Tips and Advice for Fire Hose Reel Maintenance
Life as a fire hose reel can be tough. To start with, most of it´s days are spent outdoors, exposed to the elements. For at least three months of the year, it has to endure the rain and wind and general dampness that winter brings, which is then followed by the relentlessness of the hot summer sun. Most people think fire hose reels are pretty resilient, and they are – but prolonged exposure to the weather does see it deteriorate over time.
A fire hose is made up of rubber and a powder coated drum, as well as a few plastic fittings on the outside. Over time the rubber will become less durable, which you’ll notice when you try to roll it back onto the drum. Eventually you’ll start to see small cracks on the hose, which, again, will only get worse with time until the hose will completely split under the pressure of the water flowing through it, rendering it entirely useless. This could prove devastating if it occurs in the event of a fire. Continue Reading
Car fire safety made easy: Protect your family this summer
Driving in summer can be more dangerous than you think. It isn’t just the fact that there are more cars on the road, driving to and from holidays but the heat itself can pose a hidden dangers.
Australian summers get really hot and although we only tend to think about how hot we are getting, it’s important to consider how hot our vehicles get under the relentless Aussie sun. Your car can reach extreme temperatures at this time of year which can sometime lead to mechanical failures and car fires.
When most people think of car fires, they think of it occurring after an accident when in reality only 1% of casualty crashes result in a fire. On the other hand, two thirds of vehicle fires are the result of mechanical or electrical faults.
So how can you be prepared for these kinds of dangers?
5 steps to ensure your family is safe this Christmas season
Christmas time is one of the most joyous times of year. With beautiful displays in shop windows and decorated trees in every living room, it’s hard not to feel the Christmas spirit. But for households that are getting ready to install their Christmas lights, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Safety First
Ensure your Christmas lights meet Australian Safety Standards, this can be determined by the Australian Standards number printed on lights. If the lights don’t have this number then it is likely they are poorly manufactured and unsafe to use.
Winter fire safety at home
We all love to bunker down at home for the winter season in front of the cozy fire or the warm heater; with some hot and hearty food cooking on the stove. Unfortunately sometimes these cozy moments can turn into a disaster, and these simple things can lead to injury, heartbreak, and sometimes death.
An insurance survey some time ago showed that six in ten house fires start in the kitchen, 40% of which happened during cooking. There are over 11,000 house fires in Australia each year and over 50 deaths. One in five people will experience some form of house fire in their lifetime.
How can you make your fire extinguishers last longer?
Fire extinguishers have a limited life span especially if they are neglected or not maintained, even if they have not been used there are a number of ways a fire extinguisher can deteriorate and become unusable. The weather is probably the main problem associated with the poor condition of many fire extinguishers, the sun and rain will quickly result in rusted handles, unreadable pressure gages, cracked hoses and faded identification labels. Exposure to the weather will reduce the lifespan of your equipment by several years. The photo samples provided show just how much damage can occur should you fail to protect your equipment.
Top tips for proper fire extinguisher maintenance
Fire extinguishers like most other equipment require regular maintenance to ensure they are kept in good working condition. Fire extinguishers will deteriorate over time through various reasons, they can lose pressure which may be as a result of o ring or valve failure, the inside of the cylinder may rust due to the liquid contents or lack of corrosive inhibitor, the seams may also become weak due to constant pressurisation over time.
