers and helps ensure they function correctly in an emergency.
Employee training
Training your employees on how to use fire extinguishers effectively is a practice to consider. Training sessions can cover the different types of extinguishers, how to operate them and the appropriate situations to use them. The knowledge your workforce gains can be crucial in the early stages of a fire, potentially helping to prevent it from spreading. Ask your fire extinguisher service provider if they offer on-site training or digital courses.
Compliance and documentation
It is essential that your business stays compliant with local and national fire safety regulations. And with compliance comes documentation. Your fire extinguisher service provider can help your business keep up with these requirements by providing thorough documentation of the fire extinguisher inspections, maintenance and training that has been performed. This documentation is often required for insurance purposes and regulatory audits.
Conclusion
Having fire extinguishers in your offices and facilities is a fundamental safety measure. However, ensuring they are properly installed, maintained and operated requires a comprehensive approach and commitment from you and your safety leaders. By investing in professional fire extinguisher services, which Cintas provides among other fire protection solutions, your business can help protect its employees, customers and property from the devastating effects of fire.