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If you have an open fireplace, a woodstove, oil or gas fire in your home, you should have a fire extinguisher, to protect your home, yourself and your family. For home use you can buy easily portable fire extinguishers. Having a fire extinguisher may be obligatory if your home is rented, or it may be compulsory for you to have one under the terms of a home insurance policy.

Location of fire extinguishers is important. They can be wall mounted, or housed in a clearly marked fire extinguisher cabinet, near to your fireplaces or woodstove. The extinguisher must be visible and should not be obstructed in any way.

* What are the different types of fire extinguishers?

[1] Water fire extinguishers are designed for class A fires, burning wood, paper, cloth or plastic.

[2] Foam Fire Extinguishers are required for liquid fires involving paraffin, oil or gasoline.

[3] Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers should be used for fires involving electrical items, and for class B flammable liquids.

[4] Dry powder is best for class C fires involving propane, butane, methane or other gases. They can also be used on classes A, B & C fires.

[5] A halon fire extinguisher is the type used by police and fire service personnel, and are most often used for aircraft fires.

* How often should a fire extinguisher be inspected or replaced?

When you have fire extinguishers in your home, you should inspect them yourself every month, and the inspection recorded on the maintenance tag attached to each fire extinguisher. You may have to meet additional requirements, such as entering details in a record book, or filling in an official form.

If anything is out of order, you should immediately call the extinguisher service named on the maintenance tag, and have the extinguisher professionally serviced.

Extinguisher testing and maintenance should be carried out only by a trained, certified service technician, and servicing should be done at least once a year. The technician will supply a new maintenance tag for each extinguisher when this has been completed.

Further testing procedures and maintenance may be necessary and may have to be undertaken at a service facility. If the extinguisher service company takes away any of your extinguishers for servicing, a replacement extinguisher of equal rating must be provided by the service company.

* What is the appeal of antique fire extinguishers?

An antique fire extinguisher makes an interesting accessory for a woodstove, or a decorative addition to a fireplace. Original glass fire extinguishers are becoming increasingly popular as collectibles. You could also find a vintage fire extinguisher made from copper, brass, or stainless steel, so you can choose one to match your other fireplace accessories, or you could decorate your fireplace with an interesting collection of old firefighting memorabilia.

Learn more about this author, Ruth Belena.
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