a visual inspection of the fire extinguisher.
in good condition.the dial was indicating green.
it felt full when picked up.and the hose was in good
condition.
Fire Extinguisher.pdf (16.7 KB)
The fire extinguisher in the attached photo appeared to be in good condition. The tag attached to the fire extinguisher indicated annual inspections, with the last inspection performed in December of 2014. Because this fire extinguisher is in a building owned by the state of Texas, I wonder what the inspection protocol is for state owned buildings.
The two articles I read for my reading assignment are “Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection” and “Firestops”. “Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection” offered details about different types of fire extinguishers, the different chemicals used in fire extinguishers and the different uses of fire extinguisher types. It was well written and informative. “Firestops” was also well written and informative. It explained different firestop materials, where firestops are required and how firestop awareness is important when engaging a contractor.
I inspected the portable fire extinguisher in my apartment which is located under the kitchen sink mounted to the side of the cabinet with the appropriate bracket. It passed all of the checks for the monthly inspection except two of them. It doesn’t clearly say what the manufacture date is. It also does not have a metal, paper or plastic tag to initial and date.
Now I know how to perform monthly “quick checks” for my clients and for my families sake as well.
Reading and writing assignment:
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection
I wanted to take a few very important facts directly from the article- Extinguishers are only effective if building occupants understand where and how they are used. No fire extinguisher can be safely and effectively used for every type of fie. Some contain chemicals that are ineffective in certain situations and can even case harm to the operator if misapplied. Fire extinguishers should not be used if the operator is not sure they have the proper type of extinguisher, if they are not sure how to use it, or if they cannot avoid smoke or are in imminent danger. An expiration date cannot be fully trusted and there is no foolproof way to know if an extinguisher is no longer functional. Due to the extremely destructive potential of fires and the relatively low cost of extinguishers, it is advisable to replace or recharge questionable extinguishers.
Fire Safety for the Home
Fear can spread as quickly as a fire, so having planned escape routes and meeting places outside is crucial. Interesting to note that adults over 75 are almost three times more likely to die in a home fire than the rest of the general public. Another great reason to talk with the whole family about planning and practicing escape routes. Also a good idea to make sure that house numbers are clearly visible from the street for emergency crews.
ABC extinguishers should be shaken or turned over and tapped once in a while to avoid the ammonium phosphate from “caking” and causing malfunction upon use.
Pictured is a type A,B and C rated fire extinguisher located in an open space which is easy to locate and access. The paper tag indicates that this particular Extinguisher was last serviced on 9/11/2015. The appearance and workmanship look to be acceptable as the Extinguisher looks to be ready to use.
Doug Rodrigues
Writing Assignment
Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection
A properly rated, maintained and regularly inspected Fire Extinguisher is a critical indoor component that is a must have for each and every Homeowner.
The value and safety that it will provide could be a priceless, compared to the expensive costs that can be created by fire damage to a home. Unfortunately many Homeowners are not aware of the importance of owning a proper Fire protection Extinguisher, and rarely put it on their list of priorities when it comes to proper care and fire maintenance of a home.
Gutter downspout is full of debris at drain. This is a maintenance item that needs to be addressed for the proper function of the roof drainage system. I recommend that the debris be cleaned from this drain and all roof gutters by a qualified contractor.
Article Review: Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Inspection
Fires are classified into 5 categories A,B,C,D, and K based on the materials burning. This includes paper and wood products, petroleum or liquid based fuels, grease fires, electrical fires and combustible metals. Extinguishers must be maintained in a ready state so that they are ready to work in a moments notice. Fire extinguishers should be visually inspected monthly and then tested and rebuilt every 5 to 12 years depending on the type. Some extinguishers depending on the type of fire use dry chemicals while others use liquid carbon dioxide which is dispersed as a gas and then there are water or foam extinguishers.
Article Review: Furniture and TV Tip-Over Hazards
Over an 18 year study 15,000 children were injured by televisions and dressers tipping over and 300 cases were reported as fatalities. The most common injuries were blows to the head by males 7 years old and under pulling televisions over on themselves. The American Society for Testing and Materials has determined standard in cabinetry for how much force can be applied to an item before it will tip. Even so safety measures such as straps to secure items to wall to prevent tipping injuries should be considered.
The fire extinguisher in the attached picture is taken at my condo complex. The picture indicates that the extinguisher has all required components to pass inspection. It has the seal and the plastic “zip tie” to hold the pin in place. It has the label with instructions and the tag is punched with the expiration month date. The extinguisher is full and the pin is within the green region of the gauge. The extinguisher content is ABC which is a generic for most of flammable materials.
Reading about the 10 different ways to save energy at is very educational. From little small things to the more complicated and expensive things it is all worth it. These are easy things to do just by changing the way we live. Water consumption to the levels we use today is just a habit not a need. Heating, cooling and all the extras we have turned on continuously at home is just an example how much we can cut back ans save money on. Saving estimates are pretty accurate. By changing windows or just sealing openings better one can for sure save money in the long run but most importantly people start living better, longer and healthier.
The 15 Tools Every Home Owner must have is a good read. Although the list is very basic, every home owner should have at least double of these basic tools for their home. Another thing I always recommend is a sort of long sturdy wire not easily bendable to help people open door cars if they forget keys inside. I even recommend they learn to open their cars without keys using a bend wire so they just know what it entails. They also must know how to use them as well.
This Fire Extinguisher is several years out of date for its annual inspection and may not function when needed.
If monthly inspections were being performed then this issue would have been addressed.
It takes only a few minutes to do a proper monthly inspection, be sure to sign the tag to indicate the inspection was performed.
db
Firestops:
Firestops help stop the spread of a fire from a high risk area to the house of building.
They come in the form of special caulking, cement and Fire stop pillows.
Typically found in wall separations between the garage and the house they also are found in the walls separating the furnace room / water heater from the balance of the house.
db
Fireplace Fuel:
The performance of a fireplace is only as good as the wood you burn in it.
Wood should be well seasoned for 2 years if possible, this will reduce the amount or creosote that builds up in the chimney.
Wood that has been treated with chemicals or painted must not be burned as they will release dangerous chemicals into the air.
db
I inspected this fire extinguisher. I lifted it, I checked the gauge for being full. I checked the hose. I checked the labels ( all were legible). I checked the safety seal and signed off on it.
I read about 10 way to save energy in homes. Ceiling fans are a great way to save energy and move air. Also, changing air filters frequently is very important. Programmable thermostats are a great idea, as well. Doing a full load of laundry at a time is also beneficial.
I inspected this 10lb, dry chemical fire extinguisher. Upon lifting it and checking that the indicator is in the green, the fire extiguisher is full and fully charged. It was refilled and certified Oct. 2015. The pull pin and plastic safety tie were intact as well.
For my article, I read “10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home”.I must say that I knew about all of the tips, but it is good information for the average home owner looking to save some money and energy that may not know about all of these tips. A little more money, but beyond the mentioned light bulbs, efficient use of appliances, natural lighting, programmable thermostats, etc., added insulation is a great addition as well as paying for a complete energy audit to find areas that may have been overlooked or less obvious.
As a professional firefighter also, I can bring a level of safety to the inspection when a fire extinguisher is involved. Give other fire related tips about windows and doors and electric hazards or point out gasoline storage issues. Placement of the extinguisher is important for quick access and making a pathway to escape could be live saving.
Daryl Troute