Can I Test My Fire Extinguisher?

You’ve installed your fire extinguisher throughout your office building and feel more secure in your fire protection methods. But can you test your fire extinguishers?

You may think that testing your fire extinguisher—by discharging a small amount—will be helpful to know that they work, but it is not recommended to test your fire extinguisher.

Testing your fire extinguisher, even by just a little, can decrease the pressure in the canister and lead to a useless, non-working extinguisher in the event of a real fire.

At Kauffman Co., when we are asked by our customers—mostly commercial business owners in the Houston, TX area—whether they should (or can) test their fire extinguishers, we always tell them no. Instead, we recommend regular checks and inspections of their fire extinguishers to ensure that they are a working fire protection method without negatively impacting their usability.

Find out when to service your fire extinguishers or keep reading below to learn more about alternative ways to test your fire extinguisher.

Check Your Fire Extinguisher Gauges

Once your fire extinguishers are installed, make an inventory of their locations and do a monthly check of each. When doing this, you’ll want to check the needle on the pressure gauge—making sure it’s in the green area. This will indicate to you that your fire extinguishers are in working order and ready to fight a fire in an emergency. Testing your fire extinguisher will usually put the pressure gauge needle in the red and indicate that the fire extinguisher is now not able to protect you and your employees from a smaller fire.

Inspect Your Fire Extinguishers Annually or After Use

General inspection and service is recommended for your commercial fire extinguishers at least once a year. A fire protection company can inspect each of your units to check for lost pressure or damage. If you use your fire extinguisher (even just a little bit), you should schedule inspection and replacement or refilling. By working with a licensed fire protection company, you can ensure your fire extinguishers are ready to protect you in the event of an emergency without testing your fire extinguisher.

Fire Extinguisher Services in Houston, TX

If you’re looking for fire extinguisher services for your commercial building or facility in the Houston, Texas area, contact Kauffman Co. We’ve been providing fire extinguisher services in the area for decades and can help design a fire protection plan that can keep your employees and property safe.

Our family-owned company is your one-stop shop for all of your fire extinguisher services and needs. Our certified, trained technicians can design, install, test, repair and inspect not just your extinguishers, but all your fire protection systems—including: