Maintenance of fire extinguishers is essential. Not only is it a legal requirement but as extinguishers play such a crucial part in putting fires out before they get out of hand, it’s vital that they work, if and when, they’re needed.

With proper servicing and maintenance carried out on a regular basis, fire extinguishers should last for 5-8 years before they need replacing.

How often should fire extinguishers be serviced?

Fire extinguishers should be maintained:

• When delivered (commissioning service)
• Monthly (on site by designated person or professional)
• Annually (by a professional)

Commissioning service

This is an initial examination and service of the extinguisher to check for any signs of damage. It’s important that this takes place after delivery, in case of any damage caused in transit. If your newly purchased extinguisher does not come with a service tag and tamper seal it will be required to have one, which will need to be provided by a professional inspector.

Monthly fire extinguisher maintenance

It’s highly recommended to carry out regular fire extinguisher inspections on a monthly basis. These checks assure the extinguisher is working as it should between annual services. These assessments can be undertaken by a designated member of your staff since no special training is needed. Records should be kept of each inspection in a special log book.

Things to look out for when carrying out a monthly fire extinguisher maintenance check:

• The extinguisher has no visible signs of damage, wear and tear.
• It is installed in the correct place it was intended and easily visible if needed.
• The needle of the extinguisher’s pressure gauge is in the green zone. (This means it is working fine).
• Check the extinguisher hose for dirt or impediments, especially with outside locations or extinguishers on vehicles or trailers.
• Anti-tamper seals are present and have not been broken and your inspection tag is also current and visible.
• Appropriate labelling and operating instructions are on the extinguisher.

How can you tell if a fire extinguisher needs servicing or replacing?

If you discover any of the following during your fire extinguisher inspection, you should consult a professional who will need to service and repair or replace the faulty extinguisher:

• The extinguisher is damaged, e.g. hose or nozzle is cracked, ripped or blocked.
• If the handle is wobbly or broken.
• The pressure gauge needle is outside of the green zone. (This means the extinguisher will need servicing immediately).
• Locking pin is missing or anti-tamper seal is broken.
• Inspection tag is out of date.
• Appropriate labelling and operating instructions are missing.

All fire extinguishers should be labelled with details of their last inspection; if this is not present you should have the extinguisher checked over by a professional.

Annual fire extinguisher maintenance

The most detailed and thorough examination of your fire extinguisher will take place during its annual servicing.

Within annual servicing the extinguisher may be due an extended service during which it will be emptied; the inside will be inspected before it is then refilled. A discharge test would also be conducted to ensure the extinguisher discharges correctly.

After the service, the label must be updated with the date the maintenance took place, the weight of the extinguisher, the technician who carried out the service, when the next discharge test is due, and any other additional comments raised during the examination.

Fire extinguisher maintenance plans

Peace of mind is important, particularly when dealing with the threat of fire. Proper maintenance of all extinguishers on your premises is essential. Titan Safety Solutions offers fire extinguisher maintenance plans, which are the most sensible and cost-effective option if you have multiple fire extinguishers on site. At Titan Safety, our technicians will come to you, bringing our service trailer on-site for inspection and service, servicing most brands of ABC extinguishers, as well as Foam and Purple K.