Kitsap County Department of Community Development - Maintenance of Fire Extinguishers

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Maintenance of Fire Extinguishers

Fire Extinguisher in Operation

Extinguishers require routine care. Read your operator's manual and check the condition of the extinguisher every month. Shake your dry chemical extinguisher to get the powder evenly dispersed since the powder has a tendency to cake. Have the extinguisher serviced once a year by a fire extinguisher company, which you can find in the yellow pages under "Fire Extinguishers."

Reusable models must be recharged after every use. Sometimes the powder will lodge in the valve assembly after one use and the pressure will bleed off even though your pressure gauge shows pressure is remaining. A partially discharged unit might as well be empty.

Disposable fire extinguishers can be used only once. They must be replaced after one use. Disposable extinguishers usually do not have a pressure gauge and rely on a button to let you know if pressure is still good. The label will tell you if the extinguisher is rechargeable.

Each extinguisher should be installed in plain view near an escape route and away from potential fire hazards such as kitchen stoves, wood stoves, and heaters where you can reach it if there's a fire.

Many Fire Departments offer training and practice in the use of portable fire extinguishers. Phone or email your local Fire Department office to ask about training.



	Classification of Fires and Size of Extinguishers		Maintenance of Fire Extinguishers

	Operation of Fire Extinguishers		Should you fight the fire?

Last Updated: April 27, 2006

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