Fire Extinguisher Servicing

Summary of Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Inspection from PASS fm

Fire extinguishers mean the difference between life or death in any emergency fire related situation. If a fire breaks out and you grab the nearest fire extinguisher, squeeze the lever and nothing happens because the pin is stuck then your life, and that of your co-workers, can be put in jeopardy due to ill maintained fire extinguishers and equipment.

The inspection of all fire extinguishers is not just for safety, but is a legal requirement.

Therefore regular maintenance is essential with fire extinguishers and other safety equipment. The British Standard Code of Practice BS 5306 Part 3 recommends that fire extinguishers are serviced at least every year, which will ensure that they will always function in an emergency when needed.

What is involved in Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Inspection?

We have many customers ask us what's the difference between a fire extinguisher inspection, and a extinguisher service. Here is a small overview of the two;

Fire Extinguisher Inspection
An inspection is simply a “visual quick check”. This gives a reasonable assurance that the fire extinguisher is operational, fully charged/filled and available to be used instantly.

However, the value of an 'inspection' is in the frequency and detail to which it is conducted regularly. The frequency can vary from hourly to monthly, based on the needs of the situation and location of the extinguisher. Typically these inspections should be conducted when fire extinguishers are placed in service initially and at approximately 30-day intervals after installation to guarantee full operational status.

Fire Extinguisher Service, also called Fire Extinguisher Maintenance
Fire extinguishers should be maintained at accurate, regular intervals. This should be at minimum once a year by a experience, trained and qualified engineer.

The service, also called maintenance, is a “complete thorough check” of the extinguisher. This check is designed to give the maximum assurance that a fire extinguisher will operate safely, effectively and within operational standards in the case of an emergency. With PASS FM this check also includes a thorough examination of the extinguisher itself with any steps taken to repair, recharge or replace if required. Furthermore this complete service, will usually unveil any need for hydrostatic testing of the fire extinguisher.

Why use PASS FM for your Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Inspection

PASS FM fire extinguishers, which can be provided, offer many years of reliable fire protection, but just like your own fire extinguishers, they must be maintained and regularly serviced by a competent engineer annually. Our PASS FM engineers all work towards the FIA Qualifications and receive regular training which is a requirement of the FIA. This makes our engineers up-to-date and experienced to service your fire extinguishers.

Annual maintenance programmes and checks
Get your PAT Testing done at the same time
Weekend and out of hours call out available
Big discounts for combining services with PASS FM
Multi-skilled engineers

As part of our PAT Testing service and/or Emergency Lighting Testing we can service and inspect your Fire Extinguishers. Performing these duties together will typically save you over 50% on your fire extinguisher maintenance costs compared to have the extinguishers maintained separately under a different service contract. This also gives you the benefit of a lower carbon footprint, as it is one visit, one set of services, and one invoice and payment. Why triple the workload?

Supporting Documents about Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Inspection

Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Inspection Regulations
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 [Wikipedia explanation - easier to digest]

Further Links and Information about Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Inspection

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is a statutory legislation which places the responsibility on the individual to carry out a risk assessment on certain types of property. This became law on 1 October 2006, and only applies to England and Wales.

Types of Fire Extinguisher

The types of fire extinguishers available in your workplace will depend on the environment you work in and the need for that type of extinguisher. This guide is for help and reference. All Fire Extinguishers are colour coded so you can see at a glance they type of extinguisher and what it contains.