A fire extinguisher is a portable and a compact device that helps in saving lives in the event of a fire. It plays an integral role in reducing the potential effects of fire.

But not many residents and business owners pay attention to these devices until they have to use them. A fire extinguisher is one of the best ways to prevent a fire from spreading and causing more damage. Moreover, many people often forget that once the fire prevention system is acquired and installed, it’s important to keep them in working order.

Having a well-maintained and serviced fire extinguisher is not only a code required by all commercial facilities but also they play a crucial role in putting out fire if and when they’re needed. As a matter of fact, with proper maintenance and servicing, fire extinguishers last for 5-10 years.

Using fire extinguisher maintenance services in New York helps you maintain your fire extinguishers in top-notch condition.

There are many other life-saving facts about fire extinguishers that you must know.

Here are some of them.

Fire extinguishers should be easily accessed – Fire extinguishers should be installed in the most accessible area of your building. Make sure they have proper labels so that anyone can easily find a fire extinguisher during an emergency. Easily accessible fire extinguishers allow anyone to use it in case of a fire emergency.

Different fire extinguishers are required for different fires – All fire extinguishers are designed to extinguish a fire. But they come in different types, such as foam spray, water CO2, wet chemical and ABC powder. And it’s intrinsic to use the right type of fire extinguisher for your premises. You also need to make sure that you have the right size and weight of the device along with right type.

Regular maintenance of fire extinguisher – It is of utmost importance to comply with a regular physical and visual inspection of your fire extinguishers.

Physical inspections – Make sure your fire extinguisher is serviced by an experienced and qualified technician at least once in a year. During the physical inspection, the professional usually look for the following things:

• Your fire extinguishers’ condition.
• The location, type, and number of your extinguishers.

Visual inspection – Contrary to physical inspection, visual inspections should be done once a month by an experienced person. In this, the technician consider the following things:

• The location of your fire extinguisher.
• Is your extinguisher easily accessible?
• Are your extinguisher’s pin and seal in place?
• Is it charged fully?

Follow P.A.S.S to use a fire extinguisher – Only a trained and competent person should use the fire extinguisher. However, some situations may occur where you need to use it, so knowing how to use a fire extinguisher is always helpful. In such cases, keep the acronym P.A.S.S in your mind while operating fire extinguisher. P.A.S.S. stands for:

• Pull
• Aim
• Squeeze
• Sweep

Finally, fire suppression systems whether in commercial or residential buildings should be maintained and inspected regularly to ensure the proper functioning of these systems during a fire breakout. This way you can save your staff and customers as well as property from damage.