Fire Extinguisher Testing & Maintenance Services
It may only take a single spark to light a devastating fire that soon becomes uncontrollable. This can especially be detrimental in commercial and residential buildings with multiple floors and limited ways to exit. A fire extinguisher that is accessible and readily available becomes a crucial safety requirement for such situations and with every commercial and residential building, it is required by law to keep fire extinguishers.
Fire extinguishers not only need to be in the vicinity, but they also require routine testing and maintenance. The quality of an extinguisher can determine a person's fate between life and death so a fire extinguisher check should be done regularly to avoid such an emergency in the first place.
For effective use of fire extinguishers in fire protection, it is also important to understand how to use the correct fire extinguisher. Different types of extinguishers exist for specific situations. Using the wrong fire extinguisher type can give the fire a chance to rekindle or combust even further.
AESM takes pride in its fire extinguisher and other fire equipment services Melbourne. Ensure the safety of your employees, your tenants and your families by following up on fire extinguisher inspection, testing and maintenance with our fire safety services in Geelong & Melbourne.
Fire Extinguisher Services Melbourne
With AESM, you can expect the best quality and care in our services. Our staff and crew are safety experts who dedicate their lives to providing excellent fire protection maintenance services and ensuring that fire extinguishers have regular maintenance.
Here are some of the services that AESM provides:
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Fire Extinguisher Testing: Depending on the fire extinguisher, mandatory tests occur to check the pressure and refill the canister.
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Fire Extinguisher Maintenance: This six-monthly and annual testing & maintenance as per requirements records the performance of fire extinguishers and uses a service tag to complete the maintenance test.
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Other servicing requirements including internal examination, discharging, and hydrostatic tests. Depending on the types of fire extinguishers, the equipment undergoes various kinds of testing every 5 years.
Often considered in tandem, fire blanket inspections are also routinely done by AESM to prepare them for smothering fire outbreaks alongside fire extinguishers. Monthly inspections involve checking for accessibility, the blanket's container, and confirmation of the annual inspection.
Annual inspections involve the repeat procedures of a monthly inspection, but with the addition of checking for physical use and damage. Any used fire blankets must be discarded and recorded in the logbook.
Fire Extinguisher Inspections
AESM performs required fire extinguisher inspections by adhering to the Australian Standards for Fire Extinguisher Safety.
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In the case of portable fire extinguishers, they should be located in readily accessible positions and licensed by a credible fire extinguisher company.
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A common misconception is that a fire extinguisher eliminates any fire. Different types of hazardous fires require unique fire extinguishers:
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A water fire extinguisher is commonly used and more affordable but can only fight against fires combusted by carbon based solids such wood and paper.
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CO2 extinguishers and ABE powder fire extinguishers contain chemical properties strong enough to combat electric fires.
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Each type of fire extinguisher has a colour-coded label to identify its purpose and use.
AESM safety professionals are trained to recognize all types of fire hazards and the proper way to manage the situation. They memorise all the safety exits within the premises, where all the fire extinguishers are on the premises, and the techniques that can help building occupants to be prepared in case of a fire.
With AESM’s experienced advice, you can make the right decisions when it comes to maintenance of fire protection systems.
AESM can offer its services to your building by providing a thorough fire safety check for your fire extinguishers. Not only will the inspection cover placement and checking for visual damages, but will also assure that your facility has the correct type of extinguisher, be they water, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or wet chemical fire extinguishers.
Fire Extinguisher Testing Services
AESM takes pride in its testing services and aims to keep all fire extinguishers up-to-date and in perfect usable condition.
Why Test Fire Extinguishers?
The Australian Standards for Fire Extinguisher Safety legally require all fire extinguishers in a workplace to be tested. In the event of an emergency, a fire extinguisher should be ready for use to protect your staff and property from danger.
Fires are spontaneous and can happen at a moment's notice. A faulty fire extinguisher that has not undergone testing in ages can prove useless in a dire situation. Most workplace fires start as small fires and maintain that size for a while. Knowing that the nearest extinguisher is functioning properly prevents panic and reassures building occupants in times of unforeseen fire emergencies.
In line with workplace safety, employers have a responsibility to secure the fire safety of their staff and employees. The workplace should have a suitable environment that prevents any accidental fires from occurring in the first place. This means that any exposed wires and flammable waste should be covered and hidden away in safe storage areas. Additionally, developing an emergency plan and noting all the working fire extinguishers further contributes to worker safety.
Fire extinguisher testing is an important aspect to promote fire safety. AESM's expert team knows this and offers incredible safety services through our skilled technicians to make sure your fire extinguishers are ever-ready for use in the event of a fire.
Fire Extinguisher Testing Requirements
How often should fire extinguishers be inspected?
According to the Australian Standards of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment, fire extinguishers testing happens every six months.
During every fire extinguisher test, signage is placed near every extinguisher location. The height of the fire extinguishers also needs to be accessible for any person to reach. An internal and external examination of the device is done to check for leaks, dents, and corrosion.
Pressure testing is a common practice for fire extinguisher testing that happens every five years. Also known as hydrostatic testing, the inspector evaluates the cylinder's nozzle, pressure gauge, and ability to hold pressure. This test ensures that the fire extinguisher can withstand its pressure rating and has no drop in pressure.
Another key aspect of fire extinguisher testing is to test for the refilling and recharging mechanisms. Any cylinder that has been used in an emergency must be immediately recharged with the correct firefighting agent.
The inspector expels the stored content within the fire extinguisher and looks for any problems with the pin, nozzle, and pressure gauge. When the canister is being recharged, the inspector examines the gauge and makes sure that it works properly.
Once the visual inspection and operation testing finishes, the service technicians from AESM send a full report about the extinguisher's quality. Clients can expect to receive feedback on the inspection results and learn how to move forward in promoting better safety measures.
Be Fire-safe Today
Complying with safety equipment checks and testing to tackle an event of a fire promotes excellent community safety and is key for all buildings and premises to ensure the health and well-being of their residents, tenants, or employees. As building managers or employers, it is also important to continuously educate yourselves with updated codes, guidelines, and protocols for fire extinguisher maintenance and testing.
To avoid disastrous fires and potential loss of life, fire extinguishers that are faulty and damaged should immediately be replaced and out of sight, while unchecked extinguishers [that could also pose a threat] must be evaluated.
Get a quote from AESM today for an immediate review of your fire protection systems and equipment as per the Australian safety standards. Fire extinguisher inspections and maintenance are your responsibility so get your fire equipment checked and ensure fire safety today.