Guidance - Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

Fire extinguisher maintenance is obligatory under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and all business premises must make a provision for portable fire extinguishers. Fire extinguisher maintenance and servicing should be in line with BS 5306-3:2009 and BS 5306-8:2012.

Visual inspection by the responsible person

The responsible person should carry out visual inspection of all extinguishers regularly. These visual inspections should be carried out at least monthly. When circumstances require, inspections should be carried out more frequently. When carrying out these visual inspections, it should be ensured that:

1. Each extinguisher is correctly located in the designated place

2. Each extinguisher is unobstructed and visible

3. The operating instructions of each extinguisher are clean and legible and face outwards

4. Each extinguisher has not been operated and is not obviously damaged or has any missing parts

5. The reading of any pressure gauge or indicator fitted to an extinguisher is within operational and safety limits

6. The seals and tamper indicators of each extinguisher are not broken or missing

The responsible person should record the results of these visual inspections and arrange for corrective action where necessary by a competent person. In the event of doubt the responsible person should arrange for a competent person to examine the extinguisher.

Annual inspection, service and maintenance by a competent person

The responsible person should ensure that extinguishers, gas cartridges and replacement charges are inspected, serviced and maintained as recommended in BS 5306 part 3.

These procedures should be carried out by a competent person capable of conducting them according to the recommendations of this code and any special procedures recommended by the manufacturers using the recommended tools, equipment and materials, on an annual basis.

Accredited companies

To ensure the highest quality of workmanship it is recommended that a company that has been awarded an accreditation certificate from UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is sourced. The British Approval for Fire Equipment (BAFE) develops third party certification schemes with a range of industry stakeholders and works only with UKAS accredited certification bodies to thoroughly assess and approve companies to these standards. Registered BAFE companies can be found at, https://www.bafe.org.uk/

Cost for Services (approximate costs as of 22/02/2017)

All extinguishers should be approved to BS EN3 and will vary in cost dependent on supplier. Any new extinguisher should be commissioned by a competent person on site prior to installation. A 9 litre water extinguisher can cost from £35, with installation and commission adding a further £16 upwards. There can often be a set cost for companies to visit premises, so it is recommended to shop around for competitive prices.