The specific interval depends on the type of extinguisher and manufacturer recommendations, typically ranging from 5 to 12 years. At its core, regular maintenance ensures that the extinguisher will work correctly and efficiently in the event of a fire, which can potentially save lives and minimize property damage. Staying vigilant with inspections and scheduling professional servicing as recommended by manufacturers or regulatory standards ensures that the extinguisher is ready for use when needed. If your fire extinguisher has been flagged as faulty or it has expired and needs to be replaced you have to get in touch with the local fire authorities first to ask if they can help you with that. If they don’t offer such services, you should take your old fire extinguisher to a hazardous waste disposal site.
Examine the pressure gauge to ensure the needle is within the operable range. Overall, diligent fire extinguisher maintenance is a small investment that pays significant dividends in safety and security, underscoring its essential role in any comprehensive fire protection strategy. The P50 fire extinguishers come in foam, powder, and wet chemical varieties and boast a guaranteed Compliance Services lifespan of ten years. As no refilling is required for a whole decade, they ate the most economic and eco-friendly fire extinguishers on the market. In 2012, a new generation of service-free fire extinguishers was introduced. According to the official UK standard BS , if your fire extinguisher has a Britannia P50 kitemark, then you won’t need to call an engineer.
How Do I Know When To Service A Fire Extinguisher?
Regular servicing and maintenance ensure that fire extinguishers are in proper working condition and can effectively suppress fires when needed. Keane professional shop technicians perform all our own maintenance at our DOT certified facility in Waltham, MA. Keane has all the testing equipment including three powder rooms, a clean agent reclaiming room, a CO2 test cage, calibration equipment and a 25 ton CO2 tank at our facility. We will always change necessary parts to make sure the fire extinguisher operates correctly and the extinguisher is sealed properly to prevent leakage. Keane only uses manufacturer’s parts to protect the integrity of the extinguisher and the UL rating. If kept in very good condition, the life span of a portable fire extinguisher can be over 20+ years.
How Fire Extinguishers Expire
Failing to regularly service your fire extinguishers can put lives, property, and your business at serious risk. Even if an extinguisher looks fine on the outside, internal faults may cause it to fail when you need it most. Annual fire extinguisher servicing ensures your equipment is in full working order and ready to perform in the event of a fire. It’s also essential for maintaining compliance with your insurance and legal obligations.
Just like a car needs more than just a tire check, an extinguisher must be tested from the inside out. In one office, a CO2 extinguisher had lost 30% of its charge without anyone noticing. A quick weight check during servicing uncovered the problem, preventing a potential failure. Each environment demands a specific type of extinguisher—Water, Foam, CO2, Dry Powder, or Wet Chemical. Ensure the nozzle is free of blockages and securely attached to the hose.
This is to ensure that the fire extinguishers are in good working order. † The extinguishers agent in liquid charge-type AFFF and FFFP extinguishers is replaced every three years and internal examination (teardown) is normally conducted at that time. The agent is solid charge type AFFF extinguishers is replaced every 5 years during the periodic hydrostatic test and teardown is done at that time. “The employer shall be responsible for the inspection, maintenance and testing of all portable fire extinguishers in the workplace.” While the average extinguisher is a relatively simple device ensuring it meets NFPA 10 can be complex.