Compliant. Covered.

California law requires annual inspection, tagging, and confirmation that all extinguishers are charged and unobstructed. Additionally, every six years a full teardown and recharge is required.

A fire extinguisher usually lasts about 12 years. Every six years, there needs to be a six-year teardown or recharge to make sure the powder is loose enough to spray evenly with no clogs. 

 To recharge a fire extinguisher as a technician, we shoot off or empty or discharge the fire extinguisher, clean all moving parts, including valve, stem, O-rings, and downspout to make sure that the function will discharge or extinguish any fire you may have we also check to make sure there is no damage to the to the cylinder or handle or gauge. 

Every fire extinguisher comes with instructions on the front label of the extinguisher. To use one properly you must grab the extinguisher from bottom handle, turn pole pin like a car key to break the taper seal remove the pull pin aim hose at base of fire stand back 8 feet squeeze the top handle. The powder will expel from the extinguisher, and you sweep back-and-forth to cover the base of the fire.

K-Class extinguishers are required for commercial kitchens. Unlike older BC extinguishers, K-Class uses a liquid agent that smothers fatty-oil fires without coating every surface in powder — meaning less cleanup and no forced shutdown.

K class fire extinguishers are the correct type of fire extinguisher for commercial kitchens. BC fire extinguishers used to be used for kitchen fires however they would spray powder on all surfaces leading to shut down of the kitchen and massive cleanup. The new K class is a liquid analects That extinguishes the fire by smothering the fatty oils, so it is not reignite. Because it is a liquid it is easier cleanup and kitchens would not have to be shut down.

There is a new K class extinguisher specifically for lithium batteries. Please contact us if you are a business working with lythium batteries, service electric vehicles or if you own an electric vehicle or electric bike and do not have a K class extinguisher or have any questions.

The UL listing or underwriter laboratory listing is to make sure that the extinguisher is up to regulations involving function and durability of the fire extinguisher. I have had customers with private jets who’ve had extinguishers from China and since they are not UL listed or certified, we cannot service them in America. 

In California, businesses must have portable fire extinguishers inspected visually every month and serviced professionally at least once a year by a technician holding a valid Certificate of Registration from the California State Fire Marshal (OSFM) under Title 19 regulations.