Knowing how to read a fire extinguisher’s label and making sure you get the right size extinguisher for your office are both very important for your safety. However, it’s even more critical that you know how to properly use a commercial fire extinguisher. As a leader in fire protection in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, AllFire Services wants to make sure you’re up-to-speed on operating this important safety device:
Before you purchase a commercial fire extinguisher, we recommend that you and your staff to through training on this equipment. Proper training from experts in the field allows you to practice what you’ll need to do if you should have to put out a fire at your business.
But whether you decide to get training or not, you should always remember the acronym PASS. PASS is a way to remember the steps you need to activate and use the extinguisher.
- P-Pull the safety pin on the extinguisher.
- A-Aim the extinguisher’s chemicals at the base/source of the flames.
- S-Squeeze the extinguisher’s trigger.
- S-Sweep the spray like you’re using a broom.
A few additional notes to help you get the best results: Aiming towards the source is crucial since spraying the tops or ends of the flames won’t be very effective. Make sure you keep the extinguisher upright as you push the trigger. The sweeping motion has been proven to be the most effective in extinguishing a fire. And perhaps most importantly, keep spraying the chemicals until your fire extinguisher is empty. Fires can smolder and reignite fairly easily so you’ll want to be absolutely sure it’s out.
If you’re still unsure of what to do or think some safety training would be beneficial for you and your staff, working with a Carolina fire protection company is your best bet for safety. AllFire Services will help you understand which fire protection equipment you need and how to use it. Contact our office in Rock Hill, SC today to see how we can help.