Fire extinguishers are a vital piece of your fire safety system, working to protect your business site, staff and visitors from harm if a fire did break out. Fire extinguishers are incredibly effective in putting out fire and therefore it’s important to ensure they remain in good working condition.
Servicing your fire extinguishers should therefore take place every 12 months by a third party accredited fire extinguisher engineer. You should also carry out regular visual inspections, at least once a month, that check for any damage, loss or tampering.
Fire extinguisher servicing regulations are set by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. They state that a ‘basic service’ on all fire extinguishers must be carried out every 12 months in accordance with BS 5036.
When you fire extinguishers are serviced, the engineer will typically check the general workings of the extinguisher. They will test the pressure gauge, the head cap safety pin, perform visual checks as well as change any O rings and replace any necessary parts such as the hose. The engineer will then complete the maintenance label on each extinguisher that states the service history of the unit.
Depending on the type of extinguisher, there are other regulations and types of servicing that needs to take place, on top of the annual ‘basic service’.
For instance, water, foam and dry powder extinguishers should also have a discharge test and extended service every 5 years from their date of manufacture.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers will also need to be overhauled every 10 years from their first date of manufacture.
At BusinessWatch, we carry out a comprehensive service plan in full accordance with BS 5306 to ensure your extinguishers are kept in good condition and will last for years to come.
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