How Often Do Fire Extinguishers Need To Be Inspected In NZ?

What Maintenance Does Fire Equipment Need?

It is through the use of firefighting equipment that people are able to save property and even lives when fire accidents occur. Schools, homes, and workplaces are safer with firefighting equipment installed in their compounds. Taking care of firefighting equipment is necessary. Inspection should be carried out regularly, either weekly, monthly or after every six months. The checks should ensure that the equipment is functioning correctly.
Failure to take proper care of your fire extinguishers will make the equipment less effective in case of a fire. As a result, a small fire accident that could have been dealt with quickly can become a catastrophe.
You should understand that there are two types of maintenance services that you should give your firefighting equipment, namely, professional and self-maintenance.

Professional Maintenance

As per NZS 4503:2005, It is a standard requirement in businesses for all fire equipment to undergo professional inspection once in a while. Professional maintenance has its advantages in that the experts can provide immediate solutions if a problem is identified, unlike self-maintenance, where you may not be able to provide required solutions in some cases.
In most cases, the company that installed the fire equipment is the one that carries out the inspection, but you can also hire a different company to do so. The following are some of the services that you should expect from a firefighting equipment technician:

Periodic Inspections

A professional fire equipment company will carry out inspection either six-monthly or annually. Some of the things that the technician will look at during the inspection include:
  • Visual inspection of the external condition. Making sure there is no damage or corrosion.
  • Cleaning. Making sure the signage and operation instructions are legible.
  • Replacement of damaged components. This could include cracked hoses or damaged maintenance tags.
  • Punch out the yellow maintenance tag to show inspection is current.
  • Record-keeping of the work done during the inspection. 
The company will also issue you with a certificate to show that your equipment has undergone inspection as required.

Internal Inspections

It is essential to understand that there are times when the extinguisher develops pressure issues from inside the tank. You will have to get a certified extinguisher technician, as you cannot do it on your own. The period after which this inspection is carried out varies depending on the device.
A professional fire equipment company will also look into the condition of the fire hose reels, smoke alarms, fire hydrants, and other automatic devices that help with firefighting.

Self-conducted maintenance

While it is vital to get professional maintenance services, carrying out your inspection is essential. With self-maintenance, you can also maximize the lifespan of your firefighting equipment. The following are some of the things that you should do when carrying out self-maintenance.

  • Access your fire risks regularly- It is important to note different fire risks require different types of extinguishers. If you move into a new environment, ensure that the type of extinguisher that you have is suitable for the possible fire risks.
  • Move the equipment to a location where they can be easily accessed in case of a fire accident. Any obstructions may make it difficult to access them hence more damages.
  • Check for any corrosions on the tanks or pins which can block the nozzle
  • You should also check to ensure that everything is in order, the pressure needle should be where it is expected to be, no cracks should be on the cylinder or nozzle.

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