Fire extinguishers play a fundamental role in the commercial fire safety of every organization, helping to provide businesses with firefighting equipment that can be used if the worst happens.
As well as being used to extinguish a blaze should one occur, fire extinguishers can help prevent a fire from spreading- protecting both the life of those on the premises and the property itself.
importance of fire extinguishers
The importance of fire extinguishers cannot be underestimated, and with this in mind, they must remain in good working order at all times.
If a fire extinguisher has expired, it needs to be replaced immediately. In this article, the team here at KW Fire Protection will explore how to tell if a user has an expired fire extinguisher.
Fire extinguisher legislation
Regulations recommend two Class A extinguishers should be present on every story of a building
As a business owner or manager of any kind of commercial or industrial premises, the user must understand the health and safety obligations.
Commercial fire safety is a part of this, and according to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005), it’s the duty of every employer to provide appropriate firefighting equipment, including fire extinguishers.
The quantity and type of extinguishers will vary depending on the specifics of the organization, but generally, regulations recommend two Class A extinguishers should be present on every story of a building. It’s also the responsibility to ensure that all of the units are in good working order and ready to be used in the event of an emergency.
How to tell if a fire extinguisher is expired?
If a fire extinguisher has expired, it must be immediately replaced. But how can users tell if an extinguisher has expired? Well, there are several ways users can do so.
The condition of the fire extinguisher
Every month, a ‘responsible person’ within the organization should be carrying out visual inspections of all fire extinguisher units.
As part of these checks, the individual should ensure units are in good, physical condition and replace them if there are obvious signs of expiration or damage.
This includes checking for:
- Rust, corrosion, and other obvious damage
- Broken handles
- Blocked nozzles
- Missing lock pins
- Damaged security seals
As well as this, the pressure gauge needle should be in the red zone and the maintenance and servicing record must be up to date.
When was the fire extinguisher last serviced?
If users have a water, powder, or foam extinguisher, they need an extended service every five years
Users can also assess whether or not the fire extinguisher might be expired by having it serviced. Check the unit’s service level to ensure it has been properly serviced at the correct intervals – this is usually on an annual basis.
If it’s due a service, the user can then arrange one with the fire safety company which will be able to advise on whether or not the unit has expired.
As well as this, check the manufacturing date to see if an extended service is due. This date can usually be found on the body of the unit or the service label. If users have a water, powder, or foam extinguisher, they need an extended service every five years, and CO2 extinguishers have them every 10 years.
How old is the fire extinguisher
The life span of a fire extinguisher might also dictate whether it has expired or not. There is no hard and fast rule for an extinguisher’s expiry date, however, the average life span is usually between 10-12 years.
Checking the manufacturing date can give the user an idea if the user is due for a replacement, and the regular annual services will also be able to advise on this.
