Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Certificates

Fire extinguisher servicing and maintenance in commercial premises

Having the correct the correct fire safety equipment installed in your business premises is a legal requirement and is the first line of defence against an outbreak of fire. Having the correct fire extinguisher will not only help to protect you, it helps to protect the other people around you and the property too. However, simply having the correct types and sizes of fire extinguishers installed is not enough. They must be located in the correct location, never moved and certainly, never used as a means of propping doors open.

Not only should the fire extinguishers be of the correct type and in the correct location, it's imperative that they will work effectively if and when they're needed to tackle a fire. Commercial fire extinguishers can only be relied upon if they undergo regular routine maintenance and inspections.

What do we mean by 'types' of fire extinguishers?

• Dry Powder Fire Extinguishers - Dry powder fire extinguishers are ideal for use in mixed risk environments and offer excellent all round fire protection. With a unique class C rating, powder fire extinguishers are the only effective solution for fires involving flammable gases.
• AFFF Foam Fire Extinguishers - Foam fire extinguishers are ideal for use on fire involving solid combustible materials and are highly effective on flammable liquid fires. The layer of foam applied by these extinguishers helps to prevent re-ignition after the fire has been extinguished.
• CO2 Fire Extinguishers - Carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers are suitable for use on flammable liquid fires and are extremely effective at extinguishing fires involving electrical equipment. CO2 is also one of the cleanest extinguisher agents and leaves no residue behind.
• Water Fire Extinguishers - Water fire extinguishers are suitable for use in environments containing solid combustible materials such as wood, paper and textiles. It is important to remember that water conducts electricity so these should never be used around electrical equipment.
• Wet Chemical Fire Extinguishers - Wet chemical fire extinguishers have a unique class F rating and are usually supplied with a special application lance. The perfect solution for tackling large burning oil fires, wet chemical extinguishers are ideally suited to the kitchen environment.
• Water Mist Fire Extinguishers - Water Mist is a new technology that works on the basis of cooling fire, suffocating it and then cooling the burning media to prevent re-ignition using microscopic particles of water. Water mists extinguishers are ideal for covering areas of a building where multiple fire risks can be found.

As you can see from the list above, there is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to the correct type of fire extinguisher. One thing they all have in common is that they all require regular maintenance and servicing to remain compliant and work correctly when they are needed. Types and locations for fire extinguishers should be regularly reviewed to ensure that each fire extinguisher is suitable for the area and activities it is intended for.

Why servicing and maintenance of fire extinguishers is so vital

A single fire extinguishers may be the only difference between escaping a fire and not so it's vital you know they're in good working order and compliant with current regulations. This is why regular servicing and inspection of this essential equipment is so important.

The responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is defined as the employer in relation to a workplace or in other scenarios, simply the person who has control of the premises. As well as being responsible for risk assessment in the premises and equipping it with the right fire safety equipment, as the responsible person, they must also ensure that equipment is maintained in an efficient state and is in good repair. They have an obligation to arrange regular servicing from a competent and qualified organisation. Professional servicing and maintenance by a competent person is very important for fire protection equipment. The professional fire extinguisher service engineer will not only ensure the equipment is in good working order but also make sure the extinguisher type and location is correct. Fire extinguishers can be subjected to damage or misuse and will require periodic testing. The competent person will identify this and carry out the work appropriately.

All types of fire extinguishers should undergo a service on a regular basis. Current fire legislation requires that you are responsible for using a competent person to maintain your fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers. As a minimum, this should be undertaken in accordance with BS 5306-3: 2017.

The fire service engineer will have a detailed knowledge of the different types of fire extinguishers and the correct installation and application, safe methods of inspection of pressure vessels and use of specialist equipment. They will also have qualifications and training to provide quality advice and ensure you comply with any fire related legislation. The BS 5306-3: 2017 update saw the introduction of a new section that requires you to obtain the fire risk assessment for the technician before they carry out any maintenance. Having access to this ensures they are furnished with any important information to justify actions in the fire risk assessment that may vary from the minimum scale of provision outlined in BS 5306-8.

The competency of the service engineer cannot be emphasised enough. Fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment must never be serviced, maintained or repaired by an untrained or unqualified person.

What does the annual fire extinguisher service involve?

The annual fire extinguisher service involves a thorough inspection of the fire extinguisher for corrosion or any leakage. Further checks and other factors that could compromise the safety or performance of the fire extinguisher include whether the fire extinguisher is in visibly good condition and ensuring that it has not been tampered with. Weight and pressure monitoring ensures that the fire extinguisher hasn't been used and will work effectively. The engineer will also ensure that the instruction label remains legible, as well as checking the safety device for correct operation. The engineer will also ensure that the hose is free from obstruction and working efficiently. They will also make certain that the fire extinguisher is the correct extinguisher for the location it is installed in. Last but by no means least; they will ensure that the signs around the fire point are clearly visible and correct.

Must all fire extinguisher checks be carried out by a professional?

Although a thorough and detailed inspection must be carried out annually by a trained and qualified professional fire safety engineer, you shouldn't rely on this as the only checks needed throughout the rest of the year. For example, fire extinguishers are often seen as a source of fun for some people such as teenagers or students.

As a business owner or an employer, you should visually check all fire extinguishers at least once a month. Make sure that each extinguisher is correctly in its designated place and that it is visible and easy to access. Instructions for use should be clear and all seals should be intact. Also ensure that the fire extinguishers are not being used to hold doors open. Although this was mentioned earlier, it is such an important point, that it needs reinforcing, as this is when most damage occurs to fire extinguishers in the work place. If a fire extinguisher is dropped then the mechanism can become jammed or the extinguisher make operate reducing the amount of fire fighting agent stored.

The importance of correct maintenance and servicing of your fire extinguishers should never be underestimated and nothing should be left to chance. An annual service carried out by a competent professional with the correct qualifications, training, equipment and expertise is absolutely essential to ensure that you and your business remain compliant and nobody's life is put at risk because of faulty or poorly maintained fire extinguishers.

Further information

If you would like to know more or are interested in trying Survey JEM™ we would be happy to help. Phone us on 01953 425 932, email us at info@surveyjem.co.uk or fill in our contact form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

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