Section 296-800-30020. Inspect and test all portable fire extinguishers.

You must:

• Perform inspections:

– Make sure that portable fire extinguishers or hose systems (used instead of fire extinguishers) are visually inspected monthly

• Perform maintenance checks:

– Make sure that all portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance check

– Keep records of all annual maintenance checks and make available to the department upon request

♦ For 1 year after the last maintenance check;

OR

♦ For the life of the shell, whichever is less

– Make sure that equal protection is provided when portable fire extinguishers are removed from service for maintenance and recharging

Exemption: Most stored pressure extinguishers do not require an internal examination. Examples of those that do require an internal examination are those containing a loaded stream agent.

You must:

• Perform hydrostatic testing:

Exemption:

• Dry chemical extinguishers that have nonrefillable disposable containers are exempt from this requirement.

• Manually pressurized pumptanks are exempt from this requirement.

You must:

• Make sure that portable extinguishers are hydrostatically tested:

– At the intervals listed in Table 1, of this section

– Whenever they show evidence of corrosion or mechanical injury

• Not perform hydrostatic testing on fire extinguishers if:

– The unit has been repaired by soldering, welding, brazing, or use of patching compounds

– The cylinder or shell threads are damaged

– Corrosion has caused pitting, including corrosion under removable name plate assemblies

– The extinguisher has been burned in a fire

– Calcium chloride extinguishing agents have been used in a stainless steel shell

Note:	Specific rules regarding conducting hydrostatic tests are covered in WAC 296-24-59212.

You must:

• Maintain records showing that hydrostatic testing has been performed. Provide the following evidence to the department upon request:

– Date of test

– Test pressure used

– The serial number, or other identifier of the fire extinguisher that was tested

– Person or agency performing the test

• Keep records until:

– The extinguisher is retested;

OR

– The extinguisher is taken out of service, whichever comes first

• Empty and maintain stored-pressure dry chemical extinguishers requiring a 12-year hydrostatic test, every six years:

– When recharging or hydrostatic testing is performed, the 6-year requirement begins from that date

Hydrostatic Test Table

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-23-060, § 296-800-30020, filed 11/20/01, effective 12/1/01; WSR 01-11-038, § 296-800-30020, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01.]

RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-23-060, § 296-800-30020, filed 11/20/01, effective 12/1/01; WSR 01-11-038, § 296-800-30020, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01.

Rules

296-24-59212,