There are various types of fire extinguishers that are available in the market. As such, it is important to assess the different alternatives and determine which is best for your business. Therefore, when you are in the market looking for fire extinguishers for your business, there are some factors to consider. They include:
Size of business
The bigger your business, the more fire extinguishers you will need. Make sure you consider every office and floor in your business building so that the occupants of said space do not have to go far to find a fire extinguisher in case of an accident. The size of your business also determines the size of the fire extinguishers you will get. Do not get ones that are so small that they would be ineffective in a large fire. However, do not get large and heavy ones that you may not be able to use in an emergency state.
Business activities
There are different types of businesses. As mentioned above, there are different types of fire extinguishers. These come into being because of the different types of fires. By considering the main business activities you undertake, you will prevent choosing the wrong type of fire extinguishers. For example, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are great with electrical and combustible liquid fires (fires caused by petroleum or gasoline). They may however not work with paper or wood fires as effectively as water and foam fire extinguishers.
Training
Even with fire extinguishers in place, they would not be of much use if you and your employees did not know how to use them. There are health and safety practitioners that offer training services to businesses. They would teach your staff how to respond to fire emergencies through various steps. These include immediate evacuation, raising the alarm and trying to put out the fire when possible. They will be taught how to use the fire extinguishers. An acronym to remember on how to use fire extinguishers is P.A.S.S.: Press, Aim, Squeeze and Swerve.
Environmental impact
Always go for fire extinguishers that have the least environmental impacts. In as much as your safety comes first, you should also consider the long term environmental effects the fire extinguishers may cause. Fire extinguishers are graded according to their hazardous levels from low hazardous to high hazardous. Depending on the type of fire your business may have to put out, choose the least toxic fire extinguisher.