FAQs on Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are inspected and serviced annually, but regular checks should be made to ensure safety. At weekly or monthly intervals, all tamper seals and safety pins should be checked, as well as the pressure gauge, which should remain within the green marking.
Failure to conduct regular fire extinguisher checks can result in your extinguishers no longer working.
DO NOT attempt to fight a fire if you could be putting yourself or other in any type of danger!
ALWAYS – make sure that you raise the alarm and that the Fire Service has been called.
ALWAYS – make sure you have the correct fire extinguisher and make sure that it works before attacking the fire.
ALWAYS – keep low and make sure that you keep an exit behind you.
NEVER – allow the fire to get between you and your exit.
NEVER – attempt to fight a fire if it’s spreading rapidly.
NEVER – continue to fight a fire if there is too much smoke, if you are not getting control of the fire or it continues to grow, leave the area making sure that the doors are closed behind you.
P – Pull the pin
A – Aim the extinguisher hose or horn at the base of the fire
S – Squeeze the trigger handles together
S – Sweep the hose or horn from side to side
Remember: Extinguishers are only for dealing with small fires or fires in the early stage. If the extinguisher runs out, the smoke gets too thick to see clearly or you feel that the
fire is not coming under control.
Fire extinguishers should be placed in a position suitable to its specific needs. However, most extinguishers are placed at exit points to protect escape routes in a fire situation.
Wet chemical extinguishers can be used on A and F class fires.
A class fires are for fires involving wood, plastic and textiles, and F-class fires are for fires involving cooking oils and fats.
A yellow marking can identify wet chemical fire extinguishers.
Foam fire extinguishers can be used on A and B class fires. A-class fires involve materials such as paper, wood and plastic. B-class fires involve flammable liquids.
Foam fire extinguishers can be identified via their cream colour marking.
Sometimes known as the multi-purpose fire extinguisher, powder fire extinguishers can be used on A, B and C class fires.
A-class fires involve materials such as wood, paper and plastic. B-class fires involve flammable liquids, and C-class fires involve flammable gases. This extinguisher can also be used on live electrical equipment.
Powder fire extinguishers are identifiable by their blue colour marking.
CO2 fire extinguishers are for B-class fires. These fires involve flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, engine oils. The extinguisher can also be used on live electrical equipment
Water fire extinguishers can be used on A-class fires, which involve materials including wood, paper and plastic.
CO2 extinguishers are recognised by a black colour marking.
Water fire extinguishers have a white colour marking, and are one of the most common fire extinguishers