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.
Fire Fighting Equipment should be serviced annually in accordance with BS5306. To ensure that Fire Extinguishers are in good working order, they must have:
- A commissioning service
- An annual service
- An extended service or be replaced every 5 years
Note: The exception to the 5-year replacement are CO2 Fire Extinguishers which should be “hydraulically tested” on a 10-yearly basis.
Fire Extinguisher Commissioning
Fire Extinguishers do not come ready commissioned because they could be damaged, discharged or have lost pressure during delivery. Therefore, BS 5306 part 3 recommends that Fire Extinguishers are commissioned on-site by a competent person.
BS 5306-3 (Clause 5.1) states “All extinguishers should be subject to commissioning on initial positioning. The commissioning of an extinguisher should be carried out by a competent person. Upon removal from its packaging and transit protection, and immediately prior to placing in its designated place, the extinguisher should undergo the sequence of commissioning service actions taking into account the safety precautions. Upon completion of the above procedures the extinguisher should then be installed and positioned in accordance with BS 5306-8”.
Fire Extinguishers should be regularly checked by the nominated person to make sure that appliances are in their proper position and have not been tampered with. Your monthly inspection should provide a good indication of the overall health of the Fire Extinguishers.
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
However, if a Fire Extinguisher is damaged or unable to be used safely, it should be replaced immediately. If the Fire Extinguisher has been discharged, it is to be recharged or replaced and the used fire extinguisher returned to your service provider for refilling and re-issuing. Fire Extinguishers should also be routinely inspected by a competent service technician to ensure they have not been discharged or lost pressure.
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 annually”. A competent person should also replace fire extinguishers that are no longer usable with serviceable extinguishers.
Fire Extinguisher Extended Service or Replacement
The British Standard sets out works which should be completed for an extended service which applies to water, foam and dry powder Fire Extinguishers which should be tested by discharge on a 5-yearly basis.
Dry powder and foam type Fire Extinguishers are not suitable for test discharging on site for environmental reasons. These appliances are therefore replaced on a new-exchange basis. This approach means that works can usually be completed in one visit.
The new-exchange system means that Fixfire® provides a new warrantied extinguisher of the same type and remove the existing extinguisher which is due for extended service.
We maintain record cards for each site, which detail the location, age and type of each Fire Extinguisher. This information enables us to predict ‘extended service’ work prior to each visit so we can come prepared.
Following each inspection, we issue a Service Report and Certificate of Inspection.
Got a question about Fire Extinguishers? 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
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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