Cart is empty Yes, businesses should have a comprehensive fire safety plan, conduct regular fire drills, and provide training for employees on fire prevention and response.
How can I childproof my home to prevent fires?
Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children, use outlet covers, and educate children about the dangers of playing with fire.
What should I do if my clothes catch fire?
Stop, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands, and roll to smother the flames.
What is the importance of having a fire escape plan?
A fire escape plan helps ensure that everyone in a building knows how to quickly and safely exit in the event of a fire. Regular drills are essential to practice the plan.
How often should I test my smoke alarms?
No exact answer exists regarding how often a smoke alarm should be tested. However, smoke alarms should be tested on a regular basis. This could be weekly or bi-weekly. We suggest a weekly basis to ensure the most optimal protection. The batteries should be replaced at least once a year to ensure they are working. The entire smoke alarm should be replaced every 10 years.
How can I help prevent kitchen fires?
Never leave cooking unattended, keep flammable materials away from heat sources, and have a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket in the kitchen. Ensure appliances are in good working condition.
Should I use an elevator during a fire?
No, it’s safer to use stairs during a fire. Elevators may malfunction during a fire and can trap people.
Can children use fire extinguishers, and if so, what age is appropriate?
Children should only really use a fire extinguisher under adult supervision. Most importantly it’s essential to teach them how to use one safely. There isn’t a specific age requirement for fire extinguishers. It’s generally recommended that children be at least 12 to 14 years old before being entrusted with operating a fire extinguisher. At this age, they may have the physical and cognitive abilities needed to handle a fire emergency. It’s crucial to emphasise to children fire safety education, prevention, and escape plans. These are more important for children than extinguishing fires themselves.
How often should fire extinguisher training be conducted in the workplace?
In the workplace, fire extinguisher training should typically be conducted annually. This is to ensure that employees are well-prepared to respond effectively in case of a fire emergency. Regular training helps to familiarise workers with the proper use of fire extinguishers and reinforces fire safety protocols. This therefore contributes to a safer working environment. However, the exact frequency may vary depending on the specific workplace and its risk assessment, so it’s advisable to consult with local authorities and follow any regulations or recommendations they provide.
What should I do if my fire extinguisher is damaged or leaking?
The lives of people inside your property are at risk when you neglect to maintain your fire extinguishers. Therefore, if you notice any signs of damage, corrosion, leakage, broken tamper-evident seals, missing safety pins, or damaged hoses, horns, or nozzles, you should get support from a qualified engineer who can perform the necessary repair work.
What are the common signs of a faulty or expired fire extinguisher?
Common signs of a faulty or expired fire extinguisher include a damaged or rusted cylinder, a missing safety pin or tamper seal, a low or zero pressure gauge reading, and an outdated inspection or expiration date.
When should I use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire?
A fire extinguisher should only be used for smaller-scale fires that can be contained. If there is a great threat of the fire quickly spreading out of control, it is safest to evacuate immediately. If the fire cannot be extinguished by the fire extinguisher and grows or becomes uncontrollable, this is where it starts to get dangerous. The area should be evacuated immediately and the fire service should be called.
What is the PASS technique for using a fire extinguisher?
The PASS technique is a simple and effective method for using a fire extinguisher to control and extinguish small fires. PASS is an acronym that stands for:
- Pull: Start by pulling the safety pin or ring from the handle of the fire extinguisher. This step will allow you to discharge the extinguishing agent.
- Aim: Point the nozzle or hose of the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire, not at the flames themselves. Aiming at the base ensures that you’re targeting the source of the fire and not just the visible flames.
- Squeeze: Squeeze the handle or lever to release the extinguishing agent. By doing this, you can release the suppressant material to smother the fire.
- Sweep: While keeping the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire, sweep from side to side to cover the entire area of the fire. Continue sweeping until the fire is fully extinguished.
Remember to stay at a safe distance from the fire and have an escape route in case the fire cannot be controlled. The PASS technique is a valuable tool for quickly and effectively tackling small fires, but it’s essential to prioritise safety and call the fire department for larger or more dangerous fires. To learn more about PASS and all the techniques, find our more comprehensive guide to using fire extinguishers HERE.
How often should fire extinguishers be inspected and maintained?
Fire extinguishers should be inspected and maintained as follows:
- Monthly Inspections: Conduct visual checks, ensuring the fire extinguisher is undamaged, the pressure gauge is within the recommended range, and the tamper seal is intact.
- Annual Inspections: In addition to monthly checks, perform a more thorough inspection, including confirming the pin, tamper seal, and instructions are in good condition, and the nozzle/hose is unobstructed.
- Professional Maintenance: Have a certified fire protection specialist perform professional maintenance at least once a year, which may include refilling, internal inspection, and pressure testing.
- Recharging and Refilling: Promptly recharge extinguishers after any use and replace partially or fully discharged units.
Adhering to these guidelines helps ensure your fire extinguishers remain in good working order, ready for use in case of a fire emergency.
Why do fire extinguishers need to be mounted?
It is important to place fire extinguishers securely on a stand or hook to avoid them falling or damaging. This also makes them easier to access in an emergency. Apart from the accessibility concerns, fire extinguishers positioned on the ground could be more vulnerable to rust. When an extinguisher is left standing up, it can be accidentally kicked or struck, causing corrosion-resistant coatings to come off
What does an intermittent fire alarm mean in a hospital?
In a hospital if an intermittent fire alarm is heard what does it mean? The intermittent ringing of a fire alarm indicates a fire zone that is adjacent to a potential fire. This will be either next door, above or below the affected fire zone.
What is a special dry powder fire extinguisher?
Specialist dry powder fire extinguishers are made to tackle class D fires. Class D fires (flammable metals) are a very niche class but very dangerous, this is why they need to be dealt with specially.
Are wet chemical fire extinguishers suited for kitchen use?
Wet Chemical extinguishers are designed with kitchens in mind. They offer a perfect solution to fire safety in a kitchen scenario by being able to tackle all cooking oils and fats as well as being able to extinguish normal items that fall under class A fires (any carbonaceous items).
Does a wet chemical fire extinguisher use foam?
Wet Chemical extinguishers work by leaving a foam like barrier. In doing this it reduces the chances of the fire reigniting.
Are wet chemical fire extinguishers class K?
Wet Chemical fire extinguishers can be used on class A and F fires (sometimes referred to as Class K). Class F or Class K fires are fire involving oils and fats that are used for cooking. These items are found in kitchens, this is why class F is also sometimes refferred to as class K.
What does a wet chemical fire extinguisher contain?
The chemical component used in a wet chemical fire extinguisher is potassium. A soapy layer is formed on the fire’s surface as a result of the reaction that occurs when potassium salts are created as a fine mist and sprayed out into the air.
How do wet chemicals extinguish a fire?
Wet chemical fire extinguishers are effective against Class A and F fires. They function in two ways: first, by cooling the fire and oil; second, by reacting to produce a thick foam that smothers the fat and stops it from re-igniting.
What are wet chemical fire extinguishers used for?
Wet Chemical fire extinguishers can be used on class A and F fires. This skillset makes them ideal for kitchens.
What is the colour of wet chemical fire extinguishers?
Wet Chemical fire extinguishers are identified by their yellow label.
What are the class k fire extinguishers used for?
Class K are now known now as Class F fire extinguishers are used to extinguish cooking oil/ fat fires. The fire extinguishers that are suitable for extinguishing these types of fires are MultiCHEM extinguishers, Wet Chemical extinguishers and Water Mist extinguishers.
What are the dimensions for a 5kg co2 fire extinguisher?
5kg CO2 fire extinguishers have dimensions of 770 x 138mm (Height x Diameter).
What are the dimensions for a 2kg co2 fire extinguisher?
2kg CO2 fire extinguishers have dimensions of 517 x 104mm (Height x Diameter).
What are the different weights for co2 fire extinguishers?
CO2 fire extinguishers are available in 2kg and 5kg.
What are the disadvantages of co2 fire extinguishers?
As the temperature of an extinguisher horn rapidly drops and freezes over, there is a risk that your hands will get ice burns. Since CO2 works by displacing the oxygen around the fire, it should not be used outside or in windy environments. CO2 is a high pressured extinguisher. It might make a class A or class F fire worse by being used on them. In small, enclosed spaces, users should exercise caution when discharging large amounts of CO2.
How does a co2 fire extinguisher work?
Carbon dioxide extinguishes work by replacing oxygen, or taking away the oxygen component of the fire triangle. As it exits the extinguisher, the carbon dioxide is also extremely cold, which cools the fuel as well. CO2s might not be able to displace enough oxygen to completely put out Class A fires, making them ineffective at doing so. Class A materials have the potential to smoulder and re-ignite.