Getting any kind of equipment serviced isn’t the most exciting prospect. So it’s not difficult to see how jobs like organising fire extinguisher servicing end up being pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.
But don’t underestimate the importance of ensuring they’re properly maintained. If you’re the person responsible for fire safety in your business or organisation, you’re accountable for making sure you fully comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. If your fire safety equipment isn’t properly maintained, you’re not fulfilling all your responsibilities. That includes maintaining your fire extinguishers.
Yet some businesses and organisations can overlook the need to get them serviced regularly. And that could have serious consequences in many ways – but most obviously if they don’t work correctly at the very time they’re needed.
The risk of not servicing fire extinguishers
Business costs are mounting at the moment. But we cannot emphasise this enough. Don’t compromise on fire safety in order to reduce expenditure. Well-maintained equipment is likely to last for longer anyway. But the consequences of cutting back on maintaining fire safety equipment like fire extinguishers could be devastating. And even if no one’s hurt, there could still be serious outcomes for a business and the specific individuals responsible for fire safety. Over the years there have been numerous prosecution cases where fire safety breaches have included failures to carry out fire extinguisher servicing regularly enough.
For example in 2022 a hotel owner in Widnes, Cheshire received a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for a range of fire safety failures that included not maintaining fire extinguishers. Back in 2019 this B&B owner in Oxfordshire also received a suspended prison sentence for failures that included – incredibly - not having serviced his fire extinguishers since 2007. But while that’s an extreme example, the fact remains that it's very easy to fall behind on fire extinguisher servicing.
So what are the requirements when it comes to fire extinguisher servicing?
The standard recommendation is to have fire extinguishers serviced annually by a qualified professional. During this service, they’ll check things like pressure levels, the weight of the extinguisher to detect any discharge or leakage, and seals to ensure no tampering or accidental discharge has occurred. They’ll refill them if required and complete any repairs that might be needed. Once a fire extinguisher has had its annual service, it’ll be labelled with the date of the service on it.
As well as the physical servicing of your fire extinguishers, the engineer will also look at how they’re being used. That includes checking that their current location continues to be the most suitable one. Sometimes a building might have been reconfigured and office space changed, or there could be additional hazards in the area since the fire extinguisher was first installed.
Monthly visual checks
While annual servicing is essential, you should also visually inspect fire extinguishers every month to be sure that they haven’t developed any issues in the meantime. Make sure you keep a record of these checks too.
Some of the things to look out for include the following:
- Signs of damage such as leaking or corrosion
- Pressure indicators in the incorrect range
- The weight of the fire extinguisher – make sure it doesn’t feel unexpectedly light
- Any indications that the fire extinguisher might have been tampered with, like broken or missing locking pins
- The legibility of operating instructions
- The visibility of your fire extinguishers – has anything been put in front of them so their location isn’t immediately obvious?
Are any other fire extinguisher inspections needed?
In addition to the annual service and monthly checks, a more comprehensive extended service is recommended every five years for most types of extinguishers (or they may need replacement by then depending on their condition). For CO₂ extinguishers, the recommendation is that they are overhauled (or replaced) every 10 years.
It’s essential that you keep records of all fire extinguisher checks, inspections and repairs. It will help you keep track of when servicing is due. And records of regular servicing demonstrate that you’ve taken steps to protect your employees and property in case insurers or enforcing authorities ever require any evidence that you’re maintaining fire safety equipment properly.
Are you looking for a local fire extinguisher servicing provider?
Then look no further. As fire extinguisher inspection experts with branches across the UK we can help you. Please get in touch with us today to find out more about our affordable fire extinguisher maintenance services.