Fire Extinguisher Servicing
British Standard 5306:2017 provides the following guidance on how often fire extinguisher servicing and maintenance should be carried out:
- 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. Regular fire extinguisher servicing ensures your equipment remains fully operational and compliant with safety regulations, giving you peace of mind in case of an emergency.
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How Frequently Should Fire Extinguisher Servicing Be Done?
If you have fire extinguishers, they should be maintained and ready to use at any time. Fire extinguishers should be serviced and tested once a year by a competent person. The UK servicing standard BS 5306-3 puts the responsibility on the user (i.e. the company) to use a competent person to perform the annual inspections. A record of the Service and the due date of the next service should be in your Fire Log Book and the maintenance label on the extinguisher. Regular checks should be carried out by a responsible person at least once a month.
Who Is Responsible for Fire Extinguisher Servicing?
It’s the duty of a business owner or responsible person to organise the annual service. If you are a Business you must be able to demonstrate to a Fire Safety Inspector that you have a “suitable system of maintenance” and have taken appropriate actions “so far as is reasonably practicable” to safeguard your premises, employees and visitors from fire.
The law applies to; commercial businesses, offices, facilities, factories, warehouses, community halls, schools, pubs, restaurants, hostels, and hotels.
Do You Need to Be Qualified for Fire Extinguisher Servicing?
There’s no required qualification to service a fire extinguisher. However, annual service requires in-depth expertise. Trained technicians provide a service and report to ensure you stay compliant with the law. British Standard, states servicing fire extinguishers must be done by a ‘competent person’. We recommend 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.
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
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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
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Water and foam fire 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.
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(*Note: service parts include anti-tamper seals, safety pins, labels, o-rings, gauge tests, CO2 swivel horns, CO2 hose and horns for standard UK portable fire extinguishers.)
