Annual fire extinguisher inspections are a legal requirement. But who should be responsible for this important task in your business?
Maintenance is important to ensure fire extinguishers are in good working order and can be used effectively in the event of a fire. There are different types of servicing that can be carried out, from simple visual inspections to more comprehensive tests. Let’s break down who inspects fire extinguishers annually.
Fire Extinguishers and the Law
If your business is based in England, Scotland or Wales, you’re legally required to have fire extinguishers and an appropriate fire safety strategy in place. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (referred to as the RRO) stipulates that business owners must carry out a fire risk assessment and take steps to mitigate any risks. This may include installing fire extinguishers and ensuring they’re properly maintained.
The RRO requires workplaces to have the appropriate fire safety and fire-fighting equipment available. That fire safety equipment needs to be installed, commissioned and maintained by what the RRO calls “a competent person”. The maintenance will vary depending on the kind of fire extinguisher, but most will require a basic service once a year and extended service (or an overhaul) every five to 10 years.
You can find out more in our guide to how often fire extinguishers should be checked at work.
The confusion comes when considering who should inspect fire extinguishers as regular monthly checks also need to be carried out. That visual inspection should be part of your fire safety checklist and needs to be carried out by a “responsible person”.
So, the key takeaways are that:
- Annual inspections of your workplace fire extinguishers should be carried out by a competent, trained specialist.
- Monthly checks can be conducted by anyone within your organisation who has been taught what to look for. In many organisations, that responsible person will be the designated fire marshall.
Whether you delegate this task to a fire marshall or conduct monthly checks yourself, you need to ensure that whoever conducts those monthly inspections has the necessary knowledge to do so.
Annual checks are much more thorough, so it’s common to use a third-party fire extinguisher specialist who inspects fire extinguishers annually. However, there is currently no law prohibiting anyone from calling themselves a fire extinguisher expert, so you could be stuck with an amateur who could put your business at risk.
What to Look For in a Fire Extinguisher Technician?
If you’re planning to use a fire safety company to carry out your annual extinguisher checks, there are some important trade associations and third-party certifications to keep an eye out for. If a fire safety firm has the following listed on their website, you know that you’re in competent, expert hands:
British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE)
BAFE is the independent third-party certification registration body for fire extinguisher maintenance companies. To become registered with BAFE, fire extinguisher servicing companies must meet high standards for quality and safety. So when you use a fire extinguisher company registered with BAFE, you can be sure they are providing a high-quality service.
BAFE also offers continuous professional development for its registered fire extinguisher servicing companies, so you can be confident they are always up-to-date with the latest fire safety information.
ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Certification
The ISO 9001 Quality Assurance certification is an international standard that fire extinguisher servicing companies must adhere to. To obtain this certification, fire extinguisher servicing companies must meet rigorous standards for quality control and customer service.
As a result, choosing a fire extinguisher company that is ISO 9001 certified is the best way to ensure that your fire extinguishers are well-maintained by professionals.
Fire Protection Agency (FPA)
The Fire Protection Association (FPA) is a leading authority in the field, providing research, consultancy, training, publications and risk surveying and auditing services. If a fire extinguisher company is accredited by the FPA, it’s a good sign.
Fire Industry Association (FIA)
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) is the leading trade association for the fire protection industry in the UK. With over 600 member companies, they represent the interests of manufacturers, distributors, installers and inspectors. The FIA works closely with the government and other key stakeholders to ensure fire safety is given the attention it deserves. They provide members with a wide range of resources to help them run their businesses effectively.
Protect Your Business with Professionals
If you’re looking for a fire safety company to carry out your annual fire extinguisher servicing, always ensure they have the above qualifications. The company should also have insurance in case anything goes wrong during the servicing. If a company ticks all these boxes, you can be confident they’re qualified to carry out your annual fire extinguisher servicing.
However, if you’re still unsure, don’t hesitate to ask for references from businesses that have used their services before. By taking the time to do your research, you can be sure you’re choosing a reputable and reliable company to service your fire extinguishers every year. After all, you can have the most in-depth, thorough fire safety maintenance plan in place, but if you cut corners on servicing your fire extinguishers, you’re putting your business at risk.
Is It Time for Your Annual Fire Extinguisher Service?
Maintaining a fire extinguisher is not difficult, but it is important to ensure it is properly serviced. A well-serviced fire extinguisher can make the difference between a small fire and a devastating one. An improperly-serviced fire extinguisher could fail at the worst time.
It’s simply not worth the risk.
At Astoria Fire and Security, we are specialists in installing, maintaining and servicing workplace fire extinguishers in London. We understand that fire safety is of the utmost importance in any business, and we are dedicated to helping our clients ensure their premises are safe.
We even offer a free site survey, where we inspect your business premises and let you know what you’re doing right (and wrong) in terms of fire safety. So if you want to protect your business from fire risks, schedule your free site survey today, and let us help keep your business protected.