Unit 6. Maintaining an extinguisher

Useful vocabulary

• to maintain – поддерживать в рабочем состоянии/содержать в исправности

• a legislation – законодательство

• a lack – нехватка/недостаток

• to rupture –раскалываться/растрескиваться/разрываться

• to occur – случаться/происходить

• to explode – взрываться

• annual – ежегодный

• severe environment – суровые условия окружающей среды

• a coat – покрытие/чехол

• a needle – игла

• a leak - утечка

• to interfere with access – мешать доступу

• wear - износ

• to obstruct – преграждать/создавать препятствия

• to ensure – гарантировать/обеспечивать

Task I. Read the text

Most countries in the world require regular fire extinguisher maintenance by a competent person to operate safely and effectively, as part of fire safety legislation. Lack of maintenance can lead to an extinguisher not discharging when required, or rupturing when pressurized. Deaths have occurred, even in recent times, from corroded extinguishers exploding.

Generally, most municipalities require inspections every 30 days to ensure the unit is pressurized and unobstructed (done by an employee of the facility) and an annual inspection by a qualified technician. Hydrostatic pressure testing for all types of extinguishers is also required, generally every five years for water and CO₂ models up to every 12 years for dry chemical models.

At least once a month (more often in severe environments) you should inspect your extinguisher. Ensure that:

1. The extinguisher is not blocked by equipment, coats or other objects that could interfere with access in an emergency.

2. The pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge that means the needle should be in the green zone - not too high and not too low.

3. The nozzle or other parts are not obstructed.

4. There are no leaks, rust, chemical deposits and other signs of wear. Wipe off any corrosive chemicals, oil, etc. that may have landed on the extinguisher.

5. Some manufacturers recommend shaking your dry chemical extinguishers once a month to prevent the powder from settling/packing.

6. Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested (a process called hydrostatic testing) after a number of years to ensure that the cylinder is safe to use.

Task II. Define the main idea of the text

1. Municipalities require regular inspections.

2. Regular fire extinguisher maintenance is important for providing safety.

3. There are many recommendations for fire extinguisher inspection.

Task III. Say if these statements are true or false. If they are false, please, correct them

1. Regular fire extinguisher maintenance is required to be done by a competent person.

2. Hydrostatic pressure testing is done every year.

3. The extinguisher can’t be blocked by any objects and substances.

4. Fire extinguishers should be pressure tested.

5. One should wipe off any corrosive chemicals, oil from an extinguisher’s surface.

6. One shouldn’t allow the powder inside the extinguisher to settle or pack.

Task IV. Match the beginning of the sentence with its end

1. Deaths can occur from a. done by qualified technicians.

2. Annual inspections are to b. be in the green zone.

3. The pressure must be c. at the recommended level.

4. The needle of the gauge should d. corroded extinguishers.

5. The extinguisher e. mustn’t be obstructed.

Task V. Try to remember the context where these words and phrases were used in the text

a competent person legislation exploding annual a nozzle severe environment rust recommend cylinder

Task VI. Guess the word reading its definition

1. c… (n.) - a piece of material that covers an object, etc.;

2. e … (v.) – to burst into small pieces, usually with a loud noise and damage;

3. a … (n.) - the way by which you can enter a building or reach any place;

4. l… (n.) – an escape of a gas or liquid through a hole in something;

5. o … (v.) – to block or prevent;

Task VII. Make up 3 sentences using the words from useful vocabulary, Tasks V, VI. Ask your colleagues to translate them on the spot

Task VIII. Grammar focus. Revision of noun + noun chain translation. Find examples of such construction in the text and analyze them

Task IX. Translate the following chains of nouns correctly

• a security agent, a liquid path, a fire inspector, a high price method, a pressure gauge, a five - year experiment, obstruction liquidation procedures, life safety protection, a foreign trade department, fire hose maintenance, a space shuttle expedition, electric cables replacement, a corroded extinguisher explosion.

Task X. Transform the word combinations, e.g. a test for wear – a wear test

• a building for residence, translations of the text, accessories for the telephone, a video of a pop-star, a writer of short stories, a unit for reaction in emergencies, diodes that emit light, a software by Microsoft, storage of propellant agents, easy access to the Internet.

Task X. Make a short retelling of the text