The law and the standard
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 says firefighting equipment must be kept in efficient working order and good repair. The detail comes from BS 5306-3, the British Standard for extinguisher maintenance, which is what fire officers and insurers expect you to follow.
The annual service
Once a year a competent engineer should:
- check each extinguisher still suits the hazard it covers
- check the safety pin and tamper seal
- inspect the body, head cap and hose
- check the pressure gauge
- weigh it to check the charge
- replace worn O-rings
- check the wall bracket and sign
- fit a new service label
- give you a written report
If an extinguisher fails, it gets a corrective action label and the report says what needs doing.
The 5 and 10 year extended service
Water, foam, wet chemical and powder extinguishers need an extended service every 5 years, where they are test-discharged and refilled or replaced. CO2 extinguishers do not have a 5-year discharge; instead they need an overhaul, including a pressure test, at 10 years. Most businesses find replacing a 10-year-old CO2 is better value.
Your monthly check
At least once a month, check each extinguisher is:
- in its proper place
- not blocked and easy to see
- showing clean, readable instructions facing outwards
- not used, damaged or missing parts
- showing a pressure gauge in the green
- still sealed with its tamper tag
Write the check in your fire safety logbook.
What the service label tells you
The label usually shows the date of the service, the engineer and when the next service is due. If the last service date is more than a year ago, it is time to book a service.