Thousands of dollars in property can be obliterated in an instant in a fire.
The technicians at Iowa Fire Control, 3014 Fifth Ave. S., work to develop fire-prevention systems in businesses throughout the region.
Recently, the company, which was established in 1980, has seen expansion into providing fire extinguisher sales and service, installation and service of commercial kitchen fire suppression systems and emergency lighting maintenance.
"We had always envisioned getting into fire extinguisher sales," said Vaughn McQuillen, co-owner and manager of the company. Previously, Iowa Fire Control dealt primarily with cleaning and maintaining kitchen exhaust systems.
State codes often dictate what sort of fire control system particular businesses are obliged to have.
Though relatively simple to look at, fire extinguishers are sold in a great variety of sizes, with several different substances used for flame suppression.
It's important to have the right sort of extinguisher to meet your conditions, said McQuillen.
For example, what works for a grease fire might be less useful to snuff out burning wood.
"Our technicians can look through a business and determine what they need," McQuillen said.
And once one has purchased fire extinguishers, they need regular maintenance, he said.
Extinguishers need to be tested and tagged every year, said McQuillen.
"Every six years, you need to take the top off and change out the powder," he said.
Every 12 years, extinguishers need to be hydro-tested, during which they are emptied and submerged in water to check for leaks.
Maintaining a fleet of well-tested, well-constructed fire extinguishers can offer a business owner great peace of mind, according to McQuillen.
"By making the investment, you can ensure safety," he said.
Keeping extinguishers regularly maintained is, in the long run, a cost-savings, said McQuillen.
"These extinguishers are a lot cheaper to maintain than replace," he said.
Contact Jesse Helling at (515) 573-2141 or jhelling@messengernews.net
