Several Questions You Might Need Answered About Fire Extinguishers
Fire safety is an important aspect of owning both residential and commercial buildings. To this end, fire extinguishers are among the first lines of defense because they will allow individuals to rapidly put out fires before they can spread. Yet, there are people that frequently neglect the benefits of fire extinguishers or they may use them incorrectly.
Are Fire Extinguishers Required For Your Building?
There is a frequent misconception that building codes never require fire extinguishers. However, there are many communities that will require commercial buildings to have fire extinguishers placed throughout the structure. For homeowners, it can be common for insurance companies to either require fire extinguishers as a part of the coverage or to provide discounts for taking the initiative of placing fire extinguishers throughout the building.
Will A Fire Extinguisher Be Difficult To Use?
It is often assumed that using a fire extinguisher will be hard to use due to it being difficult to control. While the fire retardant coming from the fire extinguisher will have a lot of force behind it, you should have minimal difficulty aiming or controlling it. If you are concerned about this issue, you may want to buy an extra fire extinguisher so that you can test it. When testing it, wear a face mask so that you can limit a amount of fumes that you inhale.
Does It Matter What Type Of Fire Extinguisher That You Buy?
You might assume that fire extinguishers will work on any type of flame. However, there are many types of fires that require specialized retardants to extinguish. For example, electrical and grease fires can be worsened if you use fire extinguishers that are designed for use on paper or wood fires. To ensure your building has the most protection against flames, you should identify the fires that are most likely to erupt and choose fire extinguishers that can be effective on these fires.
Can You Use A Fire Extinguisher Multiple Times?
It is important to appreciate the fact that you can only use a fire extinguisher a single time before it will need to be replaced. This is due to the fact that these devices are under immense pressure, and using them will cause the pressure to degrade enough to make it unreliable in the future. Therefore, you should make sure to replace your fire extinguishers as soon as possible once they have been used. In some instances, you may be able to simply have the extinguishers repressurized, which can allow you to avoid the costs of replacement.
Contact a fire service, like Tri County Fire Protection, for more help.