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Fire extinguishers have been the weapons against unwanted fires for a long time now and over the decades they have evolved a lot . There are currently two kinds of fire extinguishers commonly used. These are stored pressure type and the cartridge assisted. The stored pressure type fire extinguishers have the expellant and the extinguishing materials packed together in the same chamber. They are kept at a specific pressure so as to ensure their working when released. In this type of fire extinguishers, generally nitrogen is used as the propellant if the extinguishing materials are dry and air is utilized when water based compounds are used. These are generally used in places like hospitals and residential apartments and homes. The second type is the cartridge assisted fire extinguisher in which the propellant is kept at pressure in a separate container and is punctured so that the propellant mixes with the extinguishing substances and comes out when triggered. They are easy to refill as the pressurized gas can be refilled quickly enough for reuse and the materials in the other chamber are separately refilled. These are generally used in places such as industrial premises and construction sites. These can be further divided into portable and cart / trolley mounted models. Portable models are generally from 0.5 kilograms to 14 kilograms in weight. Cart mounted fire extinguishers are generally 25 kilograms+ in weight and hence are carried by carts. These are used in places such as airport runways and construction sites. Almost all the countries around the world have different rules and regulations for the maintenance of fire extinguishers in public buildings such as hospitals or government buildings. Even if not mandatory by law, these instruments need proper and timely inspections so as to ensure their working and safety. Many fire extinguishers have a tendency to explode if the containers are corroded. Maintenance of fire extinguishers should be left to professionals so that no mistakes are made. Stored pressure type models should be inspected yearly by checking their weight and the signs of any corrosion in the container. Usually the containers are safely opened and the insides of the container are also carefully inspected. The fire suppression materials are replaced if not in proper condition and the container is again filled with nitrogen or air to the specific level of requirement. The cartridge assisted fire extinguishers also require regular checks so as to ensure corrosion free equipment. There are many companies like http://www.skfireprotection.co.uk/ which offer these maintenance services all round the year. They schedule regular checkups and ensure the proper working and safe handling of the equipment. These services can be easily found online and they offer complete service at very reasonable costs. Fire extinguisher maintenance is a very delicate and risky task. Hence it must not be fiddled with at any cost, without knowledge of correctly repairing it. Hiring expert services for such tasks is a must and is literally insurance against loss from any accidental fire. So take the maintenance of your fire extinguishers seriously as calamity does not give a clue before striking. About The Author Steve Simpson is an expert in fire risk assessments and other related aspects and considers SKFireProtection.co.uk as the best place to enroll yourself for fire training courses. He also likes to share his knowledge and experiences from the field in the many articles and blogs that he writes.
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