Angus has been involved in developing and writing British and International Fire & Safety standards since the mid-1980s. The list of standards that he has participated in is impressive and includes BS5839-1, BS8629, EN54-18 and ISO7240-2. Angus utilises his extensive experience to provide an authoritative perspective on the key issues that affect the Fire & Security Industry today.
“It is the duty of the responsible person to ensure that extinguishers are maintained regularly by a competent person. Portable fire extinguishers are regarded as “life safety equipment” and a planned system of maintenance is intended to ensure that the equipment is:
- in an efficient working state (safe)
- in working order (reliable)
- in good repair (efficient)
- suitable for the hazard (fit for purpose).”
The British Standard for fire extinguishers, BS 5306-3 (Clause 6 - Table 1), states the maintenance intervals for each type of fire extinguisher.
Monthly Inspections of Fire Extinguishers
Monthly inspections can usually be carried out in-house by a member of the team. Checking fire extinguishers can be part of the regular fire safety procedures, along with checking access routes and testing your fire alarm.
You should check:
- The fire extinguisher is still present in its designated location
- No damage has occurred to the equipment
- No obstructions are blocking the equipment from view or from easy access
- The fire extinguisher is fully charged and operational
Fire extinguishers should also be routinely inspected by a competent service technician to ensure that they have not been discharged or lost pressure.
Annual Maintenance of Fire Extinguishers
BS 5306-8 (Clause 4.7) states “The extinguishers referred to in this part of BS 5306 should be commissioned, inspected, tested and maintained by a competent person in accordance with BS 5306-3”. A competent person should also replace fire extinguishers that are no longer usable with serviceable extinguishers.
An engineer during the fire extinguisher service will check:
- Condition and state of each fire extinguisher
- Expiry dates
- Condition of the pin and hose
- Signs of tampering
- Clarity of instructions and labelling
- Correct pressure and weight
Once the engineer is completed servicing of fire extinguishers, you will receive a report and the engineer will let you know if extinguishers need to be replaced.
It is noted in BS 5306-3 (Clause 11.4) that a fire log book should be kept by the person appointed for fire safety within a building for the purpose of recording all events that occur in respect of the extinguishers.
UK fire safety regulations require that all fire extinguishers must have an extended service every 5 years, in practice that means that the fire extinguishers will be replaced. In addition to carrying out the annual service, the engineers will check the internal and operating conditions during the extended service. The exception is CO2 fire extinguishers which need an extended service every 10 years.
Replacement can be done early in cases where fire extinguishers are damaged, used or worn out. Replacement should be done by properly trained professionals to ensure that all fire safety standards are met.
Your extinguishers will not be compliant with UK fire extinguisher legislation until they are commissioned. Checks during the commissioning process include checking the fire extinguishers have been appropriately assembled, the units are undamaged, hoses are attached correctly, and the units are of the right weight or pressure.
Fixfire® provides a professional Fire Extinguisher and portable Fire Fighting Equipment supply, installation and maintenance service. All works are carried out by our employed, uniformed, trained and accredited Fire Extinguisher engineers.
Works are completed in accordance with the following British Standards.
- BS5306 Part 3 – Commissioning and Maintenance of portable fire extinguishers
- BS 5306 Part 8 - Selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers
- BS5306 Part 9 - Recharging of portable fire extinguishers
Following each visit, a Certificate of Inspection is issued.
The Fixfire® Fire Log Book fits perfectly with our maintenance system and provides entries for engineer and user testing with dedicated sections for the storage of maintenance certificates.
Compliance with the current Fire Safety Law (Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) is a tall order and keeping tabs on due dates across multiple assessments, checks and inspections without missing something is a real challenge.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Serving & Maintenance? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 89199
Following the recommendations of BS5839 Part 1 2017 (Fire Alarm British Standard), it is a mandatory requirement to have an up to date, clear and accurate Fire Alarm Zone Chart adjacent to your Fire Alarm Control Panel and any repeater panels you have in your premises.
The purpose of the Zone Chart is to assist persons responding to an alarm to quickly identify the specific location in the building and to help the Fire Brigade understand the building layout before they enter.
When the Fire Alarm System is installed, the building is divided into Fire Zones. Any Manual Call Point (Red Box) or Fire Detector that is fitted will trigger a particular zone when activated.
The Zone Chart shows the division of each zone area with a ‘You are Here’ arrow to identify the position of the Fire Alarm Panel. The view of the building should be orientated in relation to the Fire Alarm Panel position to minimise confusion.
What is involved in producing a Zone Chart?
- Hard copy
- Or preferably AutoCAD (dwg) format
You have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste legitimately and safely via a licensed waste carrier. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if you have outsourced the disposal to a third party.
The Fixfire® Extinguisher Recycling Process is your reassurance that any Fire Extinguishers we remove from your premises have been disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 97% of each processed Fire Extinguisher is recycled.
Our contracted Extinguisher Recycling Unit (ERU) is a dedicated facility offering a service for the safe processing and recycling/disposal of fire extinguishers. The facility operates closely with the local Water Authority and the Environment Agency to develop safe, efficient and environmentally friendly processes, ensuring that ISO14001 certification is upheld.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Disposal? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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