When it comes to commercial fire safety, a wide range of regulations and legislation must be followed.
One of the most fundamental aspects of fire safety within a business or commercial organization is the fire safety equipment that is used to protect people if a fire does occur. Typically, this takes the form of fire extinguishers.
fire fighting equipment
According to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it’s the legal responsibility of the owner of the premises to provide ‘appropriate fire fighting equipment, including portable fire extinguishers’. To be defined as ‘appropriate’, fire extinguishers must be in good working order and work effectively to tackle a fire should one occur.
With this in mind, fire extinguisher inspections are essential. In this article, the team here at KW Fire Protection will discuss the fire extinguisher requirements, providing users with all the information needed to meet legal duties and keep everyone safe on the property.
- How often do fire extinguishers need to be inspected?
A ‘Responsible Person’ in the organization should carry out monthly inspections to ensure fire extinguishers are in good condition and ready to be used if needed. These inspections should include:
- Check the hose and nozzle are not cracked, blocked, or torn.
- Ensure locking pins, seals, and tamper indicators are not broken or missing.
- Make sure the handle is not broken or wobbly.
- Ensure service labels are visible and legible – any missing labels should be replaced immediately.
- Check extinguishers are visible, unobstructed, and have legible operating instructions that are visible.
- Ensure the pressure dial is pointing to green.
- Check the extinguisher feels full.
- Make sure there is no damage whatsoever to the unit.
monthly inspection
This service will include a full maintenance check and a thorough examination of the fire extinguishers
As well as a monthly inspection by someone within the company, it’s also necessary to have the fire extinguisher units serviced by a professional on an annual basis.
This service will include a full maintenance check and a thorough examination of the fire extinguishers. If any repairs or replacements are required, the user will be informed by the engineer.
Always use a BAFE-accredited company to carry out these services. This way users can rest assured that they'll receive the very best service. Remember, it’s a legal requirement to make a record of all fire extinguisher inspections, servicing, and maintenance.
- How long can a user keep a fire extinguisher?
In addition to how frequently users should inspect the fire extinguishers, it’s also important to understand how long a fire extinguisher lasts. The lifespan of an extinguisher varies depending on several factors, including its type and condition.
As a general rule, however, guidelines recommend that fire extinguishers be replaced every five years, or at the very least given an extended service. CO2 fire extinguishers can last a little longer, around 10 years, although this is only the case if they’re in good working order and no faults have developed. No fire extinguisher should ever be more than 20 years old.
- How many fire extinguishers do users legally need?
Every property that has electrical equipment on site also needs to have 2kg CO2 fire extinguishers present
The number of fire extinguishers the organization requires depends on its size. Every property is different in size and requirements, but as a rule of thumb, there needs to be a minimum of two Class A extinguishers on every floor of the property.
If the premises are exceptionally small, users may only need one per floor. Every property that has electrical equipment on site (which is almost every building in 2022) also needs to have 2kg CO2 fire extinguishers present in the property. If the electrical equipment is 415-volt rated, it should be 5kg.
low or high risk of fire
The number of fire extinguishers will also depend on whether the property is considered at low or high risk of fire. If users are unsure exactly how many fire extinguishers user need to comply with the legal responsibilities, get in touch with a professional commercial fire safety company.
KW Fire spent more than two decades providing leading fire safety solutions to clients throughout Manchester, Oldham, Bolton, and beyond. This includes the supply and maintenance of all types of fire extinguishers.