Here’s some answers to the questions we are commonly asked by clients. If there is anything we’ve missed or you want to know more, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our team.

Although not legally enforceable, BS5306 the British Standard for Fire Extinguishers offers a guide on the recommended extinguisher cover that is required for commercial properties.  Most insurance companies and fire inspectors will require a minimum level of fire safety is adhered to at all times, making servicing of your extinguishers a vital part of your safety record.  The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order mandates that fire extinguishers in commercial properties and legally required locations must be maintained by a competent person annually.

According to BS5306 part 3, fire extinguishers should be visually inspected on a monthly basis by the "Responsible Person" on site and an annual Basic Service completed by a "Competent Person", ie. qualified technician.

Fire extinguisher testing must be carried out by a "Competent Person", which is a certified fire safety engineer who is trained to inspect, service, and maintain extinguishers according to British Standards.

There are some simple initial checks you can do to see if your extinguishers need to be serviced or replaced. These can include:

  • Corrosion or visible damage to the body

  • Missing or broken safety pins / tamper tags

  • Low pressure reading on gauge

  • Expired service date on service label

Our engineers can advise if a replacement is required during the servicing process.

We complete comprehensive commercial fire extinguisher checks and servicing for all businesses, schools, hospitality venues, retailers, and more for:

  • Water extinguishers

  • Foam extinguishers

  • CO₂ extinguishers

  • Dry powder extinguishers

  • Wet chemical extinguishers

A number of new fire extinguishers are now available, which although are not always recognised as meeting BS5306, can still be serviced in line with the standards. Our Engineers can offer further advice on these and recommend alternative coverage if needed.

Of course, the servicing process does not require the discharge of the extinguisher, so will normally cause limited disruption on site. Extinguishers that have reached the end of their service life will require being replaced or having an Extended Service, which can be completed off site at your convenience.

Yes. After completing the service, we provide a fire extinguisher service certificate as proof of compliance (if applicable), which can be shown to fire inspectors or insurance providers. If remedial works are required a certificate can still be provided, although it will state what works are required to meet the British Standards.

Fire extinguishers can fail a service for a number of reasons (as above). Our Engineers will recommend a programme of works to bring your site back in line with BS5306 and can explain in detail why the extinguisher has failed.

The cost depends on the number and type of extinguishers and your location. Our unique pricing structure rewards building a long standing relationship with our clients, where you pay less the longer you are with us. Speak to one of our representatives for more information.

UK fire extinguisher regulations are intrinsically linked to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which states that businesses must have a ‘Responsible Person’ responsible for fire safety.

This includes ensuring the fire extinguishers are in good condition which is where we come in. For more information, please see the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.