Blow-off caps must be installed when?

Blow-off caps must be installed when?

• A. During annual maintenance
• B. After a discharge
• C. They must be installed on installation
• D. Optional and may be left off

Answer: (C)

Blow-off caps protect the discharge horn and keep the nozzle clean and protected from debris during handling and storage. Because this protective feature is part of getting the extinguisher ready for service, it must be installed when the unit is first placed into service. Putting the cap on at installation ensures the extinguisher is protected and ready to use from day one. Leaving it off or installing it only after discharge would expose the discharge path to dirt or damage and isn’t how the unit is intended to be set up. It’s not optional and isn’t something added later during maintenance.

Blow-off caps protect the discharge horn and keep the nozzle clean and protected from debris during handling and storage. Because this protective feature is part of getting the extinguisher ready for service, it must be installed when the unit is first placed into service. Putting the cap on at installation ensures the extinguisher is protected and ready to use from day one. Leaving it off or installing it only after discharge would expose the discharge path to dirt or damage and isn’t how the unit is intended to be set up. It’s not optional and isn’t something added later during maintenance.