Fire Extinguisher Maintenance
British Standard 5306:2017 provides the following guidance on how often fire extinguishers need to be serviced or maintained:
- Monthly visual inspections by a ‘responsible person’ assigned the duty of overseeing fire safety provisions on a premises
- Annual service conducted by a ‘competent’ or qualified person
- Extended service carried out after 5 years, and 5-year intervals thereafter
- Replacement service carried out within 20 years
This is a legal requirement and failure to follow such practices risks severe penalties. With our fire extinguisher maintenance service, there are no hidden charges, all service parts* are included, and we have a unique money-back guarantee if you are unhappy with the service. We also provide commissioning and installation services and fire extinguisher disposal services, or provide comprehensive fire safety surveys
Can I service my own fire extinguishers?
As per British Standard 5306:2017, servicing fire extinguishers must be done by a ‘competent person’, such as a certified extinguisher technician who has obtained qualifications from a BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) recognised body or has the necessary experience to complete such a service. We provide excellent fire extinguisher maintenance services.
How often should fire extinguishers be inspected?
Similar to the requirements for servicing, British Standard 5306:2017 also states that a ‘responsible person’ or the person responsible for fire safety equipment on a premises has a duty to visually inspect the fire extinguishers at least once a month to make sure each extinguisher:
- is correctly located in its designated place
- is unobstructed and visible
- is undamaged and is not missing any parts
- has its operating instructions face outwards and are legible
- has its pressure gauge or indicator within the correct pressure range
- has undamaged tamper seals or OK indicators that aren’t missing
The results of these visual inspections should be recorded in a fire log book and corrective action, if necessary, should be arranged. If the ‘responsible person’ has any concerns or doubts, they should arrange for a ‘competent person’ to examine the extinguisher.
Fire extinguisher extended service
In addition to annual fire extinguisher maintenance service, extinguishers must be discharge tested to make sure they work and are in good condition.
Type of extinguisher | Basic service | Extended service | Overhaul |
Water and water-additive | 12-monthly | Every 5 years | ---- |
Foam | 12-monthly | Every 5 years | ---- |
Powder | 12-monthly | Every 5 years | ---- |
CO2 | 12-monthly | ---- | Every 10 years |
Wet chemical | 12-monthly | Every 5 years | ---- |
Water and foam extinguishers can be refilled on-site, though this might be too messy a service for powder extinguishers. CO2 extinguishers require specialist hydraulic testing in a workshop, so the ‘competent person’ is likely to exchange the extinguisher for one that has been factory tested, rather than discharge it on the premises.
We tend to replace the fire extinguisher with a brand new one as the price for new extinguishers is usually lower than the price for refilling or testing. Provided below are our refill prices:
Type of extinguisher | Size | Price ex vat | Price inc vat |
Water refill | 6 litre and 9 litre | £16.77 + vat | £20.12 inc vat |
Water-additive refill | 3 litre to 6 litre | £31.47 + vat | £37.76 inc vat |
Foam refill | 2 litre to 9 litre | £30.44 + vat | £36.53 inc vat |
Powder refill | 1kg to 9kg | ---- | |
CO2 refill | 2kg to 5kg | ---- | |
Wet chemical refill | 2 litre | ---- | |
Wet chemical refill | 3 litre | £61.62 + vat | £74.30 inc vat |
Wet chemical refill | 6 litre | £82.92 + vat | £99.50 inc vat |
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