How Often Should Fire Extinguishers Be Checked Or Serviced?

Having fire extinguishers at home or at work means you’re well prepared should the worst ever happen. But you may be wondering, how often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?

As with most things in life, if you conduct regular fire extinguisher servicing and ensure they are well maintained and in good condition, then they’ll last a lot longer. And like a car MOT, doing so resolves any potential issues before they become a serious problem, giving you peace of mind.

The reality is that at certain intervals during the life of your fire extinguisher, a fire extinguisher technician should be checking and testing every aspect of the device. There are also other inspections that need to be conducted frequently.

To clear the air, we have some helpful information for you about how often fire extinguishers should be checked by competent persons, including what to look out for and best practices.

Monthly Fire Extinguisher Inspections

At least once a month, the responsible person, fire warden or fire marshal should be carrying out a visual check of every extinguisher, as some problems simply cannot wait until the next scheduled servicing. But don’t worry, it’s nothing complicated and shouldn’t take up too much of your valuable time.

What to Check

Ensure the extinguisher is in its correct location, accompanied by proper fire safety signs, and is not being obstructed or misused (e.g., as a doorstop).
Look for any visible damage, such as dents or corrosion.
Verify that the pressure gauge is in the green zone.
Check that the tamper seal and safety pin are intact.
Ensure the extinguisher has not been used and remains fully pressurised.
Record your findings in a logbook, and address any concerns immediately to maintain compliance and safety.

It can be quite handy to have a fire extinguisher maintenance checklist when you conduct an inspection.

Annual Fire Extinguisher Servicing

To comply with British Standard 5306-3:2009, all fire extinguishers must undergo a yearly service by a qualified fire extinguisher technician. In fact, this is the case for all fire safety equipment.

For businesses, organisations, public buildings and HMOs, it is a legal requirement to ensure all fire extinguishers and fire safety equipment are serviced every year by competent and trained professionals. Kind of similar to your car needing an oil change except that fire extinguisher servicing is a legal requirement and failure to do so can result in hefty fines.

What an Annual Service Involves

A professional service engineer will:

Check the tamper seal is present and the safety pin is held in place to confirm the extinguisher has not been used and to prevent it from accidentally discharging.
Check the pressure gauge to confirm it is working and the fire extinguisher is correctly pressurised.
Inspect the unit for signs of damage, corrosion, or leaks.
Ensure the hose and nozzle are in good condition.
Verify that all fire extinguishers are properly positioned and accessible.

Extended Fire Extinguisher Servicing (Water, Foam, Powder, CO2)

After five years, all fire extinguishers need to have an extended service carried out by a fire extinguisher engineer. As well as carrying out all the same annual checks, they will also check the internal and operating conditions. The only exception to this is CO2 fire extinguishers, which need their extended service every 10 years.

The extended service includes:

A full discharge test to verify the extinguisher empties completely.
Internal inspection for corrosion or wear.
Refilling and repressurising the extinguisher (with water and foam, they can be refilled on site, but powder is too messy and CO2 requires specialist equipment)

Because of the extra work and materials required, an extended service can be expensive, and in some instances, it is worth comparing the cost of the service against the cost of purchasing brand new extinguishers.

CO2 Fire Extinguishers

CO2 extinguishers require an overhaul service every 10 years, including specialist hydraulic testing to check for pressure integrity. Rather than on-site testing and refilling, technicians often replace them with factory-tested units. Again the tests have to be carried out by a professional.

Should You Replace Instead of Service Your Fire Extinguisher?

As mentioned before, extended servicing can be costly due to the additional labour and materials required. We tend to replace extinguishers for brand new ones as our price for new products is usually less than the price to refill or test. Plus, as that extinguisher is already 5 years old, it is possible to pay for the test and refill this year and for it to fail the service and need replacing next year.

Fire Extinguisher Testing & Servicing Frequency

Here’s a recap of how often fire extinguishers need to be checked and serviced:

Monthly: A visual inspection should be conducted by the responsible person.
Annually: A full service is legally required by a certified technician.
Every 5 years: Extended servicing is required for water, foam, and powder extinguishers.
Every 10 years: CO2 extinguishers must undergo an overhaul service.