How often should fire extinguishers be serviced? UK guide

Key takeaway

Most portable fire extinguishers in UK workplaces need a basic service by a competent person every 12 months. The responsible person should also arrange a visual check at least monthly in normal conditions. Water-based and powder extinguishers usually need an extended service every five years, while CO2 and clean-agent units normally need an overhaul every ten years. Damage, discharge, a broken seal, pressure loss or a change to the premises means you should act sooner.

Most fire extinguishers in UK workplaces should be serviced by a competent person every 12 months. Staff should also make a simple visual check at least monthly in normal conditions. Do not wait for the annual visit if an extinguisher has been used, damaged, moved, lost pressure or had its seal broken.

The annual visit is the basic service. Some extinguishers need more involved work at longer intervals. Water-based and powder units usually have an extended service every five years. CO2 and clean-agent extinguishers normally have an overhaul every ten years. The exact action depends on the extinguisher type, its age, condition and manufacturer instructions.

Is annual fire extinguisher servicing a legal requirement?

Fire safety law does not simply say that every extinguisher must receive one named procedure on one fixed date. In England and Wales, Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to put a suitable maintenance system in place and keep fire safety equipment in an efficient state, efficient working order and good repair.

Government guidance gives the day-to-day schedule. Its office and shop guide says portable extinguishers need periodic inspection, maintenance and testing. It recommends monthly checks in normal conditions and annual maintenance by a competent person. The Home Office guide for small non-domestic premises gives the same schedule.

BS 5306-3:2017 is the current British Standard covering commissioning and maintenance of portable extinguishers. It is a code of practice rather than an Act of Parliament, but it provides the recognised maintenance intervals and procedures used to show that the legal duty is being managed sensibly.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate fire safety legislation. If you manage premises there, check the applicable national guidance as well as the equipment standard and fire risk assessment.

What should staff check every month?

A monthly check is visual. It does not involve dismantling, discharging or repairing the extinguisher. Give the task to someone who knows where every unit should be and how to report a problem.

• Confirm that each extinguisher is in its assigned position.
• Make sure it is visible, unobstructed and easy to reach.
• Check for dents, corrosion, leaks or other obvious damage.
• Confirm that the operating instructions are legible.
• Check that the safety pin, seal and tamper indicator are intact.
• Where a gauge is fitted, confirm that it remains in the operating range.
• Check that the service label is present and the next service is not overdue.

Record the date, the person who checked and any defect found. A tick in a logbook is useful only if missing or damaged equipment is dealt with promptly. Busy public areas, warehouses, construction sites and places where tampering is more likely may need checks more often than once a month.

What happens during the annual service?

The annual basic service goes further than the monthly visual check. The technician identifies the extinguisher, checks its service history and confirms that the type, rating and location still make sense for the hazard. The inspection should follow BS 5306-3 and the manufacturer's instructions.

Depending on the extinguisher, the technician will examine the body, hose, horn, gauge, valve, safety devices, operating instructions and mass or pressure. They should identify corrosion, damage, leakage, missing parts or evidence that the unit has been discharged. The service label and record should then show what was done and when the next action is due.

A service sticker on the cylinder is not the whole job. Ask for an asset schedule that identifies each unit by location, type, size or rating, service status and any remedial action. If a replacement is recommended, the report should say why.

When is an extended service or overhaul due?

These are the intervals summarised by BAFE from BS 5306-3. They do not guarantee that an extinguisher will stay in service until the next five-year or ten-year point. A unit can be condemned or replaced earlier because of corrosion, damage, missing information, obsolescence, a failed check or a change in the risk it is meant to cover.

Some composite or low-maintenance products use a different maintenance arrangement. Do not assume that the phrase "service-free" removes the responsible person's duty. Keep the product instructions, inspection record and fire risk assessment together, and obtain competent advice if the proposed regime differs from the usual BS 5306-3 schedule.

When should an extinguisher be checked sooner?

Arrange a prompt inspection after any use, even if only a short burst was discharged. The same applies after vandalism, impact, water damage, fire exposure or a broken safety seal. Replace or isolate an unsafe unit in line with competent advice, then make sure suitable cover remains in place.

Review the provision when the premises changes. A new commercial kitchen, battery charging area, workshop process, server room, mezzanine, partition or storage layout can make the old extinguisher type or position unsuitable. The service visit should not be treated as a substitute for reviewing the fire risk assessment.

Who can service a workplace fire extinguisher?

The responsible person can arrange routine visual checks through a trained member of staff. The annual basic service and longer interval work should be completed by someone with the training, experience, tools, information and procedures needed for the equipment.

Third-party certification is one way to check competence. BAFE's SP101 scheme covers extinguisher organisations and technicians. If certification is required by your insurer, landlord, contract or procurement policy, verify the company and the technician for the specific work rather than accepting a general fire safety logo.

The legal responsibility does not pass completely to the contractor. The responsible person still needs to act on defects, keep the records and make sure that the service arrangement covers every extinguisher on the premises.

What fire extinguisher service records should you keep?

Keep a current asset list and the engineer's report with the fire safety records. Each entry should make it possible to match the paperwork to the extinguisher on the wall.

• Premises, floor and exact location.
• Extinguisher type, size or fire rating and an asset identifier.
• Date of the monthly visual check and the person who completed it.
• Date and result of the annual basic service.
• Extended service or overhaul date where relevant.
• Defects, replacements and any temporary action taken.
• Name of the competent service provider and technician.

Government guidance notes that maintenance records help demonstrate compliance to an enforcing authority. They also make a landlord handover, insurer query or multi-site audit much easier to answer.

How to prepare for a fire extinguisher service visit

1. Find the previous report and check whether all listed extinguishers are still present.
2. Note any unit that has been used, moved, damaged or found with a broken seal.
3. Provide the current fire risk assessment and flag changes to rooms, processes or occupancy.
4. Give the engineer access to locked plant rooms, cupboards and shared areas.
5. Ask for approval before chargeable replacements or additions are made.
6. Collect a written report and update the next service date in the site calendar.

If you have inherited equipment with no clear history, ask for a full inventory and condition review. A date written on one visible cylinder does not prove that every extinguisher across the site has been checked.

FAQ: fire extinguisher servicing

How often should workplace fire extinguishers be serviced?

Most portable fire extinguishers should receive a basic service every 12 months by a competent person. Monthly visual checks are also recommended in normal conditions, with more frequent checks where damage or tampering is more likely.

Do new fire extinguishers need servicing after one year?

Yes. A correctly commissioned new extinguisher normally enters the annual service cycle. Keep the commissioning record and use its date to plan the first service.

Can staff complete the annual extinguisher service?

Staff can carry out the routine visual check if they have clear instructions. The annual basic service needs a competent person with the right training, tools and access to the relevant procedures and manufacturer information.

Do CO2 extinguishers need an annual service?

Yes. CO2 extinguishers need a basic service every 12 months. They normally have a ten-year overhaul interval rather than the five-year extended service used for many water-based and powder extinguishers.

What should happen if an extinguisher is used?

Report it immediately and arrange competent inspection, recharge or replacement. Do not put a partly discharged unit back in position or wait until the next planned annual visit.

Is a service label enough evidence?

No. The label is useful, but the business should also keep a service report or asset schedule and its routine check records. The paperwork should identify each extinguisher, what was done and any defect or replacement due.

Arrange fire extinguisher servicing with FIDEC

FIDEC services portable fire extinguishers for commercial premises across Manchester, Greater Manchester and the wider North West. We can create an asset schedule, check service dates, identify damaged or unsuitable units and provide records after the visit.

See our fire extinguisher servicing service, check how many extinguishers your business may need, or request a site survey. You can also call 0333 3662 007 or email info@fidecss.co.uk.

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