Have you ever wondered or even thought of how fire extinguishers are made? Probably not. Most people don’t even notice a fire extinguisher until they have to use one.
We have over 500 extinguishers at the Medical Center alone. A lot goes into these first aid devices: monthly checks, annual servicing and a six-year breakdown; activities which are performed on all extinguishers. When in use, extinguishers only last about 8-12 seconds depending on their size, but are normally effective at extinguishing 80 percent of the fire they are used on according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Above is a short video that shows exactly how fire extinguishers are prepared. I, for one, did not realize how much detail goes into them and found it very interesting.
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This article originally posted in Environmental Health & Safety's Speaking of Safety Blog. Environmental Health & Safety is a division of Risk Management. Visit the Speaking of Safety Blog here.