Fire Protection (Dorset)

Fire Extinguishers

Fire Protection is able to supply a range of fire extinguishers suitable for tackling all types of fires. All Fire Extinguishers are sold in accordance to the lastest British and European Standards.

Fire Protection can provide regular maintenance visits by a qualified, experienced engineer to ensure continued reliability of your fire extinguishers in accordance with BS5306.3

CO2

For use of Class B and live electrical fires such as computers etc. It can also be used for small quantities of burning liquid. Carbon Dioxide starves the fire of oxygen to extinguish the fire.

CO2 Fire Extinguisher

Wet Chemicals

For use on Class F fires. Wet Chemical extinguishers are suitable for use on cooking oil fires. A Wet Chemical extinguisher cools and solidifies the burning oil, preventing re-ignition.

Wet Chemicals Fire Extinguisher

Foam

For use on Class A and B fires. Foam extinguishers are suitable for use on fires involving wood, paper, textiles and plastics. They are also suitable for use on fires involving burning liquids such as paints, oils, and petrol. As Foam extinguishers as water based they are not suitable for electrical fires. Foam based fire extinguishers put out fires by cooling and smothering the fire.

Foam Fire Extinguisher

Powder: 

For use on Class A, B, C fires and electrical equipment. Powder extinguishers are suitable for all types of fires however as they are not a cooling fire extinguisher precaution should be taken when using them to extinguish Class A fires as paper, wood etc could reignite it not cooled. Powder extinguishers are most suited to putting out fires involving burning liquid and electrical fires up to 1000 volts.

Powder Fire Extinguisher

Water 

For use on Class A fires. Water extinguishers are suitable for use on fires involving wood, paper, textiles, and plastics. They must not be used on or near live electrical equipment.

Water extinguishers put out fires in the above materials by cooling.

Water Fire Extinguisher

 

All fire extinguishers should be visually inspected monthly by a "respnonsible person", normally the owner.

If you employ 5 or more people it is also a legal requirement to keep a permanent record of all servicing, maintenance and inspections for inspection by the Fire Services Inspectorate. The inspection should cover:

  • Location of the fire extinguisher - is it in the right place?
  • Visibility of the fire extinguisher - is it positioned in such a way that it can be easily seen?
  • Operating instructions - are the instructions facing outwards, clean and easy to read?
  • The condition of the fire extinguisher - has it been used, is there any obvious damage or are there any missing parts?
  • Extinguisher pressure - is the pressure of the fire extinguisher within safe operating limits?
  • Tamper seals - have the seals and tamper indicators been broken?

Every five years most stored pressure fire extinguishers need an extended service. This means completely discharging the extinguisher, checking for internal corrosion, refilling and repressurising.

An overview of the main activities involved:

  • Discharge the extinguisher
  • Unscrew the headcap in a safe manner and check all removable parts for any sign of corrosion and blockages
  • Examine the fire extinguisher body internally for any signs of corrosion
  • Rinse water based extinguishers out with clean water
  • Replace all 'O' rings and hose rings
  • Refill the extinguisher
  • Refit the headcap
  • Re-pressurise the extinguisher
  • After a refill with generic chemicals (not the original chemicals used by the manufacturer), the extinguisher must receive a label with the new chemical specification

The amount of work required to carry out in the extended service is extensive and it is often cheaper to purchase a new fire extinguisher rather than carry out the extended service.