Steps Necessary for Fire Extinguisher Installation

The facility manager or building owner holds the most responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the building and the surrounding areas. It is essential to keep the occupants safe and away from harm in case of accidents or disasters.

A fire breakout is the most common cause of accidents in buildings. In the event of a fire, a fire extinguisher is usually the first line of defence. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the unit is installed correctly in all areas and has optimum working conditions. The steps for fire extinguisher installation include:

Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher

There are different types of fire. Depending on the substances which caused the fire, it is classified into different types. Accordingly, there are different types of fire extinguishers, too, for different types of fire.

For instance, a fire caused by cooking oil, vegetable oil, animal fats, etc., would require different substances to douse it from the one caused by wood, paper, or textiles. Therefore, it is important to assess the risk first and choose the right fire extinguisher.

Installation Methods

The first thing when it comes to fire extinguisher installation is its placement.  If a fire erupts in any part of the building, the fire extinguisher must be in sight and easily accessible so it can be easily reached. Else, it defeats the purpose of having one in the first place.

The fire extinguisher is usually placed in metal or glass cabinets. The glass cabinet is meant to be broken in case of an emergency. Fire extinguishers can also be wall-mounted using metal brackets.

The metal brackets are for wall mounting purposes and should have proper fixtures. Make sure there are no pipes and cables behind the installation wall. The metal brackets should ideally be at the height of 1200mm from the floor to the top of the fire extinguisher handle.

Do You Need a Cabinet to Store the Fire Extinguisher?

Few factors determine the need for a cabinet to store the fire extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher is located outdoors, it would be good to store the unit in a cabinet. This is to protect the fire extinguisher from external elements of the atmosphere like dirt, dust, rain, sunlight, etc.

Doing so increases the life of the fire extinguisher. This will also ensure that it stays out of reach of children or protected against theft, vandalism, etc. After all, it is a valuable piece of equipment for your safety for your workplace and building.

It is important to contact the fire extinguisher installation experts from a reputed agency. The services should include the supply of the unit, the brackets, maintenance tag to be stamped, installation of the unit, and the stamping of maintenance tag. Generally, what professionals charge includes fire extinguisher unit, installation, wall mounting, brackets, signage, tags, etc.

With all of the above factors duly considered and implemented, you can rest assured that your fire extinguisher is correctly installed at the right place and will remain valuable safety equipment to keep you and other occupants in the property safe in case of an accident.