Fire extinguisher maintenance and inspection are crucial to ensuring the safety of your property. You never know when you might need a fire extinguisher. And maintaining them properly is the best way to ensure they will operate in the event you do need them. 

Regular maintenance is critical for all types of fire extinguishers, even powder fire extinguishers. Powder fire extinguishers are also called dry chemical fire extinguishers. These extinguishers put out a fire by coating the fuel source with a thin layer of chemical dust. The chemical residue separates the fuel from the oxygen required to maintain ignition. The powder contained in dry chemical fire extinguishers also interrupts the chemical reaction of fire. 

For these reasons, dry chemical fire extinguishers are incredibly effective. But they are far less effective when not maintained properly, so following maintenance requirements is essential. 

1. Understand What Chemicals Are in Your Extinguisher and What Materials They Can Extinguish. 

Fire extinguishers, including those that use chemicals, are rated by the type of fire that they will extinguish. Some powder fire extinguishers are rated for multiple fires. The types of ratings are:

• Class A: Ordinary combustibles, such as wood, paper, and textiles. 
• Class B: Flammable liquids and gas fires.
• Class C: Live electrical equipment. These extinguishers must use a non-conductive extinguishing agent. If the equipment is not live, a Class A or Class B extinguisher may be used.
• Class D: Combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, or sodium.
• Class K: Fires based on cooking materials, such as fats, grease, or oils. 

Every fire extinguisher will contain symbols that denote which class or classes of fire they can be used to extinguish. Dry chemical fire extinguishers frequently combat multiple types of fires. However, before installing them or replacing them, it is important to understand what type of fire they can combat. The class rating of powder fire extinguishers should match with the locations where they are placed. This strategy prevents a scenario where you would have an ill-suited extinguisher if the nearby materials caught fire.  

In addition to understanding the different classifications, you should also know what type of dry chemicals are contained in the extinguisher. It may become important to identify the chemical if the extinguisher suffers a rupture. No employer would want to expose an employee or customer to hazardous materials. But to identify when danger is present, you must know what the danger is. And if an extinguisher does malfunction or leak dry chemicals, you will want to know what they are. Any professional you call to contain the contamination will want to know exactly what hazards are present.

2. Perform the Required Monthly Maintenance – Even When It’s Not Required

Employers are legally obligated to inspect, maintain, and test fire extinguishers monthly. A failure to comply with this duty would represent an OSHA violation. Dry chemical, or powder, extinguishers are subject to this monthly requirement, just like every other type of extinguishers. And you definitely don’t want to fall out of compliance. Not only would it pose a safety hazard that can threaten life and property, but it can also result in hefty workplace safety violation fines or penalties. 

To meet OSHA requirements, employers must:

• Verify that each extinguisher is located where it is supposed to be located.
• Confirm that there is a valid maintenance tag with a visible and easy-to-read nameplate.
• Ensure that the fire extinguisher is charged and ready to use.
• Confirm that it is unobstructed and can be accessed easily.
• Confirm that the seal or pull pin is intact and there are no signs of physical damage to the extinguisher.
• Verify that the pressure is still in operating range on the pressure gauge. 

Employers must also keep a record of these inspections to maintain legal compliance. Unlike some other types of fire extinguishers, dry chemical fire extinguishers do not require an internal examination. 

And while following this regular inspection schedule is important for employers for legal reasons, anyone with a powder extinguisher should regularly inspect it. Corrosion of the fire extinguisher or cracking along the hose are common problems. And each of these problems can result in an inoperable extinguisher or one whose ability to extinguish a fire is impaired. And without a reliable and fully functional fire extinguisher, you put everyone who may be in the vicinity at risk. The bottom line is that all extinguishers should be examined regularly to confirm operability.