Fire Extinguisher Service & Maintenance

A full fire extinguisher service is required to be completed on an annual basis. It is important also that you employ a reputable and experienced fire extinguisher service company who are able to service to standards as set out in BS5306 part 3, providing staff who are fully qualified BAFE fire extinguisher engineers.

There are a wide range of reasons why fire extinguisher services are so important. For example, each year fire extinguishers save the U.K economy over £500 million and prevent over 1,500 injuries. Fire extinguishers successfully extinguish the fire in over 80% of instances.

By law, all employers must provide staff with adequate means of tackling a fire in the workplace. There is also a legal obligation for a competent person to at least, annually service the firefighting equipment to the standard of BS 5306 part 3.

This is explained in the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations, regulation 6: Where it is necessary to provide fire extinguishing equipment to safeguard employees in the event of fire, (BS 5306 Part 8) this equipment shall be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. (BS 5306 Part 3) As well as the annual inspection by a competent person, workplaces must also ensure that they carry out their own weekly fire extinguisher checks.

During a basic annual fire extinguisher service, the engineer will carry out various procedures on the fire extinguisher(s) depending on its make and type. Generally, the service includes:

•   • Checking all fire extinguisher parts such as: valves, safety devices, gauges, and operating mechanisms.
•   • Checking for corrosion and damage
•   • Checking the weight is within the stated range
•   • Compiling a maintenance report or ’Certificate of Inspection’ – a legal record of the maintenance carried out on the fire extinguishers to be kept by the customer and engineer.

An extended service generally involves carrying out a test discharge on the fire extinguisher, checking internal and external parts, then recharging the fire extinguisher ready for use, if deemed safe by the engineer. BS 5306 – 3, states that water, foam, powder and wet chemical fire extinguishers are required to have extended services every 5 years. For environmental reasons dry powder extinguishers are no longer discharge tested on site. Upon reaching 5 years the old extinguisher is removed and replaced with a new or factory refurbished unit.

Co2 fire extinguishers must have a pressure test / overhaul test every 10 years. We carry out a ‘service exchange’ for Co2 fire extinguishers that are due this test. What this means is that we exchange your old Co2 fire extinguisher for a new or refurbished Co2 fire extinguisher. This is more cost effective as it saves time spent on your premises, prevents a return visit from being necessary and ensures that Co2 fire extinguishers are tested and recharged by specialists in certified testing stations.

The main danger from damaged fire extinguishers is from a risk of a sudden release of pressure or parts. This is due to the large amount of pressure required to discharge the fire extinguisher when in operation.

Any rust or damage to pressure retaining parts such as threads, welds, excessive corrosion or pitting to the body of the fire extinguisher must be taken seriously due the amount of damage an unsafe fire extinguisher can do. Any fire extinguisher with this type of damage must be removed and replaced to ensure the continued safety of you, your staff and your customers.

If any work required (e.g. an extended service, or replacement parts needed) is not authorised by the person in charge, we must record these fire extinguishers as ‘not maintained’ and the non-compliance with the standard must be noted on the ‘non-conforming action’ section of the certificate of inspection. This documentation is kept by both parties and may be considered significant in the event of a fire officers’ inspection or in the worst event, a fire.

Each fire extinguisher should be accompanied by appropriate safety signage indicating the type of fire extinguisher. Compliant Services can supply these low-cost safety signs if required.

All fire extinguishers should, where possible be wall mounted on a suitable bracket or placed on a fire extinguisher stand. Fire extinguishers should never be used to prop doors open – especially fire doors which should remain shut unless an automatic closing device has been fitted.