Fire Safety : Fire Extinguisher Inspections, Testing & Accessibility

www.safetygoodwe.com

Chapter : Fire Safety

Fire Extinguisher Inspections & Testing

Inspection Certification

Fire extinguishers must be certified annually in accordance with local, state, and national codes and regulations. This is a thorough examination by a licensed Fire Extinguisher Inspector. The certification process requires inspectors to verify the extinguisher is fully pressurized, free from damage, and weighed appropriately. Annual inspections also require a pull test on the pin and seal replacement—this must be verified with a dated inspection tag. If the extinguisher fails to meet these requirements, it must be replaced.

Fire Extinguisher Testing

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) recommends that extinguishers should be tested every six years or twelve years, depending on the type of extinguisher.


6 Year Maintenance: Extinguishers that store a pressurized agent must have its contents removed and refilled every 6 years. 6 year maintenance requires thorough inspection of the inside and outside and must be performed exactly 72 months after the manufacturing date.

12 Year Maintenance: Extinguishers which store specialized chemicals such as Halon or dry chemicals must undergo “hydrostatic” tests every 12 years. This standard method of testing is conducted underwater where the cylinders are subjected to pressures that exceed their ratings.

Extinguishers that fail the test are destroyed, while the rest are reassembled and put back into service.
Monthly Inspections are required to ensure that all extinguishers are ready for use. They are performed by trained, competent individuals within the company, many times the Safety Professionals, or another like-minded individual.

A monthly inspection includes:

• Confirming the extinguisher is visible, unobstructed, and in its designated location.
• Verifying the pull pin is intact and the tamper seal is unbroken.
• Examining the extinguisher for obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage, or severe denting.
• Tapping the pressure gauge to confirm the gauge and indicator is in the operable range/position.
• Turning the extinguisher upside down and pounding it on the side to loosen the powder inside.
• Completely removing the hose from the unit to check for blockages.
• While the hose is off, inspecting the valve assembly for powder caking or buildup.
• Making sure the operating instructions on the nameplate are legible and facing outward.
• Checking the service tag to ensure it is legible and the punched date is within the last 12 months.
• Initialing and dating the back of the tag to show the inspection was completed.

Fire Extinguisher Accessibility

To avoid putting workers in danger, fire extinguishers should be located throughout the workplace and readily accessible in the event of a fire. You can usually find them in hallways, laundry rooms, meeting rooms, kitchens, mechanical or electrical rooms, near exit doors, and elevators. The portable fire extinguishers must be selected and positioned based on the potential type (and size) of fire that can occur.

The distance between fire extinguishers in the work place depends on the type of materials at risk of igniting. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has very detailed requirements about location and placement of fire extinguishers, based on the type of building  area, and type of combustible materials stored. Basically, if your building (or work area) has:

• Class A combustible materials (paper, wood, plastic, etc.) 
• Have a 2-A extinguisher for every 3,000 square feet, and locate it no further than 100 feet away.
• Class B combustible materials (paints, oils, gasoline, etc.)
•  All employees need access to an extinguisher within 50 feet travel distance.
• Class C extinguishers (a multi-purpose extinguisher)
•  Are required where electrical equipment is used, and the size and location spacing is based on the Class A or B hazard that is present.
• Class D combustibles (metal powders, flakes, shavings, or similarly sized materials)
• Must have a portable fire extinguisher not more than 75 feet from the hazard.
• Class K combustibles (cooking materials; vegetable/animal oils and fats)
• Must have extinguishers installed at a maximum travel distance of 30 feet.

Fire Extinguisher At Job Sites : 

OSHA requires one or more fire extinguishers (rated not less than 2A) be provided on each floor. At least one fire extinguisher is to be located adjacent to the stairway. A fire extinguisher (rated not less than 10B) is to be provided within 50 feet of where 5+ gallons of flammable or combustible liquids or gases are being used. Other common locations would be storage boxes or trailers, gang boxes, mobile equipment like aerial lifts and forklifts as well as roof tops during roofing work.

Both Industry and Construction regulations require that an extinguisher be readily available to all hot work operations such as welding, cutting, soldering, brazing, and electrical hot work operations. The extinguisher should be within arms reach, as fire doubles in size very quickly. Roofing tar kettles require a fire extinguisher to be present, and also where propane torches are in use. Electrical work where plastic conduit or pipe is being formed or bent should also have a fire extinguisher present as a best practice due to the high heat possible.