Do’s and Don’ts of Fire Extinguisher Storage: How And Where To Store Them

Fire Extinguishers: Skulking In The Distance Or Just A Coincidence?

When you think about fire extinguishers, what comes to your mind’s eye? Maybe you think of them beaming proud and red in their elevated glass cases. Perhaps a travel-sized car extinguisher comes to mind. Either way, many of us have seen them in the movie theater hallways, in hospital waiting rooms, and even in our own kitchens by the stove. It’s easy for this life-saving piece of equipment to fade into the background. After all, we don’t really need it until we need it right? But have you ever considered that whenever it is needed, it’s always within reasonable reach? 

This is all by design. It may seem as though your fire extinguisher is always just lurking in the shadows, or skulking around corners waiting for the perfect moment to save the day, but in all reality, fire extinguishers are quite strategically placed and are placed this way for a reason. In this article, we’ll be discussing all about fire extinguisher storage and going over the do’s and don’ts when it comes to storing (or strategically placing) your own. 

A Brief Breakdown

Fire extinguishers are made up of a few central components that influence how and where they are stored. At the basic level, fire extinguishers are constructed of a tank, a valve assembly, a nozzle, an extinguishing agent, and a propellant. Due to the nature of these components and the highly pressurized substance that fire extinguishers contain, fire extinguishers must be stored in a manner that does not disturb or distort these components. Distortions can lead to extinguisher explosions and render your extinguisher useless in the event of an emergency. 

Tank

This is what secures the structure of the fire extinguisher and holds all of its contents inside. Typically red, and cylindrical, the tank has become the calling card of the fire extinguisher at large. 

Valve Assembly

The value assembly is the more complex collection of parts that sits just atop the tank. This section includes the release lever, tamper seal, handle, and pull pin. 

Nozzle

An extinguisher’s nozzle is the part that’s actually aimed at the fire in the event of an emergency. This is the part of the extinguisher that releases the extinguishing agent.

Extinguishing Agent

The extinguishing agent remains inside of the tank until it is ready to be deployed. There are different extinguishing agents for different classes (or classifications) of fire. Various agents include ABC Dry Chemical, BC Dry Chemical, Dry Powder, Water, Foam, Wet Chemical, Halogenated, and Carbon Dioxide.

Propellant

A fire extinguisher’s propellant is the substance that catalyzes the extinguishing agent. It is typically nitrogen gas. 

The Do’s and Don’ts of Fire Extinguisher Storage

We’ve compiled our expert list of four do’s and four absolute don’ts when it comes to fire extinguisher storage. A simple storage mistake can be the difference between a close call where the fire was squelched pretty quickly, and total fire extinguisher inoperability. We always want to shoot for the solution with the least devastation. So these are eight fire extinguisher storage tips to keep in mind:  

Great Locations For Fire Extinguisher Storage

Now that we’ve gone over the do’s and don’ts of fire extinguisher storage, we want to share some excellent locations for your new fire extinguisher! 

Great places to have an extinguisher include:

*Pro Tip: We highly recommend that all fire extinguishers in corporate locations be secured in proper fire extinguisher storage cases. 

Contact Our Experts for Fire Extinguisher Storage Solutions Near You! 

If you’re looking for a local, reliable company to ensure that your fire extinguisher storage is up to standard, be sure to call our team at Safe-T Fire Protection for leading fire protection services. We are more than happy to serve you at any corporate location of your choice. Give us a call today!