Fire extinguishers are essential fire safety products, yet for some reason, they’re often overlooked until they’re needed in an emergency. The question that lingers at the back of the mind for many, however, is what if, when the moment comes, your extinguisher doesn’t work?

As with most things, regular maintenance is essential to ensure fire extinguishers function properly. Regardless of whether you have one CO2 fire extinguisher or multiple dry powder extinguishers, neglecting simple routine inspections can result in an extinguisher failing to discharge or not operating effectively, putting lives and property at risk.

In this guide, we’ll cover how often fire extinguishers should be checked, the types of inspections required, plus some of the regulations and best practices to ensure your fire safety equipment is always ready to perform when the heat is on.

When should fire extinguishers be inspected?

Regardless of the type of fire extinguisher (powder, CO2, wet chemical, etc.), they all require three key types of inspections to ensure they remain operational:

• Routine user checks: According to the British Standard for fire extinguishers, BS 5306-3, fire extinguishers should be visually checked at least once a month by the premises owner or a responsible person. This quick assessment ensures there are no obvious issues that could affect its performance
• Professional annual maintenance: A full maintenance check by a qualified professional is required annually to comply with fire safety regulations, ensuring that the extinguisher is fully operational has the correct pressure level and weight, and seals are intact. This is known as a ‘basic service’.
• Extended servicing: In addition to the annual basic service, under BS 5306-3:2017, extinguishers should also have either an ‘extended service’ or an ‘overhaul’, depending on the type of extinguisher. CO2 extinguishers require an overhaul every 10 years, whilst all other types need an extended service every 5 years. This service must also be carried out by a qualified professional.

What to look for during a monthly extinguisher check

Monthly inspections don’t require specialist knowledge but are crucial in spotting any early signs of damage or malfunction that have the potential to develop into something more serious.

Here’s a guide to what you should be checking:

• Pressure gauge: Ensure the needle is in the green zone. If it’s in the red, the extinguisher either has too little or too much pressure and may not work properly.
• Tamper seals and pins: The safety pin should be intact with the tamper seal unbroken
• Physical damage: Look for any dents, leaks, rust or signs of corrosion on the body or hose
• Clear markings: The markings and instructions should be present, visible and easy to read
• Accessibility: The extinguisher should be in its designated location and free from obstructions (i.e. securely fixed to a wall using a bracket or placed in an extinguisher stand)

If any of these issues are found, you should arrange for a qualified extinguisher technician to service your extinguisher to bring it back to working condition (or replace it, depending on the severity of the issue).

What is involved in professional servicing, and why is it necessary?

A qualified fire extinguisher technician will conduct an annual maintenance check, which typically includes:

• Checking the extinguisher’s weight and pressure
• Inspecting for signs of wear, corrosion, or leaks that may not have been identified in monthly manual checks
• Ensuring the hose and nozzle are clean and undamaged
• Confirmation that the safety pin and tamper seal are secure
• Turning the extinguisher or agitating the contents to prevent powder from settling (in the case of a dry powder extinguisher)

This annual extinguisher servicing, known as a basic service, ensures that each of your extinguishers complies with UK fire safety standards and remains effective in an emergency.

Even with maintenance, when should a fire extinguisher be replaced?

Fire extinguishers don’t last forever, even with regular maintenance. Their lifespan always depends on the type of extinguisher and whether or not it has been used and/or refilled during its lifetime, but a good rule of thumb for when to replace an extinguisher is:

• Foam, powder and water extinguishers: Replace after 5 years (unless extended servicing is performed at this point)
• CO2 extinguishers: Require hydrostatic testing every 10 years and will need replacing if they fail the test
• Lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers: Service at least annually and discharge-tested every 5 years to check the actual functioning by a trained, competent person in the use of AVD. As the newest addition to the range of extinguishers, the recommendation for replacement is currently every 5 to 10 years but this may vary depending on the manufacturer.

If an extinguisher has visible damage, fails an inspection, or has been discharged (even partially), it must be replaced immediately.

Legal requirements and industry best practice

In the UK, fire safety regulations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 require businesses to:

• Maintain all fire extinguishers to good working order
• Conduct a fire risk assessment and review it regularly
• Ensure extinguishers are easily accessible and clearly marked

For commercial and public buildings, failure to comply can result in fines or legal action.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Despite maintenance checks on fire extinguishers seeming fairly routine, there are still a number of common but easily avoidable mistakes that get made in businesses of all sizes. Here are a few examples and how to ensure they don’t happen to you:

• Forgetting to perform monthly checks: These inspections help to identify issues early. Set a monthly calendar reminder to go around the whole building and check your extinguishers
• Ignoring signs of damage: Rust, leaks, or missing safety pins all indicate problems. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem, always arrange a service if anything looks sub-standard.
• Incorrect placement and poor accessibility: Extinguishers must be positioned between 1m and 1.5m from the floor in easily accessible locations. It’s amazing how many extinguishers are either placed on the floor or located in areas that may not be accessible in the case of a fire (such as a store cupboard). Ensure that your extinguishers are positioned correctly (either wall-mounted or on a fire extinguisher stand) and that they are easily accessible for all employees and are not blocked by doors, boxes, furniture or other items
• Lack of training: Ensure employees know where the extinguishers are located and how to use them in case of an emergency. They should also know which extinguisher to use on specific types of fire

Final fire safety tips and considerations

Fire safety doesn’t stop at routine or professional extinguisher checks. You should also consider these additional precautions:

• Install fire blankets: Small and sleek, these are ideal for kitchen and electrical fires
• Use commercial smoke and heat alarms: Early detection saves lives and this is vital in commercial settings where a fire in one building could spread to another
• Create a fire evacuation plan: Ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency including which exits to use and where to assemble

Remember, fire extinguishers are only effective if they’re well-maintained. By checking them monthly, servicing them annually, and replacing them, when necessary, you ensure that they’re always ready to protect you.

Act today by:

• Checking your extinguisher now while it’s fresh in your mind
• Schedule your annual fire safety servicing if you haven’t done so already
• Upgrade to high-quality, environmentally friendly extinguishers

Firechief® provides a full range of fire safety solutions and you can explore our products here​. For more fire safety advice and expert recommendations, follow Firechief® Global on LinkedIn, or if you have any questions at all about standards or our products, get in touch with the team today.

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Disclaimer

The information contained within this blog is provided solely for general informational and educational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Before taking any actions based upon this information, we advise the reader to consult any and all relevant statutory or regulatory guidance and where felt necessary to consult a qualified fire or industry regulation professional. The use or reliance on any information contained herein is solely at the reader's risk.