PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

S.O.G. No.: 01-023

Revision: Dec. 2006

Effective Date: Dec. 2006

1. PURPOSE

1.1 In the interest of department members health and safety, this document is established for the installation, inspection, maintenance and training of portable fire extinguishers.

2. REFERENCES

2.1 Current edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s 10, Standard on Portable Fire Extinguishers.

3. OSHA REQUIREMENTS

3.1 The department shall provide portable fire extinguishers for protection in accordance with OSHA 1910.157, Portable Fire Extinguishers.

4. PROCEDURE

• 4.1 Portable fire extinguishers will be installed in facilities according to and required by the RI State Building Code.
  • 4.1.1 Portable fire extinguishers will be mounted, located, and identified so members can readily access them.

• 4.2  All department members will be properly trained in the proper use, and inspection of portable fire extinguishers.
  1. 4.2.1  Training records of personnel will be documented by the training officer, or Station Captains.
  2. 4.2.2  Training will be done upon initial acceptance and periodically thereafter.
• 4.3  The department will inspect fire extinguishers when initially placed in service or returned from being recharged and thereafter at approximately 30-day intervals. The inspection should be done at least monthly.
  • 4.3.1 Extinguishers will be identified by some type of identification, as set forth in the NFPA Standard.
  • 4.3.2  Extinguishers may be inspected at more frequent intervals when circumstances require.
  • 4.3.3  At least monthly, the date the inspection was performed and the initials of the person performing the inspection will be recorded on the tag attached to the extinguisher.
  • 4.3.4  Personnel making inspections will keep documented records.
    • 4.3.4.1 Extinguishers that were found to require corrective action will also be documented.

• 4.4  The monthly inspection of extinguishers will include a check of the following items:
  1. 4.4.1  Located in designated place.
  2. 4.4.2  No obstruction to access or visibility.
  3. 4.4.3  Operating instructions on nameplate legible and facing outward.
  4. 4.4.4  Seals and tamper indicators not broken or missing.
  5. 4.4.5  Examine for obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage, clogged nozzle or cracked hose.
  6. 4.4.6  Pressure gauge reading or indicator in the operable range or position.
  7. 4.4.7  Check hydrostatic test date.
• 4.5  Corrective action will be taken immediately when an inspection of any extinguisher reveals a deficiency. Reference 4.3.4.1
  • 4.5.1 Extinguishers out of service for maintenance or recharge will be replaced by a spare extinguisher of the same type and rating.
• 4.6 Maintenance, servicing, and recharging will be performed by contracted service each year. All service records will be maintained by them and the district will receive copies for UFD records.