Fire Extinguisher servicing, maintenances and refills

It is Vital that you carry out regular visual safety inspections of your fire safety equipment. Please ensure that fire extinguishers are unobstructed and clearly visible. You, or your appointed fire warden, should also check that the extinguisher\'s tamper proof seal is in place and the internal pressure is at an acceptable level. Annual fire extinguisher maintenance is also a legal requirement under Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order. Completing the above checks once a month will ensure your fire extinguishers are properly functioning in the event of a fire, however your extinguishers will also require servicing every 12 months.

At least once a month (more often in severe environments) you should inspect your extinguisher. Ensure that:

• The extinguisher is not blocked by equipment, coats or other objects that could interfere with access in an emergency.
• The pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguishers equipped with a gauge that means the needle should be in the green zone - not too high and not too low.
• The nozzle or other parts are not obstructed.
• The pin and tamper seal (if it has one) are intact.
• There are no dents, leaks, rust, chemical deposits and other signs of abuse/wear. Wipe off any corrosive chemicals, oil, gunk etc. that may have landed on the extinguisher.
• Some manufacturers recommend shaking your dry chemical extinguishers once a month to prevent the powder from settling/packing.

Knowledge of the procedures to operate fire extinguishers is important to enable swift reaction to a developing fire, before it becomes to big to handle. Apparatuses containing powder or CO2 are ideal to deal with beginning fires. These apparatuses are abundant in the laboratories. Please note they are effective only when used to extinguish small scale fires or developing fires. Powder is forced out under pressure and forms a dense cloud around the burning mass. The powder contains approximately 80% of NaHCO3. When in contact with fire, it dissociates in CO2 and H2O, thus depleting the surrounding atmosphere from the oxygen necessary to sustain the fire and at the same time lowering the temperature by absorbing energy to dissociate. In addition, a layer of powder will be deposited on the mass. Direct contact with the surrounding air becomes impossible, thus preventing re-ignition of the fuel. Powder fire extinguishers have a range of 6 to 8 meters, but the nozzle should not be more than 3 to 4 meters away from the fire to be effective. Move the apparatus to the fire and pull or push down the safety pin to pressurize the extinguisher. Approach the fire as close as possible (dependent on the type and intensity of the fire) under the lee Ascertain an open escape route is available in case of need. Point the hose at the base of the flames and activate the lever. Use an uninterrupted jet of powder for Class B liquid fires and intermittent bursts of powder for Class A solid fires, Under the protection of the powder cloud in front approach the fire to enhance the effectiveness of the method.

CO2-apparatuses don\'t leave traces as do powder types. Hence they are more suitable to deal with fires in rooms containing sensitive measuring and control equipment, communication devices and the like. Powder spread over the room requires thorough and expensive cleaning. CO2 is an inert gas and disappears in the atmosphere. CO2 extinguishers have a limited effective range of approximately 1.5 meters, forcing the operator to approach the fire closely. In the case of electrical fires where heavy smoke prevents the operator from clearly distinguishing where exactly the fire source is located the risk of electrocution by inadvertent contact of the metal funnel with live leads turns this method inappropriate. CO2 extinguishers contain CO2 gas under a pressure of approximately 60 kg/cm2. When released to atmospheric pressure, the temperature of the gas drops to -79°C. This temperature drop has a twofold effect. CO2 extinguishers are powerful weapons. Never engage in horseplay or point the funnels to people or people\'s faces. CO2 snow can freeze human tissue and cause wounds comparable to third degree burns On the one hand, the temperature of the burning mass can be lowered beneath the ignition temperature of the fuel, thus extinguishing the fire. More importantly however, CO2 gas is inert and heavier than air, so it displaces the source of oxygen to the fire and builds a protective blanket over the fuel. Move the apparatus to the fire and remove the safety pin from the handle. Approach the fire as close as possible (dependent on the type and intensity of the fire) under the lee Ascertain an open escape route is available in case of need. Point the horn at the base of the flames from a distance of approximately 1.5 meters and activate the lever. Do not fire the gas jet from too close a distance at especially Class B liquid fires, as this may result in fuel splattering and fire propagation to adjacent areas. Always apply an uninterrupted jet of gas.

Water acts as a coolant. It has the most pronounced cooling effect of all extinguishing means through its high specific heat and low boiling point of 100°C. It succeeds in dropping the fuel temperature to below the ignition temperature, thus preventing further propagation of fire. Evaporation of water requires lots of energy to be delivered by the burning mass. Spraying water is more efficient than jetting, because a larger amount of water can come into contact with the fire and extract heat from it.

Also it was recognised that extinguishers now come from a wide range of new sources, in addition to the traditional supply route of the fire extinguisher manufacturers and suppliers. The Internet now plays an increasing role in the sale of portable fire extinguishers. The Fire Safety Order places an onus on the responsible person to ensure that fire protection equipment installed is fit for purpose and maintained (more about this later) – this is from day one. Also, suppression systems and fire alarm systems are commissioned to ensure that what is installed meets the original design and actually works when required. Portable fire extinguishers should not be any different and most fire companies installing portables have been doing this for a number of years now. The standard reflects this and sets out the steps to be taken when installing a new extinguisher. This should give the customer more assurance that what is installed will do what it is supposed to, when it is needed.

What the standard says, in short, is this step should be carried out by a competent person and immediately prior to placing the extinguisher in its designated place. The committee recognised that under the Fire Safety Order the responsible person (previously referred to as the user) has far more wide-ranging responsibilities. The standard provides additional guidance for the responsible person: this now includes a check for missing parts, a requirement that results are recorded, and, if they have any doubts, the responsible person is guided to consult a competent person. Furthermore, again to ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Order, the responsible person is required to advise the competent person of changes likely to affect extinguisher cover.

Having identified some of the most notable changes, we\'ll now go through the standard as a reader would, from front to back, highlighting the most significant changes. With the addition of the new commissioning step, there are now five service stages instead of four, starting with ‘commissioning\' moving through ‘basic\' and ‘extended\' to ‘overhaul\' and ‘recharge\'. Basic service intervals now have a tolerance of 12 months plus or minus a month – this allows for the fact it\'s never possible to always attend on the same day every year. It also avoids the embarrassing comment "well you came on the 12th last year so you\'re late."

At the basic service there is now a requirement to carry out a weight check on all extinguishers – there is no longer exclusion for cartridge operated extinguishers. There has been quite a bit of change to extended services which again, now have a tolerance on the intervals. For water, water based and powder the extended service should be carried out five years from date of commissioning or six years from date of manufacture, whichever is sooner. For primary sealed powder extinguishers it\'s ten years from date of commissioning or 11 years from date of manufacture, whichever is sooner.

Firstly there is now a new definition of a plastics head cap, which is: "component manufactured from plastics designed to retain working pressure upon actuation of an extinguisher. Note: This includes plastics headcaps retained by a metal collar, but excludes metal headcaps which have a plastics shroud where the plastics component does not retain working pressure." At extended service, as a safety precaution, the standard states that you should replace plastics head caps at the end of the service before re-assembly of the extinguisher. As a further safety step, it also states that if you have any concerns about the head, for example it\'s been painted or there are obvious signs of UV degradation, then you replace the head cap before you carry out the test discharge.

There is now quite a bit of guidance on labelling and marking and what you should do if you are unsure about labels or markings on the extinguisher. In a competitive market everyone wishes to put their mark in the best view to the customer: BS 5306-3 makes it very clear, however, that distributor and service provider labels should not obscure any marking required by EN 3.The standard also requires the maintenance label (this was called the maintenance record in the 2000 version) to have the full postal address of the service provider and a statement that the extinguisher has been serviced to BS 5306-3. This latter bit allows responsible persons to show they are complying with their legal responsibilities.

The maintenance report should include information on providing permanent replacements for extinguishers that have been condemned, not maintained or are missing. In addition, it should give guidance if the coverage in a building needs to be improved; the service technician is seen as the best person to advise the client about these issues. Information on the certificate of inspection that was previously covered in the BAFE schemes has been added. This includes:

• Name, postal address and telephone number
• Date of inspection
• ID of technician
• List of all extinguishers serviced and those non-conforming
• Signature of the responsible person (Note, not technician)
• Statement that the service is to BS 5306-3

There has nearly always been confusion about CE marking and what you should do if you don\'t see the mark. The standard has addressed this and gives clear guidance that if the extinguisher was manufactured post-2002 and it has no CE mark, then you condemn it. If asked, the reason is it does not comply with UK law. It should be noted that this does not apply to refurbished extinguishers. The new standard acknowledges that extinguishers made to older standards than EN3 are still in service. These are acceptable as long as they remain serviceable and are marked with a fire rating. Those which do not have a fire rating should not be included when calculating the coverage recommended in BS 5306-8.

The new standard provides guidance on halon extinguishers – yes they are still out there for some specific critical uses, although these exemptions are under review by the European Commission and a timetable has been proposed for the withdrawal of the exemptions. The standard informs the reader that in order to handle such extinguishers, the service technician must have the qualification stated in the UK Ozone Depleting Substances (Minimum Qualifications) Regulations.

For the home a fire blanket and a 2kg CO2 extinguisher in the kitchen, would be considered satisfactory for most situations. The domestic tap using a suitable container or a hose reel is satisfactory for most of the class A fires in the home but remember if in doubt, get out and always call the fire service out. Commercial organisation\'s need to be more professional by conducting a survey to ascertain the number and type of extinguisher that is required and a more substantial fire extinguishing capability will be required. The ratings of the extinguisher should be used to calculate the number and type of extinguishers required.

Extinguishers should normally be sited on escape routes and in similar locations on all floors forming groups to create ‘fire points’.They should be fixed in a location where the extinguisher can be reached quickly. The best place is near a door leading to a place of safety, on an escape route or adjacent to a specific risk. They should be fixed where they can be easily seen, fixing them inside cupboards or behind doors will only waste valuable time if a fire breaks out. Do not place them over cookers or heaters or in places of extreme temperatures hot or cold. The additional following factors should also be considered when siting fire extinguishers.

• Extinguishers should be fixed at an elevated height so that the carrying handle is, 1m from the floor for heavier units and 1.5m for smaller units.
• For special risks hey should adjacent to the risk but not too close to prevent use in the event of fire occurring.
• They should be near the door, in shallow recesses, and away from extremes of temperature.
• Ensure a maximum 30m traveling distance from a fire to an extinguisher.
• The method of operation should be similar for all extinguishers, where possible.
• The occupiers should be capable of handling all the types and sizes recommended.
• Where different types of extinguishers for different risk types are sited together they must be properly labeled to prevent confusion.
• Extinguishers should br fitted with suitable jet or spray nozzles or flexible hoses to suit the risk involved.

Extinguishers to be serviced to the latest standard. The manufacturers instructions will tell you what you need to do to keep your extinguisher in good working order. After an extinguisher has been used, even if only partially, it must be recharged according to the manufacturers instructions. The extinguisher should be properly serviced once a year.

Which Fire Extinguishers should I Install?

Offices, In a standard office, the usual combination is CO2 and Water. CO2 covers the electrical equipment present and water covers the carpets, curtains, paper, wood and general materials.

Warehouse, Depending on what is being stored, water would usually be the first choice, as it has the length of throw required to reach the top of any high stacked goods. CO2 would then be the ideal second choice for any electrical equipment present.

Industrial Premises This will depend on the types of substances stored or used at the premises. In general terms, dry powder and foam would be the obvious choices, with CO2 being installed to cover specific electrical risks (intake etc.). Dry powder is ideal for heavy machinery as well as substances which react violently with water, and foam will be ideal for any general materials or flammable liquid fires / spillages.

Industrial Kitchens, In industrial kitchens, the fire extinguishers installed will depend on the method of cooking. CO2 is recommended for electrical apparatus, Dry Powder is recommended for flammable gas (gas ovens) and Wet Chemical extinguishers are recommended for frying oil. At least one 1.2 metre square fire blanket should also be installed.

Home, In general terms, a 1Kg or 2 Kg Dry Powder extinguisher should be ideal for use in the home, and should be located in the kitchen. This extinguisher will deal with any fire in a standard home safely, and can be used on wood, paper and general material, flammable liquid, flammable gas and electrical equipment. This should be supplemented by a fire blanket.

Car, 1 or 2 Kg Dry Powder extinguisher should be ideal for use in the car. Car extinguisher mountings are also available for purchase from this site.

Where Should Fire Extinguishers be Installed?

In the workplace, fire extinguishers should be positioned at exits, with the exception of CO2 which should be positioned near the equipment it is employed to cover.

In the home, all fire extinguishers / blankets should be positioned near the exit from the kitchen.

In the car, fire extinguishers should be positioned either under or next to the front seats.

Any extinguisher with a major defect or defects which make it unsafe for use, and which cannot be rectified during maintenance, should immediately be made safe, removed from its designated place, and marked “CONDEMNED” together with the reason for this assessment. The responsible person should be advised in the written report that a permanent replacement is needed as soon as possible. Evaluation of whether the damage, wear or corrosion an extinguisher has undergone make it unsafe for use or unfit for servicedepends on the judgement of the competent person. The competent person should have training and experience with the particular model of extinguisher.

The following conditions do not affect the function or safety of an extinguisher and will not therefore require the extinguisher to be condemned:

• a) staining or discoloration of linings or diptubes;
• b) external blemishes or slight scratches; c) light rusting of parts which is not likely to impair function or safety;
• d) the presence of corrosion products from any metal lining (typicallywhite salts of zinc, or tin and lead).

Potentially the most serious hazard presented by a defective extinguisher is the sudden uncontrolled release of pressure or ejection of parts. This could be caused by any of the following conditions:

• a) corrosion, wear or damage to threads of any pressure retaining part;
• b) corrosion of welds;
• c) extensive general corrosion or severe pitting;
• d) dents or gouges in the body;
• e) fire damage to the body or body fittings;
• f) any split in a plastics lining;
• g) lifting or detachment of a plastics lining from the body;
• h) corrosion of the metal body under a plastics lining;
• i)corrosion of the metal body under a zinc or tin/lead lining.

Additional reasons for condemning an extinguisher include the following (unless rectified by the replacement of the appropriate components):

• 1) overpainting or application of any other coating, film or colouring to any plastics component that could be subject to pressure;
• 2) UV degradation of plastics components;
• 3) illegible marking or operating instructions;
• 4) instructions not in English.

When undertaking maintenance in a particular location, the competent person should ensure that they have available the number and types of spare parts that might be required to service the extinguishers involved. If the required spare parts are not available for any of these extinguishers, the maintenance should be interrupted and the extinguisher made safe, removed from its designated place and marked “NOT MAINTAINED”, together with the reason for this assessment; and the competent person should advise the responsible person, in the written report (see 9.4.1), that the maintenance has been interrupted. The competent person should return to the site with the spare parts and complete the maintenance, or, if the parts prove to be unobtainable, should mark the extinguisher “CONDEMNED” together with the reason for this assessment, and should advise the responsible person, in the written report (see 9.4.1), that the extinguisher has been condemned and that it should be replaced by an extinguisher for which this standard provides a maintenance schedule.

Before any powder extinguisher is opened it should be ascertained that, during inspection and maintenance, the precautions will be observed. Only extinguishers containing the same type of powder should be opened and examined at any one time. It is especially important that mixing or cross-contamination of different types of powder be avoided. Some mixtures can react, sometimes after a long delay, producing water and carbon dioxide with consequent caking of the dry powder and, in closed containers, a pressure rise. This rise in pressure could cause the extinguisher to explode.

Powder extinguishers should be opened only in dry conditions, and for the minimum time necessary for examination, to minimize the effect of atmospheric moisture on the powder. Powder can absorb harmful amounts of moisture if exposed to air of high relative humidity, or if the powder is colder than the ambient air. Powder refills should only be opened immediately before use, and bulk refills should be resealed immediately after use, to reduce the possibility of contamination or absorption of moisture from the atmosphere. Re-using powder should be avoided as re-used powder can eventually become lumpy and interrupt the flow of powder when the extinguisher is operated In addition, each filling machine should be used with only one type of powder.

We provide fire extinguisher service and maintenance checks throughout all counties by BAFE and FETA qualified service technicians.