Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Posted: January 15th, 2022
Fire extinguishers are a vital aspect of fire safety for both homes and businesses, and everyone should be aware of their maintenance, care, and use. Since most people never need to use them, it’s extremely easy for fire extinguisher myths to grow over time as they sit there waiting for their time of need. But fire extinguishers usually operate the best when you understand how they work.
Hopefully, this article can debunk five of the most pernicious fire extinguisher myths out there. If your business requires maintenance or training on your building’s fire extinguishers, the expert technicians of Ontario’s All Protect Systems, Inc. are ready to serve you. They’ve been offering fire safety products and services to their community since 1996.
Myth 1) Only one extinguisher is necessary for each building.
While the Ontario Fire Code does require a fire extinguisher in every building, one may not be enough. Each hazardous occupancy within a building must have its own extinguisher as well as every hazardous operation or process located outside the building. If you have any doubt, one of All Protect’s experts or the Ontario Fire Marshal can instruct you as to where you need to furnish extinguishers.
Myth 2) Fire extinguishers don’t need service.
The Ontario Fire Code requires that portable Fire extinguishers require regular inspections and periodic maintenance. Each month, a representative of the property should perform a visual inspection to ensure that the extinguishers are in the designated spot, accessible, free from physical damage and rust, and have clear, legible labels and unbroken seals.
Portable fire extinguishers need to be inspected annually in accordance with NFPA10 and Ontario Fire Code. In addition to regular inspections fire extinguishers also require maintenance every six years and every twelve years from the date of manufacture.
Every six years dry chemical extinguishers are required to be discharged, all components thoroughly examined and the extinguisher recharged. Every twelve years from the date of manufacture the extinguisher cylinder requires hydro-static testing (pressure testing with water) and internal examination. This ensures that the cylinder is free of defects and can withstand pressure. If it fails the test, then it would have to be replaced.
Myth 3) Fire extinguishers should be periodically tapped.
This myth comes from experience with older extinguishers that had chemicals that could cake and harden inside the tank. With these models, it was advisable to tap them with a mallet or turn them upside down and shake them to keep the mixture primed to operate correctly.
With the modern chemicals used in today’s foam-based extinguishers, tapping or shaking them is not only unnecessary, it can even be detrimental. No fire extinguisher manufacturer recommends agitating the contents of its products. Performing these sorts of actions on your extinguishers can damage them and make them less effective.
Myth 4) Fire extinguishers don’t need mounting on a bracket..
Fire Extinguishers shall be mounted securely on a hanger intended for the extinguisher, it is required that they be mounted so they are readily accessible in the event of an emergency. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires extinguishers to be mounted at specific heights depending on the size of the extinguisher. As an example an extinguisher having a gross weight not exceeding 40 pounds shall be installed so the top of the extinguisher is not more than 5 feet above the floor.
Myth 5) Any fire extinguisher can put out a fire.
Even though most fires look the same, several combustible items could potentially cause it, and fire extinguishers are equipped with different extinguishing agents to put out various types of fires. Your fire extinguishers must be the right kind for the type of fire hazard nearby. Fire types are divided into five basic categories: A-D and K, please see Kidde extinguishers for more information.
The Ontario Fire Marshal or trained professionals, such as the expert technicians at All Protect Systems, Inc. can help you choose the appropriate extinguisher for your location. Besides fire extinguishers and fire hoses, All Protect also offers fire alarm systems, gas detection, fire safety plans, emergency and exit lighting, and annual and monthly inspections. Call us today to find out what we can do for you!
Posted: December 15th, 2021
According to the Ministry of the Solicitor General, there were more than 110,000 fires in Ontario between 2010-2019, resulting in billions of dollars in damages and hundreds of fatalities. With both property and human life at stake, fire hazard identification is the responsibility of business owners, property managers, and every employee.
While a regularly scheduled inspection can help identify fire hazards, everyone working in a commercial facility should be able to spot potentially dangerous situations. Once you’re familiar with the most common ways fires begin, you and your staff should be able to easily spot the most common hazards and correct them before they ignite.
1) Smoking Materials
Smoking materials are the leading cause of fires in residential buildings. While Ontario law prohibits smoking in public areas, such as stairways, lobbies, elevators, and laundry facilities, most properties allow smoking inside private residences. In addition, property managers can post signs to remind tenants to use heavy no-tip ashtrays and not to smoke when in bed or when consuming alcohol.
2) Electrical Circuits
Fires from electrical circuits are a serious problem for all types of commercial buildings. The wire gauge size limits the amperage an electrical circuit can carry. While a fuse or electrical breaker should protect the wiring from overheating, employees and managers should be careful not to overload a circuit.
With the constant increase of power-consuming devices in offices, data centers, and plants, it can be tempting to daisy chain power strips to a single electrical outlet. Unfortunately, this is a fire hazard, and you should avoid this by having an electrician install additional electrical receptacles. Managers should periodically conduct an inspection for overloaded circuits and educate their employees on this fire hazard.
3) Combustible Materials
Materials like paper and cardboard are highly combustible and provide fuel for a fire to spread. If stored in a poor location, they can turn a small fire into a devastating one. Managers should develop a routine that encourages employees to dispose of such materials as quickly as possible.
Remember not to store combustible materials in hallways or near exits. They can impede personnel from safely escaping during a fire.
4) Flammable and Combustible Liquids
The susceptibility to burn makes liquids flammable or combustible, and they’re classified by their flashpoints. While combustible liquids require higher than normal working area temperatures, flammable liquids can easily ignite at average working temperatures.
Both flammable and combustible liquids are common in most workplaces. Carefully store materials, such as waxes, polishes, cleaners, solvents, and thinners, in a locked and ventilated cabinet to prevent them from igniting a dangerous fire.
5) Cooking Equipment
Stoves and fryers used in restaurants are another leading cause of commercial fires. Therefore, staff should always monitor grease near an open flame.
Heavily used equipment like coffee makers and toasters are also responsible for fires. Restaurant management and staff should make sure they aren’t near combustible material when in use.
6) Heating Equipment
Property managers should consider heat pumps, boilers, heat lamps, and space heaters to be fire hazards and perform regular inspections on them. Management and staff should verify that they’re functioning correctly and keep them away from combustible or flammable materials.
Property and operations managers have a lot of responsibilities, and fire hazard identification often doesn’t get the amount of attention it deserves. However, regular inspection and maintenance of potential fire hazards should be an essential aspect of every business property.
If you don’t feel you have the time or expertise to correctly monitor fire hazards on your property, the experts at Ontario’s All Protect Systems, Inc can help you. In fact, they offer services in every aspect of fire safety, such as fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers and hoses, emergency and exit lighting, fire safety plans, gas detection, and regular inspections. Call them today to schedule your initial consultation.
Posted: November 15th, 2021
Gas detection service is real-time monitoring of your commercial facility’s gas detectors. Similar to fire or burglar alarm monitoring, a gas detection monitoring service can alert the appropriate personnel when an unsafe concentration appears in your facility. Rather than constantly checking on their condition, you can hire a professional monitoring company to do it for you.
All Protect Systems, Inc. has been offering fire and life safety services to Ontario area businesses since 1996. In addition to gas detection, they also offer fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers and hoses, fire safety plans, annual and monthly inspections, and emergency and exit lighting. They’ve identified a list of municipal/commercial facilities that should use a gas detection service, including the following.
1. Residential Apartment Buildings
If you’re a landlord renting a residential space in Ontario, the Ontario Fire Code requires you to provide a carbon monoxide detector in each unit if the following conditions are met:
- If a fuel-burning appliance is located in the dwelling, a carbon monoxide detector must be installed adjacent to each sleeping area.
- If the building contains a service room, both the service room and the areas adjacent to sleeping quarters within the apartments must have carbon monoxide detectors.
- Apartments in a building with a garage also require carbon monoxide detectors next to bedrooms.
An average of 11 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning in Ontario each year. Carbon monoxide detectors with monitoring can help reduce that number.
2. Chemical Plants
Chemical manufacturing can produce noxious gases that irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. If someone in the plant inhales air with a large concentration of harmful gas, he can suffer from nausea and even lose consciousness and die. Even non-toxic gases can displace oxygen and suffocate anyone in the area.
The chemicals that produce these gases are stored in chemical containers that can be easily transported around the plant. Therefore, portable gas detectors make sense since they can accompany the substances they’re monitoring throughout the building.
3. Oil and Gas Sector
Every phase of oil and gas operations involves dangerous and combustible gases that can explode when subjected to high temperatures. During the extraction, refinement, or transportation of petroleum products, explosions and fire are always possible when gas levels become too high.
The Ontario Fire Code requires gas detectors in all refining facilities. These gas detectors should be placed in strategic locations to detect the buildup of these dangerous gases.
4. Distilleries
Alcoholic beverages are created through the fermentation and distillation of agricultural grain products. The grain mash is heated during the distilling process until the alcohol vaporizes for collection in a cooling condenser.
Unfortunately, the process creates ethanol gas which can build up to dangerous levels. Therefore, gas detectors are critical and required by law to monitor gas levels within the distillery.
5. Mining
Mining operations can generate unsafe levels of toxic and combustible gases like methane and HS2. Mines can also develop high levels of other gases, which can displace oxygen and asphyxiate the mine workers.
Gas detectors with appropriate monitoring reduce the risk of dangerous explosions and ensure the mine has plenty of oxygen-rich air.
6. Semiconductor Factories
Semiconductor production requires gases throughout the manufacturing process in the wafer dryers, wafer reactors, and gas cabinets. Gas is necessary for photolithography, doping, deposition, and etching. More specifically, the gases catalyze the molecules of the semiconductor wafers to produce the diodes and transistors.
Dangerous levels of these gases can lead to catastrophic results, and IoT toxic gas detectors are the best way to monitor them. Well placed and monitored detectors can prevent the spread of the gas and even detect the source.
If you’re operating any type of business that requires gas detection, consider a professionally monitored system. The gas detection experts at All Protect Systems are pleased to offer their assistance. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!
Posted: October 15th, 2021
Fire safety inspections are a crucial aspect of life and property protection for every Ontario business. While you can perform routine inspections yourself, many local enterprises have chosen All Protect Systems, Inc. to do it for them. They have the training and expertise to identify and correct fire safety hazards in residential, industrial, office, and retail buildings.
Depending on the requirements dictated by the Ontario Fire Code, inspections may be necessary annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or even weekly. While such frequent inspections may seem onerous, there are several benefits to routing fire safety inspections, such as:
1) Life Safety
Approximately 70 people die each year from fires in the Ontario area, excluding the First Nation’s properties, and injuries average more than 700. While occasional fires are bound to happen, business owners should do everything possible to ensure that their properties are as safe as possible. Regular inspections of your fire alarms, fire extinguishers and hoses, gas detection, and emergency and exit lighting can help save lives in your building.
2) Property Protection
Buildings are a major financial investment, and even though they’re insured, downtime can severely impact your business operations. Don’t allow a minor fire to grow into something serious. Proper fire safety equipment and procedures can turn a potential disaster into a temporary inconvenience.
3) Legal Compliance
The Ontario Fire Code mandates periodic fire safety inspections of nearly every commercial premise. Depending on the occupancy type, yours may require weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annual inspections. While life safety and property protection are paramount, business owners and operators must also comply with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s requirements. The Fire Marshall can impose heavy fines or even shut down businesses for egregious fire code violations, and periodic inspections can prevent this unfortunate situation.
4) Insurance
Business ownership often involves enormous liability, so insurance coverage becomes a large part of operating expenses. Many insurance policies require proof of periodic fire safety inspections to maintain coverage. If the business owner can’t provide the inspection reports when submitting a claim for personal injury and or property damage, the insurance company may reject the claim. Instead of saving time and money by not performing the inspections, the business operator may get stuck paying for damages out of pocket.
5) Criminal Liability
Suppose a serious injury or death occurs on a business property due to faulty fire safety precautions. In that case, the business owner may be criminally liable if he can’t produce his required inspection reports. Of course, nobody wants to be held responsible for criminally negligent homicide, and you can avoid this nightmare by staying in compliance with all of your routine fire safety inspections.
6) Intercept Future Problems
Periodic inspection and testing of your fire safety systems can help you stay on top of your equipment. While the system may have been state of the art when installed, it may no longer adequately serve its intended purpose. In addition, changes in building use or technological advancements can make fire safety systems obsolete. Trained professionals can spot antiquated equipment and recommend better solutions to your fire safety needs.
Not only are routine fire safety inspections required by law, but they can save lives, property, and money over the long run. While you’re legally allowed to perform many of the inspections yourself, most Ontario businesses delegate the responsibility to expert technicians like the ones at All Protect Systems, Inc.
All Protect has been serving its community with the best fire protection services since 1996. They can customize a fire inspection schedule for all of their business customers, regardless of size. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!
Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels
Posted: September 15th, 2021
Commercial maintenance rooms contain the essential equipment that keeps your building functioning. Electrical, mechanical, data, custodial, and even storage rooms are susceptible to fires. While these spaces may not have the visibility or traffic of your revenue-generating locations, they still require regular monitoring for proper fire safety protection.
The fire experts at All Protect Systems, Inc have been keeping Ontario businesses safe since 1996. They can help diagnose and correct potential fire safety deficiencies, such as the following:
1) Holes in Your Firewalls
Building maintenance rooms often require new equipment, which usually comes with additional wiring or pipes. If these rooms have fire-rated walls, the wall membrane penetrations must be adequately fire stopped to prevent smoke and fire from passing from one room to another and spreading the fire.
2) Fire Extinguishers
While fire extinguishers can last several years, they require annual inspections. Maintenance rooms can get overloaded with unnecessary materials, and fire extinguishers can be obstructed from view or even knocked off the wall. The Ontario Fire Marshal can fail your annual fire inspection if your extinguishers aren’t in the right place or lack their yearly inspection tag.
3) Fire Hoses
If your building requires fire hoses, you need to be sure that they are in good condition and are long enough to reach your commercial maintenance rooms. Of course, you never want to put out an electrical or oil-based fire with water, but you can put out fires in some rooms with your building’s fire hoses.
Annual inspections of your fire hoses can reveal deterioration in the hose or damage to the hose nozzle. All Protect Systems recommends performing hydro-static testing on fire hoses after they’ve been in service for five years and every three years after that.
4) Smoke Detectors
Depending on their use, commercial maintenance rooms may require one or more smoke detectors. While you may have met the basic code requirements during the initial construction, changes to the use of maintenances or the addition of equipment may require additional smoke detectors.
Maintenance room alterations can obstruct smoke detectors and prevent them from sensing smoke during a fire. They can also degrade over time and require regular inspections.
5) Emergency Lighting & Exit Lighting
Required by code in most Ontario commercial buildings, emergency lighting must be tested monthly to ensure proper performance. Exit lighting in or near your maintenance rooms must be fully functional and visible. Damaged exit lights can be a fire hazard and require repair if visual defects appear.
6) Fire Doors
For commercial maintenance rooms with a fire rating, its door must also have the same rating. With heavy use, these doors can lose their rating. Fire-rated doors must have the following qualities:
- Self-latching – When the latching bolt wears out, the fire marshal can fail your inspection.
- Self-closing – Fire-rated doors must close by themselves, not be propped open, and be free from obstructions.
- No gaps – Doors that routinely get slammed or impacted with heavy items can eventually lose position. Gaps can form and compromise its fire rating.
- Labels – Fire doors and all of their attached hardware must have visible labels on them. The Fire Marshal can fail you for removing or painting over them.
- Modifications – You aren’t allowed to make any modifications to a fire-rated door.
With enough due diligence, you can keep your commercial maintenance room’s fire safety protection up to code. However, if you want to delegate that responsibility to trained professionals, the experts at All Protect Systems are ready to serve you. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!
Photo Source: Flickr
Posted: August 15th, 2021
Like every other capital equipment investment, your fire alarm has a limited life span and becomes obsolete with the advent of new codes and technologies. Whether your system is on its last legs, or you proactively want to upgrade what you have for better performance, you can benefit from looking closely at the latest fire alarm system trends.
All Protect Systems, Inc has been installing and upgrading the fire alarms for many of the Ontario area’s leading companies since 1996. By keeping abreast of the technology trends in the industry, they keep their customer’s premises as safe as possible. Some of the most beneficial industry trends include the following:
1) Multi-Criteria Detectors
Many current fire alarm systems have separate smoke, heat, CO2, and light/flame detectors, and it’s not uncommon for them to be installed in the same room. Each device requires its own wiring, zone, and mounting box, adding to the installation cost.
Several fire alarm manufacturers now offer multi-criteria detectors to enhance fire safety, reduce installation labor costs, and limit the eyesore of multiple sensors.
2) Alarm Voice Notification
It’s normal to associate fire alarm audible notification appliances with the traditional horns that fire marshals want to be loud enough to drive the occupants out of the building. Though effective, it’s a stressful way to notify people of a fire and tends to induce panic in a situation when people need to remain calm.
Though voice notification systems have served customers well for more than 40 years, they have recently become more popular as building owners incorporate complementary mass notification systems (MNS) to alert occupants of other possible dangers. For instance, an MNS might direct the occupants to remain in place rather than evacuate.
3) Wireless Sensors
Wireless smoke and heat sensors have been protecting Ontario businesses for years, and their use continues to grow. Longer-lasting batteries and improved wireless transmission technologies make wireless sensors a more attractive choice for many buildings.
While a wired connection is still considered the most reliable, there are situations where running wire is cost-prohibitive. Many of the newer fire alarm panels accommodate a hybrid solution of both wired and wireless sensors.
4) Ditching POTS
While plain old telephone service (POTS) has served fire alarm panels well for decades, newer communication technologies are replacing them at a rapid pace. The two technologies that encompass the industry trend of replacement of landline communication include:
- Cellular. The mobile communication industry is sunsetting 2G, and 3G networks, so many customers are upgrading to LTE communicators. While 5G is on the horizon, the LTE network promises to operate for at least a decade.
- IP. Ethernet connections that relied on the building’s internet connection are usually only approved for fire communication when there’s another communication pathway, such as POTS or cellular. However, internet service has become much more robust and is a quick and reliable way to transmit emergency signals.
5) Gradual Upgrade
Many modern fire alarm control panels have excellent backward compatibility, so facility managers don’t have to upgrade their entire system all at once. By phasing in upgrades and additions, they can help defer costs over time and minimize the disruption to normal operations.
Whether you wish to upgrade your fire alarm gradually, replace it entirely, or install one for a new building, understanding the current industry trends can save you money and better protect the lives and property in your building.
If you’d like to know more about the newest technology trends in fire alarms, All Protect Systems, Inc can help you choose the best solution for your property. Call them today to discuss the possibilities!
Posted: July 15th, 2021
Spring is a time of rebirth in nature, and we also use it as a time for cleaning, organizing, and setting new agendas in our lives. If you’re responsible for your building’s fire safety plan, spring might be the ideal season to evaluate and hopefully improve your commercial fire safety plan.
The Ontario Fire Code requires certain commercial buildings to have a fire safety plan, and if yours is one of them, you need to revisit your plan as changes occur on your premises. However, if you find yourself too busy to handle the details, the expert staff at All Protect Systems, Inc has been designing, reviewing, and improving commercial fire safety plans for Ontario are businesses since 1996.
Building Evacuation
Life safety is the most critical aspect of any commercial fire safety plan, and your number one priority is getting occupants out of the building during a fire. When revisiting your fire safety plan, make notes of any changes to the building structure or uses within it.
Perhaps new furniture has been placed in a lobby, or an office has become storage space? Ask yourself how these alterations could affect your fire risks or evacuation routes. Physical changes to the building or uses of building spaces may require an alteration to your building evacuation route or even a new fire exit.
Identify Hazards
As a building manager, your responsibilities include posting signs and keeping an eye out for faulty equipment that could ignite and start a dangerous fire. Your commercial fire safety plan must identify these hazards and educate the appropriate staff about ways to minimize danger.
The reasons for most commercial fires are surprisingly predictable. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most accidental commercial building fires start from four basic causes.
Cooking equipment is responsible for:
- 65 percent of healthcare facility fires
- 61 percent in restaurants
- 38 percent in educational institutions
Avoid fires from cooking equipment by:
-
- Cleaning up any grease buildup Up Grease. …
- Properly maintain the equipment
- Keep fire extinguishers nearby
Heating equipment, such as furnaces, boilers, and radiators, cause:
- 14 percent of fires in industrial buildings
- 11 percent in office buildings
- Nine percent in restaurants
Avoid fires from heating equipment by:
-
- Regular inspections
- Preventative maintenance
Electrical equipment accounts for:
- 12 percent of office building fires
- 10 percent in stores
- Nine percent of restaurant fires
Avoid electrical fires by keeping an eye out for:
-
- Corroded wiring
- Overloaded circuits (blown fuses or tripping breakers)
- Daisy chained power strips or extension cords
Despite the reduction in smokers, smoking still accounts for:
- Nine percent of office building fires
- Seven percent in restaurants
- Five percent in healthcare facilities
Avoid fires from smokers by:
-
- Keeping smokers outside
- Provide ashtray with sand for them to extinguish their cigarettes
- Strictly prohibit any smoking around oxygen tanks
Encourage Feedback After Fire Drills
Fire drills can become a robotic experience, but it does force the participants to think about fire safety. Encourage the building occupants to share any ideas or concerns that they may have about fire hazards or the evacuation plan.
Even if they don’t have any ideas on hand, your request can encourage them to give the matter some thought. Everyone who works in a building should have an eye out for potential fire hazards.
While spring is an excellent time to revisit your building’s fire safety plan, fire safety should be a year-round priority. However, if you prefer to delegate fire safety planning to professionals, All Protect Systems can help you with all of your fire safety needs. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!
Posted: June 15th, 2021
Whether it’s inclement weather or a temporarily overburdened electrical grid, power outages are problematic for Ontario businesses. Suppose your building doesn’t have a backup generator during such outages. In that case, when the lights go out, your emergency lighting and exit lighting are essential for building occupants to make it out safely.
Is Emergency and Exit Lighting Required by Law?
Section 9.9.3.14 of the Ontario Fire Code mandates that any building required to have a fire alarm system must also provide emergency lighting for exits and access to exits. Additionally, any room that can host more than 60 people must also provide emergency lighting.
In buildings taller than 18 meters, the emergency lighting must maintain power for longer than two hours, while structures shorter than that only need to provide illumination for more than 30 minutes. The power source for this emergency lighting must be separate from the building’s primary electrical power and activate when the regular supply is interrupted.
Is Emergency Exit Lighting Just Another Burdensome Government Regulation?
A Harris Poll conducted in 2017 questioned more than two thousand US adults about their confidence in safely exiting their workplace during a power outage, and more than one third responded expressed concern. Half of the respondents felt that navigating the stairs would be especially difficult during a power outage.
Forty-two percent admitted that they probably couldn’t properly execute their building’s emergency evacuation plan without enough illumination. Emergency lighting and exit lighting are not just another arbitrary government regulation. They are vital aspects of building safety that many building occupants desperately need.
Are There Different Types of Emergency Lighting?
Several types of emergency lighting are available to address different needs. The most common are external and internal bulkhead emergency lighting fixtures connected to the building’s main primary electrical source. When the main power is cut off during a general outage or from a damaged wire, the emergency devices operate on local battery power and illuminate the path to safety.
LED lights are increasingly popular due to their lower power consumption, and many companies proactively upgrade to them. Illuminated exit signs also operate on batteries after disruption of the primary electrical power. For structures with floor level changes and stairways, photoluminescent floor discs, paint, and tape can provide excellent visibility in dimly lit areas or under smokey conditions.
Where Is Emergency Exit Lighting Required?
Each building is unique, and the Ontario Fire Marshal has the final say on the subject. Still, you should provide emergency lighting to illuminate the following areas:
Do Emergency and Exit Lighting Require Maintenance?
Though often overlooked, building owners and facility managers must schedule regular inspections and testing of their emergency and exit lighting equipment to ensure proper functionality in the event of an emergency. By contracting a professional, you get trained technicians that can perform the following services:
- Regular testing and inspections. Ontario requires monthly inspections and functionality tests for emergency lighting systems, and you need to repair or replace any equipment that doesn’t perform correctly.
- Maintain detailed records. The Ontario Fire Marshal may wish to review records of inspections and testing. Building owners need to have these documents on hand when he requests them.
Designing, maintaining, and upgrading your emergency and exit lighting system saves lives and is required by law. The technicians at All Protect Systems, Inc are experts in the field. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!
Posted: May 15th, 2021
Most people tend to think of a fire extinguisher as a one-time purchase that lasts forever as long as you don’t have a fire. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and many would-be firefighters find out the hard way that the fire extinguisher that has been waiting patiently for years doesn’t work when desperately needed.
If fire preparedness is part of your job responsibility, you must ensure that all fire prevention systems are working correctly. Your equipment may not work correctly without regular testing, maintenance, and fire extinguisher recharging.
If you’re unsure about the schedule requirements necessary to keep your extinguishers up to code, you could benefit from professional assistance. The fire experts at All Protect Systems, Inc have been servicing and recharging fire extinguishers for Ontario businesses since 1996.
What Is the Fire Extinguisher Recharging Process?
First of all, only trained professionals should perform fire extinguisher recharging. The technicians at All Protect Systems, Inc have the training, equipment, and experience necessary to ensure that your extinguishers have the proper extinguishing agent and are in top condition. During their maintenance and recharging process, their technicians perform the following procedures:
- Depressurize the extinguisher and remove all of the agent
- Remove the:
- Discharge valve from the cylinder
- Siphon tube from the valve
- Valve stem from the spring
- Clean the valve
- Insert a new o-ring gasket on the valve
- Examine the extinguisher from top to bottom for any visual signs of excessive wear or physical damage
- Reinstall the valve with a new stem, so it can maintain a seal and prevent pressure loss.
- Fill the extinguisher’s tank according to the weight specified by the manufacturer’s instructions with the proper agent such as water, foam, carbon dioxide, powder, and wet chemicals
- Re-pressurize the extinguisher tank to the manufacturer’s pressure specifications with the correct gas
- Check for pressure or agent leakage during a leak test
- Reinstall the hose or nozzle
- Re-weigh the extinguisher to ensure that it’s within the manufacturer’s specified range
- Install a new tamper seal on the safety pin and a new service tag indicating that the date of the recharge, total weight, and name of the servicing technician
How Can You Tell if Your Fire Extinguisher Needs Recharging?
If you’ve used your fire extinguisher, recharge it immediately, and even the smallest discharge can compromise the unit’s pressure. However, that’s not the only instance it should be recharged. Fire extinguisher recharging is also necessary when any of the following circumstances appear:
- Low-pressure reading
- Operating instructions are illegible
- Safety seal or tamper indicator is missing or broken
- Visible physical damage or corrosion
- Leaks
- Clogged nozzle
Assign someone at your company to perform monthly visual inspections of all of your fire safety equipment and especially your extinguishers. If he notices any problem, be sure to call a licensed professional for immediate service.
Even if noticeable problems never appear with your fire extinguishers, you still need to have them inspected, serviced, and recharged according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. ABC dry chemical agents are the most common type of extinguishing agent, and they should be serviced and recharged at six and 12 years of the manufacturing date by a trained technician.
Who to Call When Service Is Necessary?
The expert technicians at All Protect Systems, Inc can handle all of your fire extinguisher recharging needs. In fact, they can service every aspect of your fire safety system, including:
Fire safety is a serious concern for every Ontario business, and you need the very best professionals to stay compliant with the Ontario Fire Code’s requirements. Call the experts at All Protect Systems, Inc today to find out what they can do for you!
Posted: April 15th, 2021
Whether you’ve already scheduled your next fire system inspection or the Ontario fire marshal decides to make an impromptu visit, your building needs to up to code. The Ontario Fire Code spells out your obligations under the law, and different types of facilities have specific requirements for their respective fire systems.
Failing a fire system inspection can result in the closing of your business. While your building should be in code compliance at all times, fire marshals are even less forgiving when they schedule an inspection. If you need assistance with your facility, the experts at All Protect Systems, Inc have been preparing Ontario businesses for their fire inspections since 1996, with the following systems:
1) Electrical Equipment
Make sure your building’s electrical system is functioning correctly and up to code. Electrical problems are one of the most common causes of building fires, so the fire inspector examines your electrical system closely. Inspections often fail for reasons, such as:
- Missing cover plates for junction boxes or electrical outlets
- Openings in circuit breaker boxes – Sparks or arcs can ignite nearby combustible material.
- Unlabeled breakers
- Using extension cords for permanent appliances
- Extension cords stapled to a wall or furniture
- Overloaded power strips
- Daisy-chained surge suppressors
- Unlabeled and unaccessible main electrical panel
You should correct these items before any fire inspection. Call an electrician if necessary.
2) Keep Exit Pathways Clear
Fire marshals understand that occupant evacuation during a fire can be hectic and dangerous. They frown on any obstacles that prevent an easy egress from the premises. The Ontario Fire Code specifications regarding building egress include:
- 2.4.1.1.(2) Combustible materials shall not be accumulated in any part of an elevator shaft, ventilation shaft, means of egress – however, code does permit wooden furniture as long as it doesn’t impede the exit
- 2.7.1.7. (1) Means of egress shall be maintained in good repair and free of obstructions.
- 2.8.2.5. (2)(b) Hotels must have fire safety rules posted on exit doors of guest suites
3) Fire Alarms
Trained and licensed professionals must perform periodic fire inspections according to your building’s requirements. The company performing the fire system inspection should provide you with a written report that you must provide to the fire marshall on request. When the fire marshal has scheduled his own inspection, make sure of the following:
- Pull stations are visible and accessible
- The fire alarm panel is easily accessible and free of trouble or supervisory alerts
4) Fire Extinguishers
The Ontario Fire Code has detailed requirements for the type of extinguishers required and their testing, inspection, and maintenance. They need annual service and inspection by trained technicians, as well as the following:
- Recharging or replacement if the extinguishing material is low
- Hydrostatic testing of the cylinder or replacement every six years
Visually inspect your extinguishers each month to ensure that they’re:
- Visible
- Accessible
- Rust free
- Gauge is in the green area
5) Fire Hoses
You must provide documentation of annual fire hose inspections to the fire marshal upon request. Fire hose inspections check for issues, such as:
- Excess debris
- Mildew
- Rott
- Chemical damage
- Cuts or abrasions
Preparation is the key to passing your next Ontario Fire Marshal fire inspection. If you don’t have the time to brush up on the latest code revisions, you can always rely on the experts at All Protect Systems, Inc.
Specialists in fire protection, All Protect’s technicians can see potential problems and solutions that you might miss. Call them today to find out what they can do for you!