Fire safety equipment is a huge part of warehouse safety. Every business should ensure that its equipment is functional and up to date. Otherwise, you run the risk of potentially devastating consequences. It can be difficult to determine when to replace such vital equipment.

When to Replace Your Fire Safety Equipment

Damage is the most obvious sign that your fire safety equipment needs to be replaced. A fire extinguisher that has become rusted or broken should be replaced as soon as possible. Similarly, any issues that could affect a piece of equipment’s function indicate a need for a replacement. For example, fire extinguisher covers are intended to protect and draw attention to fire extinguishers. If one gets damaged or dirty, making it less functional, it should be replaced.

When equipment is unused and undamaged, it can often remain functional for years. However, it is recommended that you replace your unused equipment anyway to ensure it has not become defective over time. The amount of time you can go without replacing a piece of equipment depends on the equipment itself. Fire extinguishers should be replaced every 10 to 12 years. Fire blankets that are designed to smother fires should be replaced every 7 years. Fire hoses can last 10 to 20 years, depending on how much use they get. The more used a piece of equipment is, the less functional it is.

Fire Extinguisher Inspection

Like a lot of other kinds of safety equipment, fire extinguishers must be inspected routinely. This ensures that they will still be totally operational in an emergency. Otherwise, someone may need a fire extinguisher but can’t use it.

When inspecting a fire extinguisher, look for any obvious signs of damage. Damage often indicates that the equipment is no longer functional. Damage may include dents or corrosion. You should also scan for leakage. If the contents of the fire extinguisher are leaking in any way, it’s time to replace it. Look at the fire extinguisher’s hose and nozzle. These are important features that affect how the equipment functions. When they are damaged, they may not work as efficiently if it still works at all.

Lift the fire extinguisher to ensure that it still feels full. If it feels too light, it may have been used or suffered from leakage. It’s also important to check the pressure gauge. The pressure gauge indicates that the contents of the extinguisher are pressurized. When these become too low, the extinguisher may not be able to spray as far. If it’s too high, the contents might be under too much pressure.

Make sure that the fire extinguisher pin is still in place. The pin prevents the fire extinguisher from accidentally going off. If the pin is missing or damaged, the extinguisher might have been used before.

Lastly, make sure that the fire extinguisher is usable. This means that it is somewhere visible where it can be easily accessed, like under a fire extinguisher cover. The directions on the extinguisher itself should be easy to read. Once you’ve finished inspecting your fire extinguisher, initial and date the inspection on the appropriate tag. Be sure to check that the last inspection was within the last year.

How Often Should Fire Extinguishers Be Checked?

Fire extinguishers should be checked at least once a year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA. OSHA requires that fire extinguishers be inspected annually, but some businesses may want to check more frequently.

OSHA Requirements For Fire Extinguishers

OSHA has many requirements for fire extinguishers in order to ensure that every workplace is safely prepared for an emergency. For starters, all fire safety equipment must be accessible at all times. This includes fire extinguishers. Some equipment, like extinguisher covers, are designed to make fire extinguishers more visible in an emergency.

Similarly, all fire safety equipment should be easy to locate. All equipment should be regularly inspected. For fire extinguishers, this means inspecting them at least once a year. Some requirements may sound confusing, like the fact that employers must have a water supply for safety equipment. This ensures that there is a water source in order to put out any fires.

Each floor of the building is required to have at least one fire extinguisher. These fire extinguishers must be of a certain quality, based on the fire extinguisher rating system. OSHA requires that every fire extinguisher have at least a 2A rating, meaning that it can cover ordinary combustibles up to 75 feet. A 2A rating also indicates that the fire extinguisher is as effective as 2 ½ gallons of water.

OSHA even has requirements about how to store fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers as well as other types of fire safety equipment must be protected against freezing. Freezing can cause the inside of a fire extinguisher to collect water, leaving them vulnerable to humidity. Freezing may also cause the hose of the fire extinguisher to become cracked or damaged. Since the hose is necessary for the equipment to function, it’s very important to make sure it’s protected.

OSHA’s fire safety requirements extend beyond just fire extinguishers. OSHA requires that businesses have fire safety plans in place. These plans should include exit routes, which are also required by OSHA. Every business must have functional fire alarms. Fire alarms are a hugely important tool that alert everyone in a building to a fire. Like fire extinguishers, fire alarms should be inspected and updated regularly.

Industrial Fire Safety Equipment

When purchasing fire safety equipment, it’s important to buy from a company that you trust. Singer Safety produces high-quality equipment for all kinds of uses. This includes vital safety equipment like fire extinguisher covers, some of which even have wheels. Wheeled fire extinguisher covers make accessing this life-saving equipment so much easier. Singer Safety is also proud to produce fire and first aid blankets. Fire blankets can be used to smother fires or protect employees from fires.

When you need to make sure your business puts safety first, choose Singer Safety for all of your safety equipment.