*General Maintenance
It is important that portable fire extinguishers be kept in their allotted positions and that they not be misused. the provision of brackets, shelves or base blocks will help to show if any appliance is missing.
In October 1996, it became law that, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) 1993 (Act 85 of 1993), all types of hand-held fire extinguishers have to be designed, constructed, filled, recharges, reconditioned, modified, repaired, inspected or tested in accordance with an SABS safety standard.
It is a further requirement that all such hand-held fire extinguishers may only be filled, recharged, reconditioned modified, repaired, inspected or tested by a SABS 1475 mark permit holder like CAPRICORN FIRE & GENERAL.
*DO NOT UNDERTAKE MAINTENANCE YOURSELF!
The date of inspection should be indelibly recorded on a label securely attached to the extinguisher or painted on the body. It should not be stamped into the body of the extinguisher.
Periodic pressure-testing of extinguishers should be left to approved firms such as CAPRICORN FIRE & GENERAL , that specialize in this type of work, but any extinguisher that show signs of internal corrosion or damage should be taken out of service and replaced immediately.
Take care to choose extinghuisers that will not prove damaging in certain situations (such as a water extinghuiser in a computer room) and that will themselves be less susceptible to damage by the climate and environment. High or low temperatures (above 43C and below 4C) can have a detrimental effect on some extinguishers.
Some extinghuishers require more maintenance than others. Where there is a choice between extinguishers of similar types, equally suitable in all other respects, install the type that needs less maintenance.
**Restoration after use
All hand-held fire extinguishers, regardless of what type, must in every instance be completely recharged after use, or, if non-refillable, disposed of, even if not completely emptied. Always take your portable extinguisher to the supplier (CAPRICORN FIRE & GENERAL) or to a specialist maintenance firm (Northern Province Fire) for refilling.
*Servicing
Make sure that the extinguisher is serviced in accordance with SABS0105 and SABS1475.
NOTE -- Please note that, according to the new Regulations under the OHS Act, you, as the owner of a hand held fire extinghuiser will be held responsible for any problem, accident, death, etc., if such equipment was not supplied or serviced in accordance with SABS 1475.
