If you’re a business owner or the premises responsible person, then you’ll know all about the importance of fire safety. You will have arranged for a fire risk assessment to be carried out, alerted other staff members to the risks, put measures in place, and arranged fire training.
Once this has been done, it can be tempting to think that your job is done — that everything is in place for any future emergencies. However, this isn’t the case. Some fire safety measures need to be maintained — requiring regular checking, updating or replacement.
Your fire extinguishers are just one of these measures that will require regular checks and annual servicing. In this article, we’ll be discussing what you should know about fire extinguisher servicing, including how often this should be done.
Keep in mind that this is a brief overview of what’s required. For more specific details, please contact a fire safety professional.
Do I need to get my fire extinguishers serviced?
Though it seems like you can simply install fire extinguishers and forget about them, they do require annual servicing. There are a few types of servicing and inspections available, so it’s important to know what’s involved in each and the difference between them.
Once a month — visual inspections
Fire extinguishers require regular visual inspections. Whether your extinguishers are water, foam, CO2, wet chemical or powder, they should all be checked at least once per month as part of your regular premises safety checks.
Why are they necessary? Visual inspections are an effective and easy way to quickly identify common issues with your extinguishers. Whilst these checks do not take a lot of time to complete, they may save a life in the event of a fire.
What’s involved? A visual check of the extinguisher components including the pressure gauge, headcap pin and seal. After noting that the extinguisher is located in its correct wall bracket or stand with visible instructions, you will be checking for evidence of damage, tampering or loss of pressure.
Once a year — basic fire extinguisher servicing
Every year, each fire extinguisher will need a basic service carried out by a third-party accredited fire extinguisher technician. The correct training and tools are crucial for this check, so it’s vital to hire a professional. They will know what is required for your type and age of extinguisher. They will also add to the service history tracker on the maintenance label.
Every 5 years — extended fire extinguisher servicing
Every five years, all types of extinguishers (apart from CO2, which have different requirements) will need extended servicing. Again, this must be performed by a qualified professional who knows exactly what they are looking for. This check is similar to basic fire extinguisher servicing but more in-depth and thorough.
Each extinguisher will also be discharged to assess the duration, distance, and pattern of the suppressant — all so that the professional conducting the check can fully judge its functioning. The engineer will replace the headcap O ring, identify any corrosion, then refill and pressurise the extinguisher to exact standards and specifications.
Fire extinguisher servicing for businesses, medical centres, and care homes
At LS Fire Solutions, we’re able to perform all of your fire extinguisher servicing and inspections. We’ll help you ensure your premises fully complies with fire safety law and is prepared to protect residents or occupants in the event of a fire. To learn more, contact us today.
As well as offering professional fire extinguisher servicing, we are proud providers of the P50 Ecoextinguisher. A new generation of fire extinguisher units that help to simplify your obligations, whilst helping to protect out planet!
If you have any further questions about fire protection, extinguisher servicing or would just like a chat about your obligations and how to keep your premise safe and compliant, please do contact us!