Fire Extinguisher servicing:
What you need to know
Why do extinguishers need servicing?
There is a legally enforceable requirement placed on organisations by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO), to safeguard the safety of relevant persons within the premises in the event of fire. The responsible person must "ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises …are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair". Annual service and naintenance should be conducted by a competent person.
What does an extinguisher service involve?
The inspection will involve a degree of disassembly of the fire extinguisher, this varies depending on the type and manufacturer. The inspection involves from 15 to 25 stages and will include (not necessarily on all extinguishers) the following:
- Assess the suitability of the extinguisher for the local risks
- Operating pressure within acceptable tolerances.
- Evidence of corrosion that may impair use or integrity of the extinguisher.
- Discharge assembly condition.
- The functionality of pressure indictors.
- Condition of internal lining.
- Check mass of extinguisher against stamped and previous recorded weights.
- Ensure that wall brackets are secure and of correct type.
- Replacement of any seals and tamper indictors.
- Extended service date.
At the end of the inspection a label will be fixed to the extinguisher. This label will indicate the date that the inspection was completed, the present condition of the extinguisher, the recorded weight of the fire extinguisher as well as the date that the next inspection is required. The label also indicates the inspecting engineer, inspecting company and its contact details (address and telephone numbers).
Is it a legal requirement?
Portable fire extinguishers are required Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to be inspected by a competent person at least every 12 months. Almost all insurance companies have within their schedule, a clause stating that regular fire extinguisher maintenance is required for them to maintain cover. The standard to which fire extinguishers are maintained to is BS5306 pt3:2009. You are required to do your own visual inspection of your fire extinguishers at least monthly, more often in high risk environments.
See below:
- Is the extinguisher located in the designated place?
- The correct extinguisher as detailed in the fire log book.
- Extinguisher is unobstructed, visible and ideally its operating instructions face outwards.
- The operating instructions which are clean and legible.
- There are no signs of obvious damage or missing any parts.
- The pressure gauge needle is in the operable range or position (normally in the green).
- The extinguisher shows no signs or being discharged or leaking.
- The safety pin tamper indicators are not broken or missing.
The findings of the monthly checks should be recorded and any problems reported to a senior company manager or your extinguisher maintenance company.
Can this affect my insurance?
Almost all insurance companies have within their schedule, a clause stating that regular fire extinguisher maintenance is required for them to maintain cover.
Are extinguishers refilled?
Once a fire extinguisher has been used (no matter how small the amount) it is important to have it recharged right away in order to keep it operational at all times and avoid potential tragedy.
How often should I have them serviced?
Portable fire extinguishers are required Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to be inspected by a competent person at least every 12 months.
