how often should fire extinguishers be checked

How Often Should Fire Extinguishers Be Checked and Serviced?

by with No Comment InformationRules and Regulations

Fire extinguishers are essential safety devices that play a crucial role in protecting lives and property during fire emergencies. To guarantee that they will function properly when needed, they must undergo routine maintenance, just like any other piece of safety gear.

Maintaining the safety of any facility during an emergency requires regular maintenance of fire extinguishers, which may be accomplished by equipment maintenance and fire safety inspections. A responsible person can do certain inspections on-site, but many inspections need to be carried out by a trained technician.

It’s important to understand the many kinds of fire extinguishing services available, as they will vary slightly if you own CO2 fire extinguishers. Find out when your fire extinguishers need to be serviced and what is involved in each service. We’ve included all the information you require to test fire extinguishers below.

Regular Visual Inspections Of Fire Extinguishers

Like other fire safety equipment, your fire extinguishers need to be inspected once a month. Unlike a full-service, this can be visually examined to ensure that all parts are still present and functioning properly.

These monthly inspections apply to all kinds of extinguishers, whether they are Water, CO2, Foam, Wet Chemical or Powder extinguishers. Visual checks are quick and easy; all you need to do is make sure someone responsible looks at the seal, pressure gauge, and head cap pin to make sure they haven’t been tampered with.

To ensure that someone can operate it in an emergency, you may also check to see if it is still fastened to the wall bracket and that the instructions are still readable.

Basic Fire Extinguisher Service

A basic service needs to happen once per year which building managers or wonders need to book and arrange under the BS 5036-6 regulation. Since a malfunctioning fire extinguisher might result in fatalities, this service is more thorough than your monthly checks and is typically performed by a technician with professional accreditation.

During annual inspections, experts typically replace the fire extinguisher’s components and perform a more thorough inspection of every one of them. Even though fire extinguishers age, replacing these parts keeps them functional and ready for use in an emergency.

Extended Fire Extinguisher Service

Technicians will once more be required to carry out an extended fire extinguisher service. Since these inspections are more thorough than yearly and monthly ones, they must be performed every five years. All types of extinguishers, such as Water, Foam, Powder or Wet Chemical, are serviced in the same way during these kinds of inspections, except for CO2. 

Everything in the basic services will be covered and then the technician will discharge the fire extinguisher. They will look at the distance and pattern of the fire suppressant material, to make sure it is up to current standards. This lets you know that your fire extinguisher would perform well and efficiently in a real emergency.

How CO2 Fire Extinguishers Are Serviced

The CO2 fire extinguisher is a separate animal altogether from the other types. Many types of businesses like these extinguishers because they have a significantly higher pressure and only require full servicing every ten years.

When the time does come around to service your CO2 extinguisher, which is called an overhaul, it often needs to be sent to an accredited service centre to be looked over and parts replaced and fixed, if necessary.

What Is Involved in a Fire Extinguisher Servicing?

Every component of the fire extinguisher, including the gauges and valves, will be inspected by a professional to ensure that it is undamaged and in good operating order. Extinguishers will also be inspected for corrosion, as they are susceptible to it. Technicians can determine whether there is a problem by weighing it and determining if it falls within the required range.

After each of these tasks has been performed, you will be given a certificate of inspection, proving that the fire extinguisher has been serviced and is up to all regulations and standards that need to be adhered to.

When Should You Replace an Old Fire Extinguisher?

It takes a few years for fire extinguishers to lose their safety and fail a fire risk assessment, even with regular maintenance. As time goes on, defective or subpar parts will be replaced during inspections, making it increasingly difficult to find these parts for earlier models.

Either the fire extinguisher fails an inspection with a fault that can’t be repaired, or more often than not, the older models of extinguisher become outdated. This is because the parts older models need will no longer be available or they will be harder to come by and replacing the parts will not be economically viable anymore. Some technicians will recommend a new fire extinguisher every 5 years if the type of fire extinguisher is cheaper to re-buy than complete the full service.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining fire extinguishers’ dependability and emergency performance requires routine maintenance and inspections. Your fire extinguishers will be ready when you need them most if you adhere to a regular plan of monthly visual inspections, yearly expert servicing, and extended fire extinguisher servicing.

If you’re unsure about the condition or maintenance history of your fire extinguishers, it’s always a good idea to consult with a certified fire safety professional. Feel free to reach out to us with any other questions or queries. Safety is most important, and well-maintained fire extinguishers are an essential part of any comprehensive fire protection plan.

Stay safe!

Fire-Warden-Training-Courses-scaled

CheckFire’s foam products update

by with One Comment NewsRules and Regulations

Checkfire has released an update on the possible implications with foam fire extinguishers that contain PFOA and PFOS.

Their statement stated that the foam used in the extinguishers from Commander, CommanderEDGE and Contempo does not contain PFOS or PFOA. They also stated that although these extinguishers do not contain these substances but like all foam extinguishers in the UK, they contain PFHxA.

The European Chemicals Agency has said they are currently considering restrictions to the use of PFHxA. The recommendations to the Agency are likely to be submitted during 2022 and following that there will be a possible transition period in 2024. The timetable for this has not yet been agreed.

6 litre foam fire extinguisher

There are not any restrictions currently in place, and it is unlikely the law will be applied retrospectively. However, with the situation growing we advise the use of Water, Water Additive and Water Mist extinguishers where there is no class B fire risk.

Companies and brands are currently working on trying to develop a fluorine-free alternative (CheckFire included).

Should I have a fire extinguisher in my holiday rental/airbnb property?

by with No Comment InformationRules and Regulations

The rules and regulations when it comes to fire safety in a airbnb or a holiday rental. All the safety steps that you should be taking as an owner of one of these properties or that your ‘landlord’ should of followed before renting to you.

When hosting your Airbnb house, fire safety regulations must be followed. This is to ensure that the house stayers and the house stay safe. You may ask to yourself – “Should I have a fire extinguisher in my airBnB property?” Well the rules must comply with Airbnb’s regulations on safety and fire safety. Here is a good link explaining the details of their rules.

When renting out a holiday rental you should have at least one fire extinguisher on every level of your home. They should be placed in the rooms with the highest probability of a fire – the kitchen especially, as well as any areas with open fires. Another option is a fire blanket. 

Here is our guide to the different types of fire extinguisher. This might help you decide which fire extinguisher suits your needs best.

AirBnB hosts are told to list their safety features. They are told to tick all their safety features under the Home Safety section for the Airbnb listing so stayers know what the home has in terms of Safety. 

Some hosts will even include a paragraph on safety at the end of their property description that mentions smoke alarms and first aid kits in order to reassure guests.

AirBnB have a page regarding their safety regulations as a guide for hosts. This page is linked here.

Leaving contact numbers for emergency medical, fire and police services is recommended. Leaving a card stating:

  • Locations of fire extinguishers and fire blankets
  • Emergency exit routes
  • Location of first aid kit
  • More than one contact number for you (i.e. include your landline plus mobile, or your partner’s phone number as well as your own)

We recommend to do this because it is deemed as the polite and the correct thing to do.

Driving in Europe? Which countries require Fire Extinguishers and other safety products?

by with No Comment InformationRules and Regulations

What safety products do you need when driving in Europe?

Which countries require Fire Extinguishers and other safety products according to their rules and regulations.

Are you thinking about doing any driving in Europe? You might be thinking – “What safety products do you need when driving in Europe?” Here is your guide to what products you need in different countries.

First off, most importantly almost all the other countries in Europe drive on the right hand side of the road. That is a costly one to forget when making the transition from the UK to the rest of Europe. 

First Aid Kit and Fire Extinguisher

A car first aid kit and fire extinguisher is required by law in most Nordic, Eastern European, Baltic and Soviet countries.

A vehicle first aid kit and fire extinguisher is not legally required when driving in France, Spain, Italy, Germany and other Central European countries however it is still recommended. 

Choosing the correct fire extinguisher is also important. Here is our Guide to the Best Fire Extinguishers for Cars.

Spare Light Bulbs

You are required to carry spare light bulbs when driving in France, the Czech Republic and some Yugosphere countries.

Reflective Jacket

The majority of European countries require a reflective jacket or vest for either just the driver or every passenger in the car. The notable exception is for driving in the Netherlands and the likes of Albania and Ireland. You are still recommended to have these reflective jackets. Even in countries where they are not required by law. 

Emergency Triangle

Aside from the UK, almost all European countries require the vehicle to be equipped with an emergency triangle to be used in accidents or breakdowns (Some countries such as Spain, Cyprus, Estonia and Bosnia even require 2). Even if the country does not require an emergency triangle by law, it is still recommended to carry one.

European Driving Safety Requirements

CountriesFirst Aid KitFire ExtinguisherSpare Light BulbsReflective JacketEmergency Triangle
AlbaniaYYYNOne
AndorraNYYYTwo
AustriaYNNYOne
BelarusYYYYOne
BelgiumYYNYOne
Bosnia & HerzegovinaYNNYTwo
BulgariaYYNYOne
CroatiaNNNYOne
Czech RepublicYNYYOne
DenmarkYYYYOne
EstoniaYYYYTwo
FinlandYYYYOne
FranceNNYYOne
GermanyYNNYOne
GreeceYYNNOne
HungaryYNNYOne
IcelandYYYYOne
IrelandYYYNOne
ItalyNNNYOne
LatviaYYYYOne
LiechtensteinYYYYOne
LithuaniaYYYYOne
LuxembourgYYYYOne
MaltaYYYYOne
MoldovaYYYYOne
MonacoYYYYOne
MontenegroYYYYOne
NetherlandsNNNNOne
North MacedoniaYYYYOne
NorwayYYYYOne
PolandNYNYOne
PortugalNNNYOne
RomaniaYYNYOne
RussiaYYYYOne
San MarinoYYYYOne
SerbiaYYYYOne
SlovakiaYYYYOne
SloveniaYYYYOne
SpainNNNYTwo
SwedenYYYYOne
SwitzerlandNNNNOne
UkraineYYYYOne
United KingdomNNNNNone
Vatican CityNNNYOne

Fire Safety Regulations For Boats and Vessels

by with No Comment InformationRules and Regulations

A brief overview on the Fire Safety regulations for boats and vessels.  The requirements of Fire Extinguishers and Fire Safety products on Boats or Vessels.

The fire safety regulations for boats and vessels must be thought about when owning a boat or vessel. When first sold or put into use, vessels built for the UK market in compliance with the UK Recreational Craft Regulations 2017. They also must be suitable for the EU market in compliance with Directive 2013/53/EU. That includes protection from risk and spread of fire and the provision of fire-fighting equipment appropriate to the fire hazard.

Both the UK and the EU recognise that conformity with the fire protection requirements can be achieved by applying ISO 9094. Small craft – Fire Protection which specifies the minimum requirements for fire fighting equipment.

However, further means of firefighting may be necessary (or required by law). This applies particularly to UK registered private pleasure vessels over 13.7m, which fall under UK Merchant Shipping Regulations.

Even if a firefighting kit is not mandatory, any vessel that is constructed of, or carries, any flammable materials should carry firefighting equipment.

When planning fire safety, consider the amount and type of combustible material on board. You should think about where extinguishers might be needed and how to stow them. 

There should also be a fitted fire alarm that should be tested regularly. 

These are the guidelines on the amount of fire extinguishers and minimum fire rating required according to size of the vessel.

Approximate length of vessel  Number of fire extinguishers (consider one for each sleeping cabin)  Combined fire rating
under 7m(23ft)                 2           10A/68B
7 – 11m(23-36ft)                 2            13A/89B 
11 – 13.7m(36-45ft)                 3        21A/144B 

fire safety regualtions for lorries

Fire Safety Regulation for Lorries/ Trucks

by with No Comment Rules and Regulations

The fire safety regulations for lorries and trucks explain how many extinguishers are required in terms of weight of the vehicle. The table below sets out a summary of the minimum requirements for fire extinguishers depending on weight of the vehicle for HGVs or Lorries. Dry Powder extinguishers are specified because it is known that they are suitable for tackling fires of Class A (solids such as wood, paper or any carbonaceous materials), Class B (fires involving liquids) and Class C (fires involving gases) therefore they are commonly known to be the best fit for a vehicles fire safety needs.

Vehicle (max permissible mass) Minimum dry powder fire extinguisher provision
Up to 3.5 tonne 2kg for cab
plus 2 kg
Over 3.5 tonne and up to 7.5 tonne 2 kg for cab
Total 8 kg (usually one 6 kg but other provision is acceptable as long as there is one 6 kg)
Over 7.5 tonne 2 kg for cab
Total 12 kg (including at least one 6 kg)
Any vehicle carrying dangerous goods under the” small load” limit or carrying only infectious substances One 2 kg only
fire safety regulations for signs

Fire Safety Signs Regulations Summary

by with No Comment Rules and Regulations

The basic fire safety regulations for signs are as follows. According to this legislation, workplaces should follow the below stipulations:

  • All fire safety signs should clearly and effectively mark escape routes and exits
  • Fire doors and escape routes must be clearly marked
  • Signage must be displayed along an exit route
  • All fire safety signs should be illuminated
  • Escape route signs should feature direction arrows
  • Emergency exit signs above fire doors should not have arrows
  • All fire escape route signs should be in picture form
  • Braille and tactile fire safety signage should also be displayed
  • Signage should be visible from a distance and at an appropriate height
  • Employees should be trained in the use of fire extinguishers
  • Employees should be aware of the location fire alarms
  • Employees should be trained in what to do in the event of fire
  • All fire-fighting equipment must be clearly identified

What are the Fire Safety Signs?

Fire safety signs are designed to provide safety information, warnings about hazards, or to give information. Fire safety signs and symbols come in the different colours such as red, green, yellow or blue. In the fire safety regulations for signs it states how signs must be visible. Therefore quite often, fire safety signs are photo-luminescent so that they can be seen in the dark or through smoke.

There are four main categories of fire safety signs:

Fire Action Notice Signs

These signs provide information on what to do in case of fire. They will display the phone number of the fire brigade, what exits to use if there is a fire, where the assembly points are, and any additional information. Fire action notices must be displayed by fire alarms and at final exit doors.

Fire Exit, Fire Door and Fire Assembly Signs

Although some premises that have simple layouts may not require fire exit signs, they are mandatory for complex buildings. Some premises may require directional signs that show the shortest escape routes.

Fire doors must carry a sign that states: ‘Fire door, keep shut’. Some fire doors will require signage that provides instructions on how to open the door.

Fire assembly signs show where employees or inhabitants must gather once they have exited the building. The assembly point should be far enough away from the premises to avoid hazardous debris and ensure that the emergency services personnel can operate without hindrance. Assembly points should be accessible for old, young, or disabled people.

Fire Equipment and Fire Alarm Signs

If a fire breaks out, then employees will need to know what firefighting equipment they should use and where to access it. These signs will usually be affixed to the walls next to fire extinguishers or on the extinguishers stands themselves.

Fire alarm signs must be clearly positioned next to alarms and call-points. They will often have fire action notices next to them to provide information for the person who is raising the alarm.

Warning and Prohibition Signs

Warning signs alert employees to fire hazards on the premises. This can include flammable substances such as gas, chemicals or oil. Prohibition signs are used to stop people from engaging in activities that may heighten fire risks, for example, smoking or using naked flames. Warning and prohibition signs are often grouped together.

What do Blue Signs Mean in Fire Safety?

Blue safety signs contain information on mandatory actions that must be carried out to maintain fire safety. They are circular and feature white text or graphics.

What do Red Signs Mean in Fire Safety?

Red fire safety signs provide information on the location of firefighting equipment, supplementary information, or information on prohibited actions. Prohibition signs are circular with red borders, white backgrounds and black text and graphics. Fire equipment signs are square shaped with red backgrounds featuring white text and graphics.

What do Yellow Signs Mean in Fire Safety?

Yellow fire safety signs are warning signs that provide information on flammable substances in the immediate area. They are usually – although not always – triangular in shape with yellow backgrounds, black borders and black text and graphics.