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When should you service your home Fire Extinguisher?

You may be wondering if you are supposed to get you home fire extinguisher serviced. In industry and the common workplace, Fire Extinguishers are to be serviced every 6 months. This includes various levels of servicing and every five years extinguishers are to be pressure tested.

What does this mean for the Fire Extinguisher in your home that you bought from bunnings or wherever.

You can personally inspect your own fire extinguisher in your home, you should do this every 6 months.

Scottfire recomends the following for servicing a small Dry Powder Fire Extingiuguisher (since these are probably the most common type used):

  1. 1. Take the Fire Extinguisher out of its cradle
  2. 2. Check the extinguisher to make sure there are no obvious signs of damage or corrosion
  3. 3. Check the 'Anti Tamper Seal' to ensure it has not been broken
  4. 4. Check that the 'Pin' is still in place.
  5. 5. Check that the 'Pressure Gauge' is still in the serviceable zone
  6. 6. Turn the extinguisher 'upside down' to allow the powder move. This helps the powder to remain loose
  7. 7. Check the Nozzle to make sue its not blocked
  8. 8. Check the 'Pressure Test' date on your extinguisher(usually stamped on the bottom rim) If its more than five years old we recommend replacement
        (It is normally more economical to replace than, have it presure tested and refilled)
  9. 9. Provided your extinguisher passes all these checks it should be serviceable, place it back in its cradle or hook

Click on the video below to see a practical demonstration

Types Of Fire Extinguishers

Here is a List of Fire Extinguishers and what they are designed for:

Extinguisher Contents Use

Water		 Water (H2O) A Class Fires - Carbonacious Materials (e.g. Wood, Paper, Plastic, Cloth etc)

Foam		 A mixture of 94% Water and %6 high concentrate Aqueus Film Forming Foam B Class Fires - Flammable Liquids (e.g. Petrol, Diesel, Thinners, Paints etc)
note! this does not include cooking oils and fats as these make up class F fires.

Dry Chemical Powder (DCP)		 Generally two types ABE and AB:
  • - ABE powder is usually based on monoammonium phosphate.
  • - BE powder is usually based on sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, or potassium chloride.
  • - Powder physically absorbs fuel molecules into its surface.
  • AB:E A,B and E Class Fires:
  • - Carbonacious Materials (e.g. Wood, Paper, Plastic, Cloth etc).
  • - Flammable Liquids (e.g. Petrol, Diesel, Thinners, Paints etc)
    note! this does not include cooking oils and fats as these make up class F fires.
  • - Flammable Gases (LPG, Natural Gas)
  • - Fires where there is an Electrical Hazard
  • - Limited Effect on Cooking Oils and Fats
  • B:E B and E Class Fires:
  • - Flammable Liquids (e.g. Petrol, Diesel, Thinners, Paints etc)
    note! this does not include cooking oils and fats as these make up class F fires.
  • - Flammable Gases (LPG, Natural Gas)
  • - Fires where there is an Electrical Hazard
  • - Cooking Oils and Fats

CO2		 Carbon Dioxide
  • B and E Class Fires
  • - Flammable Liquids (e.g. Petrol, Diesel, Thinners, Paints etc)
    note! this does not include cooking oils and fats as these make up class F fires.
  • - Fires where there is an Electrical Hazard

Wet Chemical		 Wet Chemical
  • A and F Class Fires
  • - Carbonacious Materials (e.g. Wood, Paper, Plastic, Cloth etc).
  • - Cooking Oils and Fats

Specialist Fire Extinguishers

Here is a List of Fire Extinguishers that are designed for unique enviroments:

Extinguisher Contents Use

Sapphire

Sapphire

  • The SAPPHIRE™ MRI Fire Extinguisher uses a sustainable chemical agent that is electrically non-conductive to reduce the risk of damaging sensitive equipment, leaves no messy residue and requires no clean-up.
    It has a completely non-magnetic stainless steel shell and non-magnetic valve, hose and nozzle, and can be safely used in an MRI room.
  • The SAPPHIRE extinguisher uses Novec 1230 fire protection fluid. The clear, colorless agent has zero ozone depletion potential, an atmospheric lifetime of just five days, and a global warming potential of 1.0. Novec 1230 quickly evaporates without harming any valuable assets.
  • Note: The Sapphire MRI Fire Extinguisher does not comply with AS1841.1 clause 8.2 (a) Body Colour.

A and E Class Fires

  • Carbonacious Materials (e.g. Wood, Paper, Plastic, Cloth etc).
  • Fires where there is an Electrical Hazard

Can be safely used in:

  • an MRI room
  • Data processing centers
  • Electronic areas with very sensitive or irreplaceable equipment
  • Telecommunications including cellular sites and switching centers
  • Systems including combat vehicles
  • Transportation including marine vessels and mass transit vehicles
  • Recreation including pleasure craft and race cars

Amerex also called Metalex and Pyromet

Amerex

  • MODEL 570 contains a special blended Sodium Chloride based dry powder extinguishing agent. Heat from the fire causes it to cake and form a crust excluding air and dissipating heat from burning metal. Metal fires involving magnesium, sodium, potassium and sodium-potassium alloys, zirconium, uranium, titanium, and powdered aluminium.
  • MODEL 571 contains a copper extinguishing agent specially developed by the U.S. Navy for fighting lithium and lithium alloy fires. The copper compound smothers the fire and provides an excellent heat sink for dissipating heat. Copper powder has been found to be superior to all other known fire extinguishing agents for lithium.
  • Note: The Amerex Extinguishers shown does not comply with AS1841.1 clause 8.2 (a) Body Colour. The Pyromet is probably what you would call the Australian version.

D Class Fires Only

  • Model 570 - Metals(as listed with model).
  • Model 570 - Lithium(as listed with model)

Please call 1800 996 449