Fire extinguishers are vital for safety, but there are some misunderstandings that can seriously impede or completely eradicate their usefulness. Here are some of the myths that need to be debunked in order to prevent very costly mistakes from occurring.
All extinguishers can be used for all fires
This is not true, as fire extinguishers are classified according to what types of fire they can be used on. It is important to understand the different classes of fire extinguishers, as the wrong type could actually make a fire get worse rather than better. For example, water extinguishers can cause oil-based fires to spread.
Fire extinguishers don’t require regular maintenance
Whether you’re dealing with Class A water extinguishers or P50 foam extinguishers, sourced from companies such as LS Fire Solutions, it is a legal requirement to ensure they are regularly maintained. British Standard BS 5306-3 requires that all fire extinguishers are serviced once a year by a qualified professional to ensure that they are fit for use if needed. Businesses also need to carry out monthly visual checks on extinguisher location, damage, and accessibility. Some extinguishers, especially those which use CO2, will need refills and periodic pressure tests.
Fire extinguishers can last forever
This is not true and, in Britain, the advice is to replace power, foam and water extinguishers every 5 to 15 years and make sure the CO2 fire extinguishers receive pressure tests every 10 years.
A used fire extinguisher won’t need recharging or replacing
Fire extinguishers must be replaced or recharged even if they have only been partially used. This is because the extinguisher will lose pressure and be ineffective once its seal is broken and a discharge has occurred.
Fire extinguishers are all you need to be fire safety compliant
It is true that fire extinguishers are essential in business premises, but companies and organisations also need a fire safety plan to comply with the Regulatory Reform – Fire Safety – Order 2005.
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