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What you might want to know about maintaining and using portable fire extinguishers.
NFPA 10, Portable Fire Extinguishers, provides minimum requirements for the selection, placement, and servicing of portable fire extinguishers.
Halon 1211 extinguishers have traditionally been installed In computer rooms and other areas where it's preferred that extinguishing agents don't leave any residue. Given the restrictions on halon production, what are the alternatives?
NFPA 10 identifies alternative agents, known as halocarbons, under the halogenated agent category. These are nonconductive when discharged and don't leave a residue, making them ideal for computer rooms.
Given the environmental concerns regard. Ing Halon 1211, should these extinguishers undergo regular maintenance?
Yes. Servicing companies use "closed recovery systems," meaning that almost all of the halon taken out of the extinguisher during servicing can be returned to the extinguisher. A regular maintenance program also increases an extinguisher's reliability.
I have a sodium bicarbonate dry chemical extinguisher in place to protect cooking appliances. Do I need to replace it with one of the new Class K models?
If it...