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Category: Guides

Your Guide To Fire Safety Risk Assessments

Fire safety risk assessments are a legal requirement for all businesses with premises. The responsible person, who in most cases is the business owner, is required by law to ensure the implementation and maintenance of the safety of all employees, customers, clients and any potential visitors. When it comes to mitigating the risk of a fire, the employer has a responsibility to complete all necessary risk assessments demonstrating that any potential hazard has been carefully considered. 

As no stone can be left unturned when it comes to fire safety, there can be a lot of factors to inspect and no room for error. With so many people’s safety at stake, fire safety risk assessments are not to be taken lightly. That being said, it is simple to lose track of the process without the proper management. Therefore, it is paramount that fire safety risk assessment templates are understood and followed during the assessment.

What Is A Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

The long-short of a fire safety risk assessment is to keep people safe. It aims to outline all the possible risks, from a fire prevention perspective, that face all the people within your premises. This documentation aims to cover all the bases; for every risk, there is a process in place to reduce the effect of this playing out. 

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

On 1st October 2006, The Fire Safety Order 2005 came into effect. This document applies to employers and business owners who have the responsibility for non-domestic, industrial, commercial and residential premises. The legislation came about in an attempt to simplify, rationalise and consolidate all fire safety documentation and regulation within one Order. It intended to implement a risk-based approach to fire safety, looking to provide the fire and rescue service with more efficient and effective rules to enforce.

The Order was built around every business having one person responsible for the completion of a thorough fire safety risk assessment. The evaluation includes all work activities as well as the premises, in its entirety. This competent person has to identify all potential fire risks, including who would be in danger if a fire was to start and where they would most be at risk. Once all these factors have been identified, the designated person would then have to assess whether the business’s current processes and precautions are adequate to cover the risk, or can more be done. 

The fire safety risk assessment would then need to be regularly reviewed and amended as the evaluation saw fit. 

What Businesses Need To Carry Out A Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

The government’s legislation requires all businesses to carry out this fire safety risk assessment regularly, aiming to minimise and manage the risk of fire sufficiently. The Order states that all types of work-related buildings, structures, and open spaces, including offices and shops, care and education settings, warehouses, and construction. However, this list is purely comprehensive and by no means extensive.

It is worth noting that the Fire Safety Order only applies to businesses and non-domestic premises. A fire safety risk assessment is not required within private homes. The only exception is for landlords as they have a legal obligation to ensure their rental properties and HMOs meet the expected fire safety requirements.

Why Do You Need To Carry Out A Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

As a legal requirement, a fire safety risk assessment must be carried out; however, the bottom line of these evaluations is to save lives and mitigate the risk to all people should a fire start within your business’s premises. 

Anyone responsible for a building that is not a private home or ‘single private dwelling,’ has to make sure the proper actions have been carried out to ensure the premise is fire safe.

If a building has more than five people working there or you have a licence under the enactment force, your fire safety risk assessment must be kept as a written document. It is of utmost importance that this record is kept up-to-date and relevant, ensuring all suggestions for improvement have been carried out. 

At the end of the day, having these measures in place is a good business practice as much as it is the law. Many businesses are unable to survive the devastation to both reputation and loss a fire can cause, therefore, implementing effective fire prevention is the first step to understanding the risks.

The Fire Safety Risk Assessment Template

There are varying risk assessment guides that look to guide different businesses with their fire safety measures. Your first step is to find the relevant information for your business premise, allowing you to comply with all the applicable fire safety laws. These templates aim to guide you on the fire safety measures that you should have instigated. 

Some businesses will fall under different categories and will, therefore, need to comply with all appropriate templates. For example, businesses that offer both dining and drinking facilities but also provide sleeping accommodation for guests and staff will need to ensure every box Is ticked.

Once you have located the necessary templates, your designated responsible person must begin their inspection. This process includes planning and testing fire escape routes, warning and detection systems, fire suppression equipment, and evacuation plans, as well as the initial hazards and potential fire risks around every establishment/building. 

It is only after all these things have been considered that a fire safety risk assessment can be created.

Five Steps of A Risk Assessment

When it comes to writing a fire safety risk assessment, there are five steps to ensuring you have covered all bases.

1. Identify All Fire Hazards

From things within your premises that could cause a fire to start, such as faults with electrical equipment, cooking equipment within staff kitchens, and portable heaters, to materials that would help a fire spread, for example, packaging, decorations and rubbish. Within this step, it is also crucial to consider additional sources of oxygen that would help to fuel a fire, this includes a building’s air conditioning system, any cylinders or fireworks.

2. Identify Everyone At Risk

Who could be inside your building or on your site? Why are they here and what would they be doing? Whether your premise only accommodates employees or includes facilities for customers and clients, you must consider everyone that would be put at risk should a fire start.

Important circumstances to consider is if your premises has people resting or sleeping, how would these disorientated people get to safety? Does your business involve noisy environments, would an alarm be heard in all areas of the site? If anyone onsite has a disability, have their needs been considered? It is crucial all these questions are answered.

 3. Identify What Measures Are Needed To Ensure People’s Safety

This is where you assess the practical measures that are needed to reduce the risks identified in step one and keep everyone in step two safe. There are two groupings of implications to consider: what you can do to reduce the risk of a fire starting and things that can be done to reduce the risk once a fire is underway. 

For the first part, the most thorough process is to work down your list of hazards from step one and see what can be put in place to remove this risk, or significantly reduce it as much as possible. Then, you need to put yourself in the shoes of everyone within your premises, the concerns they have raised in step two need to be reviewed. Ask, what you can implement to aid them in their escape if a fire broke out? Even if your business has never had a fire to contend with before, there needs to be a plan in place if the worst were to happen. 

In this step, ensure you are considering:

  • How will everyone be alerted?
  • Where would fire extinguishers help the spread of a fire?
  • Where and how will people fire their nearest fire exits?
  • Would a fire be likely to obstruct a fire escape route?
  • Could smoke build-up and hinder people’s exit?

4.  Recording Your Risk Assessment

Once your fire safety measures have been decided in line with identified hazards and the people you are keeping safe, the next step is to record all your findings and your plan of action. Everyone in the business needs to know their responsibilities and what they need to do in the event of a fire.

If your business is licensed and serves alcohol or employs over five members of staff, there must be a comprehensive record of your findings from your fire safety risk assessment. It is recommended to play on the safe side and record your risk assessment in its entirety.

For example, if you have identified the chance of a fire occurring from an electrical item, your action to reduce this would be to arrange for a Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) to be conducted.

5. Reviewing Your Evaluation and Assessment

It is good practice to review your fire safety risk assessment at least annually. If your premises have undergone any changes or your staffing numbers have changed, your fire risk assessment will be affected. In order to stay on top, it is important to make regular evaluations and amendments to your fire safety measures.

How To Use A Fire Risk Assessment Template

If you are looking to complete your fire safety risk assessment in-house, it is recommended to follow a reputable risk assessment template. With so many details required for a thorough evaluation, these documents are formatted to make them more accessible. They will require essential checklists of factors that cannot be missed, so do ensure these lists are close-at-hand when the inspections are carried out. 

Appointing Someone To Carry Out Your Risk Assessment

As the gravity of fire safety risk assessments is so high, many business owners prefer to entrust this process to regarded professionals. In doing so, not only can you rest assured your business is complying with the law; but, you will always have a top-quality risk assessment and fire prevention plan. 

When it comes to the safety of your employees, customers and clients, there is no question that these processes cannot be rushed or compromised. Everyone benefits when these essential safety measures are followed and carried out rigorously. 

Fire Safety Risk Assessments in Birmingham & Wolverhampton

If you would like to appoint the expertise of our skilled and extremely competent fire risk assessors, contact our professional safety engineers today. At Cardinal Fire, we simplify the process of fire safety compliance. 

We offer thorough Fire Safety Risk Assessment Services in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. With our third-party accreditation, your business premises can benefit from our in-depth fire safety knowledge, allowing you to have peace of mind that all your fire procedures will be in place should you need them.

Want to know more about your legal obligations as a business owner? Check out our complete guide to UK workplace fire safety. 

FAQ

Can You Do A Fire Risk Assessment Yourself?

You can complete your business’s fire safety risk assessment in-house; however, under the Fire Safety Order 2005, business owners are legally required to have a Fire Assessment carried out by a ‘competent’ person. In order to take the pressure off a member of your staff working to meet the criteria of this expert person, most businesses choose to appoint qualified professionals to complete the safety requirements on their behalf. As the consequences of a poorly completed risk assessment do not bear thinking, this is a lot of pressure to put onto someone without the experience and knowledge of the fire safety industry.

How Can I Write A Fire Safety Risk Assessment?

There are four steps to keep in mind when creating a fire safety risk assessment:

  1. Identifying the fire risk – what could a fire start?
  2. Who could be harmed in a fire?
  3. How can we mitigate or remove these risks?
  4. Put all of the above into a detailed report

Once all of these steps have been carefully considered and thoroughly investigated, the completed document should be regularly reviewed to ensure that it is always up to date.

What Is The Law On Fire Risk Assessments?

If you have a business that employs five or more members of staff, a fire safety risk assessment must be produced in writing by law.

What is the Fire Safety Risk Assessment Checklist?

The fire safety risk assessment checklist is what your business’s responsible person would use to identify the pre-existing and any new hazards. As commercial premises must keep written records of their fire safety report, there should always be an old checklist to begin a new evaluation.







Posted in Fire Safety, Guides

Fire Extinguisher Testing, Checks & Maintenance – UK Guide

All About Fire Extinguisher Testing and Checks

Fire extinguishers are an essential part of any commercial building’s fire safety equipment.  To keep your extinguishers operational longer, you need to learn how to take care of them from conducting regular fire extinguisher testing and checks to organising fire extinguisher servicing and maintenance to be carried out by a competent person.

Today, we’ll look at the fire extinguisher testing that needs to be done in order to ensure that your workplace fire safety is up to the latest regulatory requirements in the UK.

Why is Fire Extinguisher Testing Important? 

There are three main reasons to do fire extinguisher checks at work:

  1. It’s the law

As per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the BS 5306 (see BS 5306 summary here), regular fire extinguisher testing, servicing and maintenance are mandatory requirements for ensuring fire safety at work. Non-compliance can lead to substantial fines and even jail time if someone gets injured as a result of a fire incident at work where a faulty fire extinguisher was involved.

  1. Fire extinguishers last longer

Regular fire extinguisher testing can increase your fire extinguisher life span. Under UK regulations, it is recommended that fire extinguishers are either replaced every five years (CO2 fire extinguishers should, ideally, be replaced every 10 years) or have an extended service conducted on them at this point, to confirm their usage integrity.

  1. It can save lives

A simple fire extinguisher check can make the difference between life and death in a real fire situation. If issues with the fire protection equipment go unnoticed, this could lead to serious harm either because the extinguisher has malfunctioned and hurt the user or because it has failed to discharge and stop the fire, placing everyone in more danger.

How Often Do Fire Extinguishers Need to be Inspected in the UK?

If you are responsible for fire safety at work, you should ensure that all fire extinguishers are in good working order, by carrying out monthly and annual fire extinguisher checks.

Visual checks should be done at least once per month by the fire marshal in the building to ensure that there’s no visible damage to the equipment. Annual fire extinguisher inspection, on the other hand, requires more specialised knowledge and so they are conducted by a fire safety specialist.

Monthly Fire Extinguisher Testing

When you conduct your monthly visual inspections of all in-use fire extinguishers on the premises, there are several key things to pay attention to:

  • Broken/missing lock pins, tamper protection and seals
  • Broken or unstable handles
  • Missing, damaged or out of date service labels
  • Blocked, cracked or torn hose/nozzle
  • Accessibility of fire extinguisher – unobstructed and with clear, legible operating instructions
  • A full feeling extinguisher with a green pressure dial
  • Various other indicators of damage, such as leaking, corrosion or signs of tampering

Annual Inspection of Fire Extinguishers

In addition to your usual monthly checks, a competent fire safety engineer should carry out fire extinguisher testing at least once per year. They will perform a full maintenance check of all fire extinguishers in the building. Upon completion of each professional fire extinguisher inspection, you will be given a fire safety certificate to prove that you are compliant with the current fire safety regulations.

As soon as the fire extinguisher has passed the annual service, it will receive a passing tag and be dated. This is used as evidence that you have complied with the legal requirements and also as a reminder to schedule your next inspection on time.

If damages are identified, the fire safety specialist can repair those if possible. However, if the engineer discovers irreparable damages, you must buy a new fire extinguisher to replace the old one.

During the annual fire extinguisher checks, a professional inspector will not merely check the equipment, but will usually be reviewing the placement and structural integrity of the mounting stand/brackets. They will also assess whether your fire extinguishers are (still) a suitable solution for the potential fire hazards in the area where they are located.

Don’t Forget Record Keeping

Record keeping is extremely important to all aspects of fire safety and fire extinguisher testing makes no exception. Every time a monthly visual check is made, this should be logged, including any relevant details of faults that have been discovered.

The same applies to annual checks –  these should be thoroughly documented and you should make sure these records are kept safe for at least 10 years. You may need to access these and present them as evidence of your compliance activities if requested to do so by the authorities in the event of a fire incident at work.

Who Should Carry Out Annual Fire Extinguisher Testing?

To ensure regulatory compliance, you should use a BAFE-registered fire extinguisher engineer to conduct your annual inspections. As an independent third-party organisation for the fire safety sector, they verify businesses and their competency in fire protection services.

Fire Extinguisher Testing With Cardinal Fire

Here, at Cardinal Fire Protection, we are BAFE-accredited, so rest assured that any fire extinguisher inspections conducted by our engineers will be up to the highest standards. Learn more about our fire extinguishers servicing options or get in touch on 0845 130 8211 or at sales@cardinalfire.net to book your annual fire extinguishers check today.

Featured Image: Unsplash Licence – Erik Mclean

 

Posted in Fire Extinguishers, Guides

Fire Alarm Safety: Comprehensive BS5839 Guide

How much do you know about BS5839? Part 1 of BS5839 (British Standards) is the code of practice for the design, installation, maintenance and commissioning of fire protection alarms and systems for use in non-domestic/commercial premises. If you are a business owner, this is the essential fire safety standard you are required to follow to achieve regulatory compliance with the fire safety regulations in the UK.

Our easy to understand guide on BS5839 will walk you through all there is to know, including the fundamental implications on your day-to-day commercial ventures.

Who Is Required to Abide By BS5839?

The non-domestic/commercial premises referred to in BS5839 Part 1 includes shops, offices, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, universities and many other public places. Interestingly, it also includes any communal area of domestic dwellings – such as hallways, corridors and stairwells – where multiple people may be affected by a fire within a common location.

This is why, if you are the responsible person for a commercial building, whether it’s an office building, a kitchen or a factory, you should familiarise yourself with the requirements of BS5839 to ensure that you have completed your legal duties.

Why is a Fire Alarm System or Fire Detection System Needed?

Within the Foreword of BS5839 (pp iv-vi), it is stipulated that:

“National building regulations require fire detection and fire alarm systems to be installed in many buildings at the time of construction. In addition, legislation requires that, where necessary to safeguard relevant persons in case of fire, existing premises are equipped with “appropriate fire detection and fire alarm systems”.

The guidelines also provide a non-exhaustive table demonstrating examples of non-domestic premises for the purpose of practicality, which is found in Annex A (pp 130-131). The table gives the commonly expected examples of public places and buildings that BS5839 may apply to, but it does not strictly enforce that all premises found within the table “are required by law to have such systems installed” (p v-vi).

Generally, it is advisable to abide by the best practices when approaching fire safety on any non-domestic/commercial premises, always starting with a fire risk assessment that can determine the overall fire safety of a location, as well as if a fire detection or fire alarm system is beneficial or required and which type would be the most appropriate.

Fire Alarm and Fire Detection Systems: Defined

Various fire detection systems and fire alarm systems exist to protect premises of multiple sizes and use-cases. Systems range from basic, rudimentary designs which require manual input to alert others of fire, to high-tech wireless fire detection systems.

You should also be aware that Part 1 of BS5839 does not refer to the systems which have a primary purpose of controlling or extinguishing fire (such as fire extinguishers and sprinklers), nor does it cover:

  • Systems that combine fire alarm functions with function not relating to fire alarms
  • Voice alarm systems
  • Emergency service call systems
  • Audiovisual guidance systems (i.e. emergency lights)

When determining what alarm or fire detector type is suitable for your premises, Annex A of BS5839 refers to various categories of systems and the type of premises they are most appropriate for.

What are the Categories of Systems and Alarms?

The BS5839 Part 1 recommends types of alarm and detection systems based on the location and objective of the systems – referred to as Categories/

Category L Systems

Category L systems are charged with protecting life, with the focus on prioritising areas of high fire risk, escape routes and fire exits. Category L systems levelled: the lower the number, the more protection the category L system corresponds to.

Category L5 – Specific Design

Category L5 systems do not strictly conform to the requirement of the other for L categories, instead, they are systems that are designed around very specific requirements particular to the location and other risk factors highlighted by the fire risk assessment.

Category L4 – Escape Routes

This refers to fire detection systems that have been installed only on escape routes and not inner rooms.

Category L3 – Escape Routes and Any Rooms Opening Onto Escape Routes

A commonly found fire alarm system in public buildings and premises, these systems typically include smoke detectors on every escape route, as well as every room that connects to escape routes.

Category L2 – Escape Routes, Rooms Opening Onto Escape Routes and High-Risk Inner Rooms

Category L2 systems can be considered similar to the L3 but with the added scope of including inner rooms determined as “high-risk”, without the requirement of the room having to be connected directly to an escape route.

Such rooms are deemed as at a high enough risk of fire that they require dedicated fire detection.

Category L1 – Complete Coverage Protection

Requiring manual call points, automatic fire detection and fire detectors in every room, category L1 buildings require fire detection systems throughout the entire premises, typically used in buildings that house a higher proportion of vulnerable people through its primary usage.

When calculating for an L1 system, a “room” is anything over 1 metre squared.

Category M Systems

Manual-only systems, these premises require manual call points to be installed on all corridors and exits, where people do not have to walk more than 45m before reaching a call point.

Interestingly, all category L systems begin as an M system and then level up to an L system when fire risk assessments deem it appropriate and necessary.

System M-only will typically be found in kiosks, sub-buildings, small buildings and buildings which are barely occupied.

Category P Systems

Category P systems are those which are designed for property protection (not life protection) as their primary purpose. These systems are far rarer than category L and M systems, specifically because most buildings have some sort of human occupancy at all times, even if just a night watchman/security guard.

P category systems are typically installed in unoccupied buildings, such as unmanned warehouses, as such, these systems will be connected to Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) and signal a call to the Fire Services to attend to any blaze.

Category P1

Automatic fire detection systems installed in all areas of the building, a category P1 system will be used to detect any signs of fire as soon as reasonably possible.

Category P2

P2 systems will not have automatic fire detection systems installed in every area of the building, instead, the only parts of the premises outfitted with a P2 system will be the ones determined as a high fire risk by a fire risk assessment.

Primary Design Decisions to Consider When Selecting the Most Appropriate Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

The legislation also highlights numerous design considerations, including the most appropriate system category for certain building types and their fire safety requirements. The recommendations found within the legislation provide clear guidelines and advice to consider, with reference to the British Standards.

Type of System

Here, the category of the property will typically determine the category of fire detection and alarm systems required, detailed by a thorough fire risk assessment, as written on p17 of the BS5839.

System Components

All components selected to be used as part of the overall system installed/intended to be installed must conform to British Standards or Harmonised European Standards and should be tested against these standards.

Detection Zones

Dividing the building into detection zones which are commonly installed with manual call points or automatic detectors to guarantee that fire responders are alerted to the specific location of the fire. These are appropriate for all building types, bar the smallest.

Monitoring and Reliability of the System

The design of the system should be done so to limit the scope and effect of any fault of the system: if there is a fault, there is required to be an alert system in place to inform the necessary parties of a need for maintenance or replacement.

Alarm Zones

Complex buildings require a fire emergency evacuation plan (FEEP) that sometimes includes a phased evacuation process, requiring separate alarm zones. The guidelines recommend that, at the boundaries of each separate alarm zone, the construction should be composed of fire-resistant walls.

Direct Communication with Fire and Rescue

Some systems will require a direct alert system with fire and rescue services, some will not, Category L and M systems do not require an automatic connection to the emergency services as a telephone call is adequate. Where buildings are always occupied, an automatic communication system may be appropriate.

Audiovisual Alarm Systems and Warnings for the Hearing Impaired

All alarm systems must be adequate to warn all people as intended. Where appropriate, it may be advisable to include visual representations of an alarm, as well as an audible one, for those who are hearing impaired.

For buildings with sleeping quarters, it may be necessary to add tactile devices under pillows or mattresses that are connected to the fire alarm system.

Manual Call Points

All manual call points must be explicitly placed and easily discernible from non-call points, whilst being distributed in such a way that it is absolutely impossible to exit a building or transfer to a different floor or building without passing at least one.

Fire Detector Types

All fire detectors must be designed to detect at least one (or more) component of fire:

  • Combustion gas
  • Heat
  • Infrared/Ultraviolet radiation
  • Smoke

Multi-sensor fire detectors also exist to detect fire via multiple sensors and ways.

Other important factors to consider – particularly in light of recommendations from the fire risk assessment – are:

  • Speed of detection/response
  • Minimising of false alarms
  • Nature of any fire hazard present

Installation Issues

Some very basic guidelines and principles should be followed when designing and installing new fire detection and alarm systems.

Compliance Responsibilities

Crucially, under Section 4 of BS5839 Part 1, one organisation must have accepted responsibility within the section. In short, even though multiple parties could be involved from the design process all the way through to the installation and final handover, one party must still have accepted overall responsibility for compliance: such as a fire risk assessment company, who can suggest and sell fire alarm and detection systems, but contracts out the installation process to a third party.

Limiting False Alarms and False Fire Alarm Signals

Section 3 of BS5839 stipulates that false alarms must be limited as much as possible, in terms of their design and installation: for example, installing a smoke detector in a bathroom should be avoided.

Once Installed

The handover of fire detection and alarm systems is covered on pages 109-116 of the Standard, detailing the completion of the process from initial survey to final signoff. Post-installation has several phases, detailed below.

Commissioning

This process comprises a complete and comprehensive test of the installation, along with the recommendations of the standard, as well as the system specification via the designer’s requirements.

P 4, 109 details that all tests and work must be performed by a competent person: with relevant education and experience, up-to-date training and the ability to perform all tasks with reference to all reference materials and design drawings.

Documentation

All records and pertinent documentation must be provided to the end-user of the system, as part of the commissioning process.

One article of documentation that is crucial to hand over to the end-user is that of the most accurate “as-fitted” systems drawings, maintenance manuals and system-specific operation documents.

Other important documentation required for handover purposes include:

  • Installations and commissioning of the system
  • Relevant records
  • Logbook for all system events
  • Relevant records – such as those detailing variations on the original design specification

BS5839 Certification

Once the commissioning of the system has been complete, certificates are to be granted for all three distinct setup stages: design, installation and commissioning. P 133 specifies that individuals or organisations who carry out each certification must be competent enough to verify that the recommendations – of the Standard – have been satisfied, or not.

After all, certifications have been completed, a formal handover to the purchaser/end-user can be performed. At this stage, crucially, the company that has agreed to bear contractual responsibility for the system provides a certificate of acceptance to the end-user.

After handover has been finalised – as well as the final stages, such as certification – the daily running and maintenance of the system falls to the management of the property that the system is installed in. The maintenance section of the Standard is found on pp 117-127.

Fire Alarm System Maintenance & Testing

All fire alarm systems are subject to regular fire alarm testing procedures, as described below:

Weekly Maintenance

P 117 recommends five practices to maintain on a weekly basis, for the maintenance of the system:

  1. Testing the operation of the manual call point during working hours
  2. Test to be performed at approximately the same time every week
  3. Extra tests a least once per month for those employees who are not present during the weekly test
  4. For those systems with multiple manual call points: a different one must be tested each week
  5. Routine tests should be no longer than one minute so that employees and other occupants can distinguish between tests and real fire alarms

Monthly Maintenance

The Standard features two recommendations for the monthly assessment of the system, which is found on p 188:

  1. For systems with a standby power supply that are utilised via an automatic generator, the generator should be tested on a monthly basis
  2. Standby power which is provided by vented batteries, the batteries should receive a visual inspection. Additionally, the vented batteries and their connections would be inspected quarterly by a competent person (in battery installation and maintenance).

The Importance of Fire Alarm Systems Maintenance

Even the most advanced fire alarm and detection systems will need routine maintenance and human inspection to ensure consistent performance and reliability.

Three key reasons to maintain and test your system include:

  1. Familiarise employees and other occupants with the fire alarm
  2. Determine all faults which have been signalled and rectify them appropriately
  3. To eliminate the possibility of major faults or failures within the system

As fire inspection and maintenance are specialist jobs, they are typically performed by an expert, third-party contractors in fire alarm servicing, who can demonstrate their competence by way of third-party certification.

Servicing and Inspection of the System

It is crucial that inspection and servicing are carried out on the system, in addition to the weekly and monthly maintenance inspections: this is to locate any faults, rectify them appropriately.

To maintain compliance with BS5839-1, the period between inspection and servicing of the system should not exceed six months, with absolutely no latitude for flexibility on this timeframe.

Responsibility of the System and Premises

The core aim of any fire detection and alarm system is the protection of life and property: maintenance, testing and inspections are crucial to the system functioning, pursuant to the objective.

Without prior planning, the process of maintenance can get messy, which is why the Standard recommends that a company nominates a single point of contact, from the premises management team, to “supervise all matters pertaining to the fire detection and fire alarm system”. Responsibilities of the nominated person include:

  • Record keeping of system records and other relevant documentation
  • Ensuring the system is protected against developments that may impact negatively prior standard of protection it offered or contributed to false alarms
  • Providing clear evidence of compliance with fire safety legislation
  • Maintaining fire safety knowledge of employees and other occupants of the premises via fire safety training

The system logbook is a document of crucial importance, this should include the details of the delegated fire safety manager, as well as record each event that is relevant to the system – scheduled, or not, P 129 specifies that real-time amendments of the logbook are helpful to those parties who may conduct inspection or maintenance on the system, as well as those delegated as fire safety management/supervisor in the future.

Armed with this summarised BS5838 guide, you should feel more confident handling your fire safety responsibilities at work but if you require any more help, please feel free to get in touch with the Cardinal Fire team for advice today.

Posted in Fire Alarms, Fire Safety, Guides

Guide to PAT Testing Labels & How to Complete Them

All electrical devices in the workplace must be PAT tested. Once completing a round of PAT (portable appliance testing) tests, electrical devices will usually pass or fail. To ensure that workers and others are safe from potential harm, PAT testing labels will be applied to prior-PAT tested devices to provide a visual indication of their status.

Labels are easily identifiable and contain a unique identification code and numerous key indicator information, including pass/fail status, appliance ID, test/retest date, engineer initials and the company the engineer represents.

In today’s blog, we will look at the information usually present on PAT testing labels as well as the types of labels you may see.

Common Information on PAT Testing Labels

Pass/Fail Status

The most commonly and easily identifiable aspect of a PAT testing label will be whether the electrical appliance has received a pass or fail, during its most recent PAT testing date. Colour-coded, appliances that pass a PAT test will have a green label, whereas those deemed to have failed will have a red one and usually accompanied by the words do not use.

Appliance ID

Several PAT testing labels will have a space for an Appliance ID, typically in the form of a number: particularly helpful when a location – such as a workplace, school, university or server room – has several devices of the same type.

Test Date

Most PAT testing labels show the date of the previous test, identifying the month and year. Helpful if the test was more recent as it provides more reliable data to the engineer who is to complete the next PAT test.

Retesting Date

Many PAT testing labels will show an advisable date for the next PAT test. Though there are no legal obligations or requirements to conduct PAT tests, it is generally good to conduct PAT tests at least once per calendar year.

Engineer Initials

PAT testing labels will often contain a space where the test engineer conducting the PAT test can identify themselves via their initials.

Company Details/Company Logo

The engineer will often be a representative of an external company. If so, they will often have to record the company details – such as name and contact information – whilst also including a stamp of the company’s logo: good info to have if using an external company to conduct PAT tests.

Types of PAT Testing Labels

There are various types of PAT testing labels to suit differing requirements. As they have received revisions over the years, different types exist to make inspection and testing easier to identify and store digitally.

Barcode Labels

Often bespoke to a particular company, agency or individual contractor. Barcode labels will be applied so that specialised software can store and library relevant information remotely, cutting down on extensive manual paperwork and allowing for ease of access.

Pass/Fail Labels

Green for a pass, red for fail. As mentioned previously, pass/fail PAT testing labels will often be colour-coded for ease of visual inspection. They are often printed on hard-wearing vinyl and applied to devices via tough adhesive, ensuring they can only be removed deliberately.

Plug Top Labels

Designed to be placed on the lid of plugs, this PAT testing label will detail if a plug is safe to use.

Visual Inspection Label

Often blue, a visual inspection label will indicate that devices have passed visual inspection.

Quick-Pass PAT Testing Label

Designed to save time and money, quick-pass PAT test labels are useful when an engineer has to conduct lots of PAT tests in one location – requiring only two ticks to complete. The test is not any shorter, but the admin required is significantly quickened.

Microwave Leakage Labels

Orange in colour, these labels are designed to detail the amount of microwave emissions leakage.

PAT Testing and More Fire Safety With Cardinal Fire Protection

Cardinal Fire Protection helps businesses who are keen to brush up on their internal fire safety process, protocols and awareness. We deliver expert PAT testing and labelling, follow-ups, workplace safety assessments, fire safety training and procedures.

We assist in your fire safety obligations via direct and succinct fire safety training, assessment and services and regular PAT Testing.

Was this guide on the PAT test labelling helpful? Continue with further reading: 

  • Conducting Employee Fire Safety Training
  • How to Identify PAT Testing Classes
  • Failing a PAT Test
  • Portable Appliances (PAT) Testing Guide
  • Fire Alarm Servicing: When, Who, How?
  • Fire Alarm Safety: Comprehensive BS5839 Guide

Posted in Guides, PAT Testing

Portable Appliances Testing (PAT) Guide | PAT Testing Guide

PAT Testing 101: Beginner’s Guide to Portable Appliances Testing (PAT)

If you are an employer, Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) testing is the perfect solution for ensuring that all electrical equipment at work is technically sound and safe to use. With electrical fires making up 33% of all accidental fires in the workplace in the UK, this is an important step you need to take to achieve regulatory compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation. 

If you are new to PAT testing, this handy guide will give you all the crucial information you need at a glance, so read along and get your occupational health and safety (OH&S) practices on track! 

What is PAT testing and what does it involve?

PAT testing stands for Portable Appliance Testing is an inspection conducted on all electrical equipment at work to ensure that it can be used safely. It involves a manual examination done using a special PAT test device which is preceded by regular informal checks by the user and a formal visual inspection by a specialist. 

User Checks

Every member of staff should be given the appropriate training so that they know how to use the equipment correctly without endangering themselves or others. In addition to that, your employees should be able to spot health and safety hazards, such as obvious signs of damage to the equipment (e.g. naked cables, dangling plugs etc), as well as other potential risks, including live cables near water and cables trapped under furniture. 

Formal Visual Inspection

While user checks have an informal nature, before a manual PAT test is conducted, every eligible appliance should undergo a formal visual inspection to spot any obvious signs of damage. 

At the start of the visual inspection, the appliance must be unplugged to prevent accidents. Then, the inspector will follow a list of items to check, including:

  • Plugs: Examine for signs of burns, incorrect wiring, cracks and other signs of damage 
  • Cables: Confirm the cables are undamaged and there are no exposed wires 
  • Appliances: Check for burn marks, rust, cracks and any other obvious concerns 
  • Socket: Loose fittings, signs of burn and exposed wires are some of the issues to look for
  • Residual Current Device (RCD) Checks: Use the test button to ensure the device works as it should and examine for other visual signs of damage 
  • Environmental Checks: Take a look at the place where the appliance is used and identify any hazards that could arise from the environment (proximity to water, trip hazards, tangled wiring etc). 

The formal visual inspection can either be done by an appointed member of staff who has been given formal PAT training or by a professional engineer who specialises in PAT testing. 

The PAT Testing Procedure 

Once the visual inspection is done, the PAT tester will proceed with the manual PAT test examination. As part of the testing procedure, a portable appliance tester device is used to check the continuity, polarity and resistance of the equipment. 

Once the results are out, the tester will place a PAT label on the equipment to mark whether it has passed or failed. If the device has passed, it can be used safely. If it has failed, you will need to take action and either has the appliance fixed or replaced before it can undergo another PAT test. A device that has failed a PAT test is considered unsafe and should not be used until it has passed the test. 

The official PAT testing guideline can be found under ‘Maintaining Portable Electrical Equipment’ on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website. 

What appliances need a PAT test?

PAT testing is done on all portable electrical equipment; this includes every electrical appliance that can be unplugged from the electrical supply and moved to a different location. Portable equipment can be small (e.g. computers, printers, kettles, heaters, toasters, fans, microwaves and TVs) or large (washing machines, fridges, vending machines, etc). 

Portable electrical appliances can be categorised as either Class I or Class II based on the level of user protection they provide:

  • Class I: An earth connection is used to prevent electric shocks. The casing is usually is made of metal. Common examples include kitchen equipment, such as toasters, microwaves and fridges.  
  • Class II: A double insulation is used for additional protection. Typically, a plastic casing is used. Common Class II appliances include computers, printers and photocopiers  

Wired-in equipment, as well as battery-operated appliances, such as mobile phones, do not need to be PAT tested. 

PAT Testing Rules and Regulations

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is the employer’s responsibility to protect the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. Specific guidance on your responsibilities as a duty holder regarding electrical equipment can be found in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Failure to comply with the above legal requirements may result in large finical fines and legal action against you and your business. So, even though Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) testing is not a legal requirement per se, it should be an essential part of the health and safety compliance strategy of any business that uses portable electric appliances. This includes everything from offices, hotels and healthcare providers to self-employed home workers.  

PAT testing is done to ensure that everyone is safe at work and that you, as an employer, have fulfilled your duties as described by the law. It’s a simple, cost-effective solution too. 

PAT Testing FAQ 

Now that we have the basics covered, our PAT testing guide will explore some of the other important questions you may have regarding your portable appliance testing. 

How often do I need a PAT test?

The frequency of PAT testing needed is determined by the risk level associated with the equipment. This includes factors such as how often it’s used, where it’s used and who is using it. Your regular risk assessment will give you further guidance on the specifics of each appliance but usually, you are advised to conduct a PAT test at least once a year. 

Who is responsible for PAT testing at work? 

The employer carries the legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their staff, so PAT testing, as part of the general compliance strategy, will come under the employer’s duties. 

Who can carry out a PAT test?

A PAT test can only be conducted by someone who has had the appropriate training. Depending on the complexity of the equipment and the level of risk involved, this could either be a staff member who has undergone PAT training or a professional PAT tester. 

What is a PAT test certificate?

The PAT test certificate is a document that is issued by a specialist PAT testing engineer at the end of the PAT inspection. You should keep this in your records as it can be used as evidence of your compliance with the health and safety regulations. 

Can I do my own PAT test?

Yes, but only if you have undergone the relevant PAT testing training. If the PAT testing procedure hasn’t been carried out as it should, this could expose people at work to health risks and expose your business to various problems caused by regulatory compliance failure. 

How can Cardinal Fire help?

Cardinal Fire is a PAT testing company based in the West Midlands, offering affordable PAT testing services to businesses in the area. Our PAT testers are highly qualified and have FIA and BAFE certification, as well as ISO 9001 and UKAS quality management accreditation. 

Featured Image: Pexels Licence – ERIC MUFASA

Posted in Guides, PAT Testing

The Ultimate Guide to Workplace Fire Safety in the UK

The Ultimate Guide to Fire Safety in the UK: Regulations, Training & Prevention

 

According to the fire safety regulations in the UK, the responsibility for fire safety and prevention at a non-domestic building can be attributed to you if you are the employer, the landlord, the owner, an occupier or if you are in control of the premises (e.g. you are the building manager or the risk assessor).

If you find yourself in one of these roles, then you are referred to as a “responsible person” by the law and you can be held accountable for any workplace incidents that happen due to fire safety risks that have not been adequately managed.

Below, we’ll look at what those regulations are, as well as what you need to do to ensure compliance with the applicable legislation and to protect yourself, your employees and anyone else visiting your workplace.

 

Fire Safety Regulations in the UK

The main legislative document detailing the rules and regulations for fire safety in all non-domestic premises (with small exception) in the UK is The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

If you are the responsible person for any place of work, a common area in a building with multiple occupants, or a publicly accessible area, then these fire safety rules apply to you and you have the responsibility to take the necessary fire precautions. 

Here’s an outline of the main fire prevention actions you are legally required to take:

  • Ensure regular fire risk assessments are carried out
  • Communicate any identified risks to the people on the premises
  • Implement hazard control measure to minimise the risks
  • Install, inspect and regularly maintain all fire safety equipment 
  • Create an emergency response plan
  • Organise adequate fire safety training & evacuation drills 

It may sound like a lot of responsibility but these are all key elements of an effective fire prevention strategy. To help you get all of your fire safety duties right, we’ll give you more details on each one below.

 

Fire Safety Training

The fire safety regulations talk about “adequate fire safety training” and let’s face it – this sounds rather vague. Unfortunately, there is no precise answer to what “adequate” means. The problem is that the specifics vary greatly depending on the size of the business, the type of risks in the workplace and the current level of awareness of your employees.

However, there are certain types of training that you must offer for the fire safety training provided to be considered as adequate. Those include:

  • A general fire awareness training 
  • Refresher training, especially if new risks have been identified 
  • Additional training for appointed responsible people to support them with their duties
  • Special skills training, such as fire marshal/warden training, fire risk assessment training, how to use fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment training

To get all of the required fire safety training organised, you will need to contact professional fire safety training specialists and coordinate your training plan and requirements with them.

 

Fire Safety Risk Assessment

Conducting regular fire risk assessments is one of the most important processes for fire prevention in the workplace. The goal is to identify what could cause a fire incident at the workplace and what measures you should take to reduce the chances of such incidents. 

It’s recommended to do a fire risk assessment at least once a year and sooner if there have been significant changes in the workplace, especially if they could potentially create fire hazards (you are now working with flammable materials, you have new equipment, you have changed the layout of the building etc).

Also, if you have more than five people working at your company, you must keep a detailed record of every risk assessment. Those records can be requested for inspection by the fire authorities at any time.

Every fire risk assessment must include the following steps:

  • Identify any potential fire hazards
  • For each hazard, consider who would be at risk
  • Assess how likely the fire risk is and how much damage it could cause
  • Come up with ways to remove or manage the hazards
  • Implement risk controls and assess their validity regularly
  • Use your findings to design an emergency plan and identify fire training needs
  • Keep a record of your findings
  • Review your fire risk assessment regularly

You can do the risk assessment yourself if you wish to do so but you will have to follow the specific risk assessment guidelines for the type of non-domestic premises you are responsible for. If you choose to do your own risk assessment, you will be held responsible for ensuring that it has been carried out correctly. The local fire authorities can advise you on whether you’ve missed something but they can’t do the assessment for you.

Luckily, if you are not a fire safety expert, there are certified risk assessment specialists who can come in and do the fire risk assessment for you. That way you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your workplace fire risk assessment has been carried out in accordance with the relevant industry standards and fire safety risk regulations.

 

Workplace Fire Safety: Equipment, Evacuation Plan & Drills 

Even the most thorough fire risk assessment cannot guarantee you that a fire will never occur at your property. This is why preparing for the event of fire plays a huge role in ensuring workplace fire safety.  Below we’ll discuss a few more things that you must consider to be ready in case of a fire incident at work.

 

Fire alarms and fire fighting equipment 

Your workplace fire safety preparation should cover the installation, servicing and maintenance of all necessary fire safety equipment, including:

  • A fully-functional fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the premises
  • At least 2 Class A fire extinguishers on each floor of the building (as per BS 5306-8:2012)
  • Two or more fire exit routes depending on the size of the building
  • Othe fire safety equipment – a fire blanket, emergency lights, fire doors and a first aid kit

Providing the right equipment is only the first step. Then, you have to ensure that all of your equipment is regularly inspected and serviced as per the relevant legal requirements. Inspections and maintenance are necessary to ensure that issues with the equipment don’t catch you off guard. Discovering a fault in your fire alarm or your fire extinguisher during a fire is a nightmare scenario that can be avoided if all equipment is properly cared for.

 

Fire evacuation plan

You must have an evacuation plan in place in case of a fire and all your employees must be aware of the procedure. Your emergency plan should cover the following:

  • Escape routes: There are enough escape routes, they are clearly marked and unobstructed
  • Emergency doors: Those are easily-accessible, unlocked, unobstructed and they open outwards
  • Emergency lighting and signage: Clear emergency exit signage and emergency lighting ( if needed) should be available
  • Meeting point: There is a designated meeting point where everyone can gather safely while waiting for the emergency services to come

The fire evacuation plan should also take into account people with special mobility needs or any other special needs that could prevent them from evacuating safely. For example, you should make sure the escape doors are wide enough for a wheelchair to pass and that there are no stairs on the emergency route.

 

Fire drills at work

You must have a minimum of one documented fire drill per year.

No one is looking forward to being forced out of the office by loud fire alarm noises in the middle of the workday, especially if the British weather is being as rainy as we all know it can be. However, surprise fire drills are a necessary evil.

Any inconvenience that they may cause is offset by the fact that they are the only way to effectively test if the evacuation plan in place is working as expected. Any issues with the plan, the system or the fire safety awareness demonstrated by the staff can be flagged as a result of the drill and then addressed and corrected as needed.

 

Fire Prevention Checklist 

To help you stay compliant with the fire safety regulations in the UK, we’ve put together a fire prevention checklist with the most important things you need to do as a responsible person of non-domestic premises:

  • Install, service and maintain a fire detection and warning system
  • Install, service and maintain functional fire safety equipment
  • Carry out at least one fire risk assessment a year
  • Conduct at least one fire drill per year
  • Do a weekly fire alarm test
  • Check all fire equipment and fire exits daily
  • Get your fire extinguishers inspected at least once a year 
  • Get your fire extinguishers serviced at least every five years
  • Appoint a fire marshal and ensure they get the appropriate training
  • Organise regular fire safety awareness training
  • Devise an evacuation plan for fire emergencies 

We hope you found our guide to workplace fire safety in the UK helpful. If you need professional fire safety advice, fire safety training or fire safety equipment servicing, just get in touch with us and the Cardinal Fire team of fire experts will be happy to help.

Featured Image: Unsplash Licence – Tim van der Kuip

Posted in Fire Safety, Guides

Fire Extinguisher Servicing & Maintenance Guide

The Complete Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Maintenance Guide 

Fire extinguishers are an indispensable element of every building’s fire safety equipment and so you are legally required to have fire extinguisher servicing performed annually by a professional (as per fire extinguisher installation and maintenance code of practice – BS 5306-3:2017). 

To avoid finding yourself in a dangerous situation when there is a fire but your fire extinguisher isn’t working, you should follow our guide on fire extinguisher servicing and maintenance below.  

Why is fire extinguisher maintenance important? 

Fire extinguisher maintenance is important because even without being used, fire extinguishers can degrade and sustain damage over time. A faulty fire extinguisher can be less effective and sometimes even completely ineffective. This could result in injury to the user and fire-related damages to both the building and the people in it. 

According to the Fire Safety Order 2005, it is your legal responsibility to have your fire extinguishers tested by a professional every 12 months. Booking your annual fire extinguisher servicing ensures compliance with the existing rules and regulations. 

Furthermore, the correct fire extinguisher maintenance can make the difference between having a fire under control quickly and efficiently, and facing injury, destruction and a potential tragedy. 

How should a fire extinguisher be serviced?

There are three main things to remember about fire extinguisher servicing:

  1. Fire extinguishers must be serviced once a year 
  2. Extensive fire extinguisher maintenance must be performed every 5 years 
  3. The fire extinguisher servicing and maintenance must be done by a certified engineer

When a fire extinguisher servicing specialist comes over for their annual inspection, they will take a look at all four main parts of the fire extinguisher: tamper seal, gauge, body and hose. They will look for specific defects in each to determine whether your fire extinguisher is suitable for use.  

The tamper seal
The tamper seal must be intact. This ensures that the safety pin is safely held in place and that the fire extinguisher hasn’t been discharged. 

The pressure gauge
The pressure gauge is used to check whether there’s enough pressure in the fire extinguisher. For it to be functional, the needle must be in the green area of the gauge. The issue is that in some cases, damage or moisture can cause the needle to stick and prevent it from indicating a drop in pressure. So, your gauge could be showing that everything is fine while in reality, your fire extinguisher isn’t functional any more.

The body
Extensive damage to the body of the fire extinguisher can cause it to explode and result in injury for the user. Therefore, during the fire extinguisher serving process, any dents, holes or signs of corrosion will be flagged by the inspector. 

In addition to the physical state of the fire extinguisher body, the labelling will also be checked. For a fire extinguisher to be approved, all signage and instructions for use must be clearly legible. If they have faded significantly over time, the extinguisher will be considered unusable.

The hose
Just a small hole or tear in the hose can downgrade the efficiency rating of your fire extinguisher. If the hose is damaged, upon discharge the extinguishing substance can leak through the hose before it reaches the fire, making it much harder to control the fire.

The fire extinguisher service engineer will make sure that there is no visible damage anywhere on the fire extinguisher. Cartridge extinguishers will be opened and each element will be inspected. The mechanisms will be put to a test as well. 

If any issues are found, the engineer will raise this with the responsible person and appropriate action will be taken. This may include decommissioning the fire extinguisher unit altogether and replacing it with a new one. 

When should a fire extinguisher be serviced and by whom? 

There are several scenarios when a fire extinguisher inspection is required. Here’s when you need an inspection and who can perform it:

  • During installation: Also called commissioning service, the first-ever fire extinguisher test you will have to have done by a professional is at the time of installation to ensure that the unit is fit for purpose
  • Monthly: A monthly inspection by a designated responsible person (not an engineer) at the building should be done each month to check for visible damage. 
  • Annually: The annual fire extinguisher inspection has to be conducted by a qualified engineer. This is a legal requirement. 
  • Every 5 years: An extensive maintenance inspection should be conducted every five years by a qualified engineer.
  • In case of damage: If you see any signs of damage to your fire extinguisher during your monthly checks or at any other point, you should call a certified engineer to check those and ensure your unit is still functional. 

As a general rule, a fire extinguisher needs to undergo basic service every year to identify any visual signs of damage and corrosion, as well as an extended service (including a test discharge) every 5 years. Both of these should be carried out by a qualified engineer to ensure that the fire extinguisher is maintained in good working condition. 

The only exception to this rule is P50 fire extinguishers – they don’t require basic annual servicing as they are designed to withstand damages caused by the weather, scratches or corrosion. 

What should the information on a fire extinguisher include?

To be legally compliant, each fire extinguisher must have a label stating:

  • When it has been inspected
  • By whom
  • When the next inspection is due

The cost of fire extinguisher servicing

Every professional fire extinguisher servicing services should be able to provide a complete price list before you agree to book an inspection with one of their engineers. You should always be clear on what needs to be done and how much it will cost, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. 

A one-off service charge will always have to be paid for your preferred service type – Basic (yearly) or Extended (every 5 years). This should include the servicing, plus the cost of the parts that will be replaced as part of the routine fire extinguisher maintenance procedure (gauge dots, o-rings and tamper seals). Any additional costs should be clearly specified.

As fire extinguishers maintenance has to be done regularly, you may want to consider a servicing plan for long-term maintenance, rather than having to schedule one-off services every time. It will likely help you save on the cost, as well. 

Do all fire extinguishers need to be serviced?

In 2012, a new generation of service-free fire extinguishers was introduced. According to the official UK standard BS 5036-3, if your fire extinguisher has a Britannia P50 kitemark, then you won’t need to call an engineer. The only fire extinguisher maintenance you will need to do is have the fire extinguisher visually inspected by the end user every 12 months. 

The P50 fire extinguishers come in foam, powder, and wet chemical varieties and boast a guaranteed 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.

How can Cardinal Fire help? 

If you are a business owner in the West Midlands area, the expert fire safety specialists at Cardinal Fire offer exceptional fire extinguisher servicing, including inspections, testing, maintenance and guidance (see our guide to BS5839). With our certified fire safety engineers by your side, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your building and the people in it are protected in case of a fire incident. 

FAQ

Find out at-a-glance answers to your burning questions about fire extinguisher servicing and maintenance below. For any more information, just get in touch with the team at Cardinal Fire and we will be happy to help.

How often do fire extinguishers need servicing?
The legal requirement is to have a fire extinguisher inspection every 12 months. 

Can anyone service a fire extinguisher?
A monthly fire extinguisher inspection can be done by anyone within the business who has had the appropriate training, such as the fire warden. However, the annual fire extinguisher inspection has to be performed by a qualified engineer. 

What do I do with old fire extinguishers?
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. The engineer performing the inspection should be able to advise you on the actions you need to take. 

Does a new fire extinguisher need to be inspected?
Yes, when a new fire extinguisher is installed it has to be commissioned by a professional engineer, which means that a fire extinguisher inspection is required. 

Do fire extinguishers expire?
Yes, each extinguisher has an expiration date. Most extinguishers last between 5-15 years as indicated by the manufacturer. Regular maintenance ensures that the lifespan of the unit is as long as possible.

Do old fire extinguishers need to be recharged?
Every fire extinguisher must be recharged every 5 years even if it has never been used. If it has been used or damaged has been found, it may need to be refilled sooner. 

How often do fire extinguishers need to be maintained?
An extensive fire extinguisher inspection has to be carried out every 5 years to ensure that the fire extinguisher is properly maintained.

Posted in Fire Extinguishers, Guides

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