Section 251.90  Portable Fire Extinguishers

a)         Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed, maintained, repaired, recharged, hydro-tested, serviced, inspected and replaced in accordance with NFPA 10, incorporated by reference in Section 251.25.  OSFM recommends that the building owner perform a monthly visual inspection of the portable fire extinquisher.

b)         Portable fire extinguishers may only be installed, maintained, repaired, recharged, hydro-tested, serviced, inspected and replaced by a licensed Class A distributor/Class 1 licensed employee.

c)         Automatic fire extinguisher units having self-contained automatic detection and actuation, providing the unit's limited discharge piping network cannot be modified in the field, may only be maintained, repaired, recharged, hydro-tested, serviced, inspected and replaced by a licensed Class A distributor/Class 1 licensed employee.

d)         Wheeled, stationary and skid mounted fire extinguisher units, with or without quick opening valves and provided they are manually operated, shall be classified as fire extinguishers and may only be maintained, repaired, recharged, hydro-tested, serviced, inspected and replaced by a licensed Class A distributor/Class 1 licensed employee.

e)         Carbon dioxide, dry chemical, and Halon 1211 and 1301 cylinders that are part of a fire suppression system may be recharged and hydro-tested by a licensed Class A distributor/Class 1 licensed employee.  The fire suppression system, however, shall be serviced by a licensed Class B or licensed Class C distributor/Class 2 or Class 3 licensed employee, whichever is applicable.

f)         All fire extinguishers shall have a pictorial classification decal affixed to the front of the extinguisher, if such pictorial markings are not already provided on the manufacturer's label.  Markings shall be applied by decals that are durable and color-fade-resistant on a single label.  Such markings shall comply with NFPA 10, Appendix B.