Fire extinguishers are one of the most recognisable forms of fire safety equipment, and their effectiveness in providing a means to help control a fire are well known. While they are not strictly a legal requirement in buildings, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 part 2-13 stipulates that “(a) the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms; and (b) any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs.”
Fire extinguishers are a frequently used form of firefighting equipment, and they require regular maintenance to ensure that they operate in the intended way in a fire situation.
This advice and guidance article will highlight the servicing requirements for fire extinguishers, touching on how often they should be serviced, and who is responsible for organising the servicing.
How often should your fire extinguishers be serviced?
It is a legal requirement for fire extinguishers to be maintained annually, in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions, commonly the British Standard (BS 5036). However, while not a strict legal obligation, it is considered best practice to conduct monthly visual fire extinguisher inspections to ensure they will work as intended in a fire situation.
Commissioning
All extinguishers must be commissioned to ensure they are fit for purpose. This includes:
- fitting hose or horn checking for ‘O’ rings and/or washers
- affixing a service label
- adding the commissioning weight
- checking the gauge where necessary
- ensuring correct location
- ensuring correct rating and type.
Monthly checks – visual inspections
In addition to an annual inspection, it is recommended that monthly visual inspections of fire extinguishers are carried out to ensure that they are in correct working order.
Usually carried out by the ‘responsible person’, a monthly visual inspection of an extinguisher requires:
- a check to ensure that the fire extinguishers are in the correct position and are not obstructed in any way
- a visual inspection of the extinguisher to check for exterior defects such as rust, damage, or signs of tampering
- a visual inspection of the locking pin to ensure that it is intact and working
- a visual check to ensure that the seal is unbroken and has not been tampered with
- a visual check of the pressure gauge, if the extinguisher has one, to ensure that the correct pressure is being displayed
- the inversion of powder extinguishers to ensure the powder has not compacted or ‘caked’ - if the powder cannot be heard free flowing it will fail to operate
- a recording of the details of the monthly inspections.
Basic service – yearly inspections
Every 12 months, it is a legal requirement for your fire extinguishers to undergo a basic service that is undertaken by a third-party accredited and competent fire extinguisher technician.
As part of this service, the technician will usually conduct the following:
- a visual inspection of the extinguisher to check for exterior defects such as rust, damage, or signs of tampering
- a pressure gauge check to verify that the pressure of the extinguishers are of an acceptable level, in accordance with the standard
- a weight check to ensure that the extinguisher is the correct weight, indicating that the correct level of extinguishing agent is present
- a visual inspection of the extinguisher nozzle and hose to ensure that there are no blockages, damage, or wear and tear
- a safety seal check to ensure that the seal is intact and has not been tampered with
- a recording of the details of the inspection e.g. the date on a service tag or in the log book.
Extended fire extinguisher servicing
In some cases, depending on the type of extinguisher (in particular for water, foam, powder, and wet chemical extinguishers) there is also a need for an extended service every five years. This service involves discharging the extinguisher, followed by a complete internal inspection of the extinguisher to check for defects, before the extinguisher is re-filled and re-sealed.
For a CO2 extinguisher, there is a requirement for them to be serviced every 10 years, where a more comprehensive inspection is carried out.
Who is responsible for servicing fire extinguishers?
It is vital that in any circumstance, fire extinguishers are inspected by a third-party accredited and competent fire extinguisher technician to ensure that in a fire situation, this vital piece of life-saving firefighting equipment will operate in the intended way.
For monthly checks of fire extinguishers, the ‘responsible person’ should carry out these checks and ensure that annual servicing is booked in with a competent professional.
How can the FPA help?
At the Fire Protection Association, we offer a comprehensive fire extinguisher training course, alongside a fire extinguisher technician refresher course to suit all types of fire extinguisher training requirements.
Our BAFE approved four-day portable fire extinguisher maintenance course provides delegates with knowledge of the correct servicing regime to be adopted for specific types of portable fire extinguisher and the skills necessary to sit the BAFE examination, an integral element of the BAFE SP101 Competency of Portable Fire Extinguisher Organisations and Technicians. You can find out more about this course here.
Our fire extinguisher technician’s refresher course provides delegates with a three-yearly update on fire extinguisher maintenance requirements. The course offers an update on new products, legal disposal of extinguisher content, and interpretation of appropriate standards and regulations. You can find out more about this course here. This course is also available online here.
Please be aware that considerable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this article at the time of publication, however any legislative (or other) changes that come into effect after this may render the information out of date until it is reviewed and updated as part of the FPA’s content review cycle.