With thorough fire extinguisher inspection, Houston businesses gain peace of mind.
Fire extinguishers in your office are an important part of fire safety. Making sure they work properly is a key responsibility of the owner or manager for any business. Regular inspections not only satisfy the local Fire Marshal but also serves to protect property and lives. The experts at Focus Fire & Safety will inspect and service all your fire safety equipment anywhere in the greater Houston area to ensure that in case of a fire event, you’ll be protected.
Knowing they will work when you need them to work offers peace of mind and security. We can inspect your fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment according to codes established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). You can trust our team to work with you and give expert advice about how to best protect your business and the ones you love.
Leading Fire Extinguisher Inspection In Houston Area: Inspections, Testing, And More
- Installation and proper placement
- Annual inspections
- Repair
- Maintenance
- Regular service and rebuilds
- Hydrostatic testing of extinguishers per NFPA codes
- Training
Our technicians not only passed the State of Texas written exams but have also taken online and in-person training. Focus Fire & Safety is the company trusted by Houston Area businesses.
For a fire extinguisher inspection Houston depends on, call on Focus Fire & Safety.
Know How To Use Your Safety Equipment
What’s the point of having a working fire extinguisher if no one in your office knows how to use it? It’s very important to understand how to operate a fire extinguisher BEFORE you actually need one. Let our technicians at Focus Fire & Safety train your employees to properly use all the safety equipment in your office. After every inspection, we offer to train key employees on how and when to use a fire extinguisher. We also train employees how to identify fires that may be too large to put out with a traditional fire extinguisher. Life safety is very important to us. We understand that a few-minute training class can save both lives and property.
Choosing The Best Fire Extinguisher For Your Needs
Beyond fire extinguisher inspection, Houston organizations trust us because we offer valuable fire safety advice.
There are many different types, sizes, and classifications of fire extinguishers. With all the choices, it’s a bit overwhelming deciding which fire extinguisher to purchase.
First, you must understand the different classifications of fires. Every fire extinguisher has a label indicating the class of fire it’s rated for. The different types of fires are designated by a letter as follows:
- A: Common combustibles like trash, wood, or plastic
- B: Liquid flammables like gasoline or oil
- C: Electrical fires like appliances or breaker panels
- D: Flammable metals found in laboratories and machine shops
- K: Kitchen oils like grease or cooking oils.
Offices will generally have 5 or 10-pound extinguishers in the common areas. Businesses with a large amount of flammable material will use a 10 or 20-pound extinguisher in these areas.
D extinguishers are specialty extinguishers only used when there is a potential for fire with flammable metals, such as magnesium or aluminum.
K Class extinguishers are primarily used in restaurants. They are designed specifically for cooking oils.
If you have sensitive electronic equipment to protect, consider a clean agent extinguisher, such as CO2, Clean Guard or Halotron. It will extinguish a fire but will not leave a mess.
Not sure what you need? Let our knowledgeable team of experts at Focus Fire & Safety help you choose the perfect extinguisher for any application.
Fire Extinguisher Inspections Houston Area Businesses Trust
Fire Extinguisher Inspection Houston FAQ
When in need of a fire extinguisher inspection, Houston trusts Focus Fire & Safety for our expertise. As reliable, trusted technicians, we believe it’s important to share our knowledge with our community.
Below are some of the most common questions we hear about fire extinguishers, inspections, and fire safety. If you are new to fire extinguisher inspections, the Q&A below details why it is so crucial to hire a trusted team. To maintain the safety of your employees and customers, call on the professionals at Focus Fire & Safety.
How do I use a fire extinguisher?
First, it’s important to understand how to use a fire extinguisher.
- Pull the pin.
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames.
- Squeeze slowly.
- Sweep the hose back and forth.
Position yourself so there is a door behind you to avoid being trapped. This protects you in case the fire grows too large to put out. Remember, fire extinguishers are most effective against small contained fires. When the flames reach higher than you, exit the building quickly and call 911.
Do fire extinguishers work?
Absolutely. A fire extinguisher helps you maintain a safe environment for your employees, guests, and customers. In order to thrive, a fire requires three things.
- Heat
- Fuel
- Oxygen
The powder from an ABC-type fire extinguisher uses a special formula that smothers the fire. This cuts off the supply of oxygen. Without oxygen to fuel it, the fire goes out.
As mentioned above, though, fire extinguishers mainly work on small fires. When the blaze grows too high to control, get to safety and call emergency responders to the scene.
How often should my extinguishers be inspected?
Fire extinguishers are required to be checked annually by a State licensed firm. It’s checked thoroughly to ensure it will work properly if needed. It’s also wise to conduct monthly checks of the pressure gauge and any external damage. This can be done by a trained, non-licensed employee.
Restaurant suppression systems are required to be inspected semi-annually (twice per year) by a State licensed firm. Between inspections, restaurant personnel should make sure all the caps are secured on the nozzles, that the nozzles are pointed toward the cooking equipment and check the tank pressure for the suppression system (if a pressure gauge is present).
What is the difference between a six-year and hydrostatic testing procedure?
Every 6 years a dry-powder extinguisher (ABC type) must be disassembled, thoroughly inspected and tested.
Six-Year Inspection
An extinguisher must be disassembled and the following items checked:
- Internal examination of the shell
- External examination for damage or corrosion
- Make sure all tags are present and legible
- Make sure the handle is free and operational
- Check the hose for cracks or leaks
- Check the pressure gauge for cracks and is legible
- Replace the internal valves and o-rings
- Ensure the powder or chemical is usable and the proper amount is in the extinguisher
- Reassemble the extinguisher and pressurize with nitrogen.
- Place the proper tags on the extinguisher to identify when this service was performed
Hydrostatic Test
Every 12 years (5 years for any clean agent or liquid extinguisher), a hydrostatic test is performed. This procedure is the same as the 6-year inspection above, except the following additional service is performed:
- The extinguisher shell is filled with water
- An extinguisher shell is pressurized to 3 times the normal operating pressure
- The technician checks for pressure drop, leakage, distortion or any type of failure
- If the extinguisher passes, it’s placed on a dryer system to remove all internal moisture
- When an extinguisher fails the test, we condemn it and remove it from service.
After an extinguisher passes the hydrostatic test, 6 years later, it will then be due for another 6-year inspection.
For a fire extinguisher inspection Houston businesses trust, call on the experts at Focus Fire & Safety. We provide thorough, reliable inspections to ensure the safety of your site.
Do fire extinguishers require routine maintenance?
Yes, they do. Fire extinguishers require an inspection according to NFPA safety standards as well as guidelines for a specific type of device. For fire extinguisher service and maintenance, Houston relies on our team of technicians. In part, this is due to the legal requirements of fire protection regulations. Extinguishers and suppression systems are subjected to a wide range of environments and conditions:
- Heat and cold
- Employees bumping into and damaging equipment
- Vandalism
- Harsh, dirty environments
It’s crucial your extinguishers are checked annually by a licensed, trained inspection company. Any deficiencies can be corrected by our trained, licensed staff to ensure your equipment works when you need it to. Experienced technicians know how to identify safety issues during a fire extinguisher inspection. Houston restaurants and businesses benefit from this through increased safety and peace of mind.