Fire extinguisher maintenance saves lives Published Jan. 27, 2011 4th Fighter Wing Fire Prevention Office SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Portable fire extinguishers are in most fires the first line defense for building occupants. These extinguishers are only good if they are properly maintained, inspected and the user has the ability to operate them. If you have a fire extinguisher then you should be performing a regular inspection on it each month to ensure the unit is in working order. Extinguishers will also be inspected annually by the Fire Prevention Office during facility fire inspections. Most people have never done a routine monthly fire extinguisher inspection in part because they are not quite sure how to do them or feel it is unnecessary as long as they have it inspected by a professional yearly. In reality, damage to or loss of pressure in the device could become a catastrophic event for you, your family or co-workers if it is not discovered in time. Spending a few minutes every month to do an inspection could save you a lifetime of heartache. Follow these steps below to ensure that your fire extinguisher is in optimal working order: 1. Schedule your inspection at the same time every month. Tracking your inspection is as simple as maintaining a monthly inspection sticker on the extinguisher or a tracking sheet in the facility managers book. Generally, you should have one person perform the task each time while another looks on for reference. Have a checklist handy with the date of inspection and follow each step until complete. 2. Your extinguisher should not be blocked by any equipment, coats or objects that may interfere with the access in case of an emergency. 3. Always check to ensure that the pressure of the unit is at the recommended level by checking the gauge to confirm that the needle is in the green zone which will show that the pressure is right where it should be. 4. Make sure the nozzle or other parts of the extinguisher are not obstructed in any way. 5. If your extinguisher has a pin and tamper seal, check to see if they are intact and undamaged. 6. Check for dents, rust, leaks or any sign of abuse or wear. Take a damp rag and wipe off any gunk or chemicals that may have accumulated on the device. 7. It has been recommended by some manufacturers to shake your extinguisher once a month to prevent the powder from settling to the bottom. 8. Every six years your fire extinguisher is must be serviced by a licensed vendor and every 12 years it needs to be hydrostatically tested. A list of the local vendors is provided later in this article 9. If you notice that your fire extinguisher has become damaged or is in need of a complete recharging, it should be replaced immediately. 10. Immediately after using your fire extinguisher (no matter how much), recharge your unit to full capacity to ensure that it is properly prepared in the event of another fire. If you do not perform a monthly fire extinguisher inspection on your device, the consequences could be disastrous. If you suspect for any reason that your extinguisher is not in good shape, you should follow your instinct and call a professional to come and inspect it. As the saying goes, "It's better to be safe than sorry". For further guidance refer to Air Force Instruction 91-501 Air Force Occupational Safety and Health Standard, paragraph 6.2.4 Portable Fire Extinguishers, and National Fire Protection Association 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers or contact base fire prevention at 919-722-7339.