To maintain the fire equipment, portable fire extinguishers, fire hoses, and pre-engineered fire suppression systems, owned by the University of Florida and its various extensions. To maintain this equipment in compliance with all of the applicable codes and standards. To provide courteous, professional, and timely service at an above average level of quality to all of our customers.

Richard Graves, Fire Equipment Services Manager

Phone - (352)392-1904

Fax – (352)392-6367

Email – rgraves@ehs.ufl.edu

• Carlos A. Delagdo – Fire Equipment Mechanic carlos@ehs.ufl.edu

• Todd J. Eberst – Fire Equipment Mechanic teberst@ehs.ufl.edu

• Eric L. Vasholz – Fire Equipment Mechanic evasholz@ehs.ufl.edu

• Russell D. Sebree – Fire Equipment Mechanic rsebree@ehs.ufl.edu

Portable fire extinguishers are serviced and maintained in compliance with:

• Florida Statutes F.S. Chapter 633 (2000) Fire Prevention and Control
• Division of State Fire Marshal – Uniform Fire Safety Rules and Standards Chapter 4A-21 (2001) Fire Extinguishers and Pre-Engineered Systems
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – NFPA 10 (1998) Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers.

• Monthly inspection
• Annual maintenance
• Six year maintenance (not required for CO₂ types)
• Hydrostatic testing on a twelve year interval (5 year interval for CO₂ types)

• Pull the ring pin
• The ring pin is attached to the handle with a plastic seal. Tug on it until it is removed.
• Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire
• Squeeze the lever to discharge the fire extinguisher
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side covering the entire area of the fire.

• Your name and phone number
• Type of problem or message
• Building name and number
• Room number or location (closest room number)

These systems resemble a large fire extinguisher with hard piping instead of a hose. The agent is discharged through fixed nozzles that are placed over the hazard area they are protecting. There are generally two methods for activating these types of systems 1) manual pull station remotely located or 2) automatic activation through the melting of a fusible linkage. There are two basic hazard areas covered by a pre-engineered system 1) restaurant/kitchen cooking area and 2) industrial/hazardous materials storage areas.

Pre-engineered systems are installed, serviced and maintained in compliance with:

• Florida Statutes F.S. Chapter 633 (2000) Fire Prevention and Control
• Division of State Fire Marshal – Uniform Fire Safety Rules and Standards Chapter 4A-21 (2001) Fire Extinguishers and Pre-Engineered Systems
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) –
  • NFPA 17 (1998) Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems
  • NFPA 17A (1998) Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems

Training

To schedule the training please call or email Richard Graves at (352)392-1904. Please allow at least one or two weeks for scheduling. I will need to know:

• Your name & phone number
• Location where the training will take place
• Number of students participating in the training
• If you have a TV/VCR available or if I will need to provide my own
• The department for which the students are taking the class
• What you want the students to get out of the class 

There are two videos available for the training, only one will be used per class. Both of the videos are appropriate for the portable fire extinguisher training course. The two videos are:

• Fire Extinguishers: Fight or Flight, Produced by the National Fire Protection Association, 16 min. 30 sec. duration
• Fire: Countdown to Disaster, Produced by the National Fire Protection Association, 17 min. duration