Fire Extinguishing Equipment

• Stored Pressure Hand Portable – These extinguishers range in size from 1.25 lb. to 30 lb. They typically come with a wall hook mounting bracket, with a light duty or heavy duty vehicle bracket available as an option. Classified as either stored pressure or cartridge operated, they are additionally classified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) as ABC (Ammonium Phosphate), BC (Sodium Bicarbonate, Purple K), or D (Super D, Sodium Chloride), Copper, or G-Plus (Graphite).
• Wheeled Extinguishers – These extinguishers range in size from 50 lb. To 350 lb. They typically come with steel, solid rubber, or semi-pneumatic wheels. They are classified by UL in the same manner as hand portables, and they come in the same two general categories of stored pressure and cartridge operated.

• Clean Agent – STILL AVAILABLE! STILL A POWERFUL, FIRE FIGHTING AGENT. There are some applications where Halon simply is the only usable agent. To see to the needs of our existing customers, as well as to supply to those customers that have applications where Halon is the only alternative, General Fire Equipment Company has agreed to become one of the largest remaining stocking distributors of Halon fire extinguishers in the U.S. We currently stock a full line of hand portable extinguishers for industrial, aviation, and military applications. Due to the limited supply of Halon, it is important to anticipate your Halon needs far into the future. Let General Fire help you. Call today!
• Clean Guard
• Halotron

• Pressurized Water – They are strictly UL rated “A” type fire application only, yet their ease of refill, non-toxicity, and overall effectiveness against “A” type fires make them one of the most popular extinguishers sold in the U.S.A.
• Foam – They are used on UL rated “AB” type fire only. They come in three sizes: a 6 liter (UL rated 1A:20B), a 2.5 gallon hand portable (UL rated 3A:20B), and a 33 gallon (UL rated 20A:160B) wheeled or stationary unit.
• Class K – This represents the state-of-the-art in HAND PORTABLE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN FIRE PROTECTION. To compliment the new UL 300 standard for automatic, pre-engineered, kitchen fire suppression systems, Class “K” has been developed as a hand portable stainless steal wet chemical unit. A wet chemical unit neutralizes the fire without the chance of a re-flash that a standard dry chemical UL rated “BC” unit may allow. This unit comes in two sizes: 6 liter (UL listed 2A:K), and 2.5 gallon (UL listed 2A:K).
• Water Mist – The perfect extinguisher for a Class “A” fire in an area where a potential Class C (electrical) hazard exists. The unique fine misting spray of these units provides safety from electrical shock while enhancing the cooling and soaking characteristics of the de-ionized water agent. It is the perfect extinguisher for hospitals, telecommunication facilities, and clean room applications. This unit is non-magnetic and so perfect for MRI facilities. Call Today to find out all the details.

• CO2 – These extinguishers come in six nominal sizes: 5 lb., 10 lb., 15 lb., 20 lb., 50lb., and 100 lb. The 100 lb. and the 50 lb. are wheeled. They have UL ratings of BC only. We stock a large number of CO2 extinguishers for immediate shipment.

International Fire Code, NFPA ,Cities and some counties require every business or place of assembly to have a functioning fire extinguisher(s) on the premises. A business’s insurance policy and/or the state agency having jurisdiction dictate the presence of a fire extinguisher or fire extinguishing system. The extinguishers and systems are required to be inspected on a minimum of an annual basis. To pass inspection the fire extinguisher must:

• Be appropriately mounted to a fixed structure – Fire extinguishers weighing less than 40 lbs must be mounted on a permanent structure between three and five feet from the floor.
• The extinguisher must be unobstructed for ease of access – It is recommended that fire extinguishers are mounted in an area of egress. This allows for them to be properly utilized but allowing the user to have a safe exit from the emergency.
• Properly located within the structure -It must be within 75 foot of unobstructed walking distance. In areas involving petroleum products such as vehicle maintenance a 10lb BC fire extinguisher must be present. It must be appropriately mounted and be within a 50 foot unobstructed walking distance. A large structure may require multiple fire extinguishers to comply with local code. In most cases a 5lb ABC dry chemical will cover a 3000 square foot area.
• Be of proper type and size for the fire load involved – The size and type are dictated by the authority having jurisdiction (local fire marshal) which is based on the fire load of the business. For instance a retail gift shop less than 3000 square foot in size may only require one 5lb ABC fire extinguisher, but same size structure with a candle shop or pool chemical store may require two 5lb ABC fire extinguishers located at opposite ends of the store.
• Proof of annual inspection – Annually every fire extinguisher in a business or place of assembly must be inspected by a licensed technician who is employed by a licensed firm. If the fire extinguisher is not damaged, the hose is free of debris, has not been discharged, is maintaining the correct pressure, and is mounted appropriately it can receive an inspection tag certifying the extinguisher for another year. The inspection tag is punched on the month and year of the inspection. It is within compliance up until one year from that time. At six years from the manufacture date on a dry chemical (most ABC extinguishers) the extinguisher must have maintenance performed. The maintenance consists of a removal of the handle, stem, internal parts and chemical. The interior is inspected to verify the integrity of the pressure vessel. Once it is determined that the cylinder is free from damage or defect it is then reassembled and charged for service. The maintenance consists of a removal of the handle, stem, internal parts and chemical. The interior is inspected to verify the integrity of the pressure vessel. Once it is determined that the cylinder is free from damage or defect it is then reassembled and charged for service. A leak test is performed and a new annual inspection tag is attached. At twelve years from the manufacturers date the extinguisher must undergo hydrostatic testing. Once it is verified serviceable it is recharged, a hydrostatic test sticker or stamp is attached and the extinguisher is returned to service. CO2 extinguisher maintenance dates and hydrostatic dates are five and ten years from the manufacturer date.

It is recommended that a monthly “check” of the fire extinguisher(s) be performed by a designated employee, supervisor, or owner. On the back of the inspection tag there is a place to initial that the monthly inspection was performed. Once again they are looking for damage, vandalism, improper pressure, or a missing fire extinguisher. This does not constitute an annual inspection by a licensed technician.

Cities and counties have fire, building, and health inspectors that make annual visits to businesses within their jurisdiction to verify compliance. Non compliance usually dictates a written warning with a time limit to correct the violation. The time limit can vary dependent upon the violation and hazard(s) involved. Persistent noncompliance can necessitate a fine and possibly refusal of the business to operate until the violation is corrected.

General Fire Equipment has a fleet of mobile technicians certified to perform these inspections at customer facilities. Let our technicians give you the peace of mind that your extinguishers are code compliant. We can develop an inspection program that best meets your needs with as little interruption to operations as possible. Let us make sure your extinguishers are able to keep your employees safe!

In most cases, fire extinguisher can stand up to a lot of abuse. However, on occasion they get damaged via the environment or abuse. General Fire Equipment can handle the simplest repair to the more extensive. Let General Fire Equipment help you determine the most cost effective means to keep your fire extinguishers functioning properly and your employees safe.

Fire Extinguisher Recharge – Fire extinguishers get discharged for a number of reasons from a fire to accidentally. General Fire Equipment is fully certified to re-charge all makes and models of fire extinguishers. Don’t let discharged fire extinguishers sit around. General Fire Equipment can get your extinguisher back in service and protecting your employees quickly