Fire Extinguishers are a must for all businesses and are the first line of protection from a detrimental workplace fire. These machines are a staple of many enterprises across the country, and you need to have them fit to go at all times.
Since you’re a business owner, that means your employees need to be armed with a proper commercial fire extinguisher in New Jersey. When it comes to finding the right fire extinguisher for your business, keep in mind these critical factors.
Different Fires Require Different Fire Extinguishers
Every business houses an array of material that is in need of a variety of fire protection. Extinguishers can be of the same size, shape, and color, but their contents are formulated for different types of fires. For instance, you wouldn’t use the same device to put out a fire in a stairwell that you’d use at a paint factory, he says.
All fire extinguishers are marked with a classification code that tells you what types of fires they will control:
- Class A: Standard combustible materials
- Class B: Flammable liquids
- Class C: Electrical equipment
- Class D: Combustible metals
- Class K: Cooking substances, including oils, fat, and grease
When you look toward a specific fire extinguisher in Kenilworth businesses you might notice a combination of letters which show that this particular fire extinguisher can work for several fire type classifications.
Fire Extinguisher Size
Before purchasing a fire extinguisher, there are some things you should consider based on the size of your business rooms.
One 5-pound A-B-C extinguisher for small or average-sized rooms where the potential of B and C fires is low and where the ambient temperature is neither too low nor too high.
Other things to consider are size of building or warehouse with high contents of combustible material which would require a unit over 30 pounds.
And if you’re not sure about what size you need, you can always consult with the ABC Fire & Safety team to figure out what would be best for your business.
Employee Abilities
Fire extinguishers are fairly easy to operate; if your employees can’t lift a 30-pound piece of equipment, though, they might not be able to use the equipment with a high level of confidence.
For certain areas like commercial kitchens or industrial buildings, you need a heavy-duty extinguisher. For these situations, you might want to invest in a wheeled fire extinguisher and save some of the work for your employees.
Employee Training
In addition to knowing the abilities of your employees, you also need to train them so the device can get used properly.
Arrange for everyone to be formally instructed in this easy but vital four-step process, known as PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep), by a trained professional, as suggested by the National Fire Protection Association.
The operator must stand six to eight feet back and do the following:
- P: Remove and aim away from personal.
- A: Direct nozzle at the base of the fire
- S: Gradually and evenly press the trigger to discharge the extinguishing agent
- S: Sweep the nozzle from side to side, while edging forward to the fire
Making sure the extinguisher remains in an upright position, continue to point it at the base of the flames.
Device Construction
As you shop for the right fire extinguisher for your business, be sure to take into account the construction quality of the device, as well as the condition of the gauges, pull pins, and tamper seals. The extinguisher should be simple to service, inspect, and recharge.
Inspection and Maintenance on Regular Basis
If you work at an office or a commercial building, you should schedule a regular fire extinguisher inspection in NJ to be certain that your company’s fire safety equipment is in good operational condition.
They should be checked after the first purchase and at least once a month. If your fire extinguishers are located in an environment that is prone to rust, heavy impacts or tampering, you might want to inspect them more regularly.
Where to Get a Fire Extinguisher
You can buy a portable fire extinguisher from many of the world’s major physical and online retailers. If yours is a company that needs more than that, or if you have special needs or questions, it’s better to talk to a fire protection equipment specialist like the pros at Brazas Fire before you shop around for fire exinguishers.