Fire extinguishers.
Such a pivotal part of corporate fire safety yet so often misinterpreted.
We take a look at some of the most common questions and help to put the record straight.
Are fire extinguishers a legal requirement?
Yes. All fire safety in the UK is governed by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005’, ‘RRO’. Fire extinguishers are specifically covered by the UK Fire Extinguisher Regulations. This sets out what you need and where. It is a complicated document which is why businesses do need to consult fire protection experts.
Do I need different types of Fire Extinguishers?
The Fire Extinguisher Regulations UK state that every building needs at least 2 Class A fire extinguishers on each floor. Class A extinguishers are for wood or paper fires. If you have electrical equipment you will also require CO2 extinguishers to deal with high voltage fire. In addition, depending on your working environment, you may require dry powder or wet fire extinguishers to cover all types of fire.
Does it matter how big my premises are?
Yes. The size of your premises will dictate the number, and type, of extinguishers you require. Where space is an issue, there may be trips, slips and falls hazards to consider. However, this is a very delicate matter and requires a comprehensive understanding of the legislation. One of the reasons we always recommend a full site risk assessment is to ensure that you receive the correct advice and guidance.
Can I buy my own Fire Extinguishers?
Yes, there is nothing stopping you from purchasing your own fire extinguishers. They do however require a BAFE (or equivalent) accredited competent person to pass them which means that you will need to use fire protection experts. In addition to this, of course, fire extinguishers aren’t cheap and you run the risk of wasting money on inadequate or incorrect fire extinguishers. A fire protection company can do all of this for you.
Where should I put my extinguishers?
Again, this is a complex issue. In most instances, we would recommend fire exits and fire alarm points, however, again, the UK Fire Extinguisher Regulations are not as straightforward as this. If you have lots of exits and alarm points we engage the ’30 metre’ rule which means that you should never be less than 30 metres from an extinguisher. As you can imagine, this takes professional planning.
Can I place my fire extinguishers on the floor?
This is not recommended. All fire extinguishers should be mounted on to the wall or on purpose-built stands. This is to discourage the movement of strategically placed extinguishers so that they are always where they should be. Our Fire Protection Engineers always ensure that fire extinguishers are professionally fitted and that these fittings meet the UK Fire Extinguisher Regulations.
Do I need to get my extinguishers serviced?
Yes. Every 12 months. You need to keep evidence too and follow a strict testing process. As with the commissioning of fire extinguishers, servicing needs to be completed by an appropriately accredited engineer. Not just anyone can service your fire extinguishers (no matter how many youtube videos they watch!) A professional fire protection company will ensure your extinguishers are in full working order.
Once I have bought them is that it?
No. Extinguishers don’t last forever. An extinguisher’s life expectancy is around 5 -10 years depending on various factors. Due to environmental reasons, we no longer recommend refilling extinguishers as it means the contents need to be emptied so you do need to purchase replacements. We keep our clients fully up to date with their extinguisher life cycle so that new or additional items can be budgeted for.
As you can see fire extinguisher management is by no means simple, at all!
Our clients really appreciate the fact that we take care of all aspects of fire extinguisher maintenance and assessment. We provide full fire extinguisher risk assessments that are particularly useful for new businesses, or businesses that relocate, so that you know, from the start, you have the fire extinguishers you need to keep your team and customers safe and meet all of the UK fire safety regulations.
For more information, or to ask a question that you can’t seem to find the answer to, message us here and we will get back to you asap. Alternatively, please call us today and speak to one of our friendly team.