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Why Is It Important to Recharge Your Fire Extinguisher?

As part of your business’s comprehensive fire safety plan, you undoubtedly have a few strategically placed fire extinguishers around the building. While the sight of them may bring you peace of mind, the confidence you have in your fire extinguishers may be misplaced if they’re not fully charged. Don’t take a chance on a poorly charged fire extinguisher – have it recharged so it’s ready to go the next time a fire threatens your building and the people in it.

Why Recharge Fire Extinguishers

How do you know when you should have your fire extinguishers recharged? If any of the following scenarios apply to you, contact a fire protection company for recharge services without delay.

  • You discharged one fire extinguisher a small amount in a recent fire: If you or one of your employees took action against a fire with the nearest extinguisher, you should recharge it again as soon as possible. Even if you only discharged the contents of the extinguisher a tiny bit, it’s still worth recharging it immediately. After all, the difference between fully charged and mostly charged could be life and death!
  • An extinguisher was accidentally discharged a small amount: Even losing a few milliseconds worth of pressure in an accidental discharge could result in faulty fire extinguisher operation. No matter the reason a fire extinguisher has been discharged, you should immediately have it recharged to ensure full protection against a future fire.
  • Your extinguishers were recently tested: During routine inspections, a technician may discharge your fire extinguisher to check that all discharging mechanisms and pressure gauge readings are operating correctly. After the test, any necessary repairs should be made and the extinguisher recharged before being put back into service.
  • A routine inspection uncovered a partially discharged extinguisher: Once a month, you should go around to each fire extinguisher and visually inspect it. If the gauge indicates low pressure on any of them, that particular extinguisher should be checked for leaks and recharged as soon as possible.

How to Recharge a Fire Extinguisher

Recharging a fire extinguisher means refilling it with the proper firefighting agent, or in some instances, draining the extinguisher completely and then refilling it. A professional fire protection company has all the equipment, supplies and knowledge to recharge your fire extinguishers.

First, the fire extinguishing agent is pumped into the canister. Then any remaining air is pressurized to ensure proper operation in case of a fire. The technician performing the service ensures the pressure gauge reads properly once recharging is complete.

Contact Confires to Recharge Your Fire Extinguishers

Don’t gamble with fire safety – have your fire extinguishers recharged without delay! To make sure you’re not left unprotected for long, Confires offers 24/7 emergency fire extinguisher recharge services.

We have over 30 years of experience recharging fire extinguishers and offering other fire protection services to businesses in New Jersey, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To take advantage of our experience and professionalism, please contact Confires today for all your fire protection service needs.

Category: Fire Extinguishers