Fire Extinguishers

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for England and Wales.
  Article 13 Fire-fighting and fire detection.
• The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 for Scotland.
  Section 58 Scottish Ministers’ power to make regulations about fire safety.

Where there is a risk of fire, the employer must consider the risk and take sufficient action to minimise and control it, in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons.

Yes, a number of British and European Standards apply, the main standards are:-

• BS 5306: Part 3: 2003 Code of Practice for Maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers.
• BS 5306: Part 8: 2000 Code of Practice for Selection and Installation of Portable Fire Extinguishers.

The type and number of fire extinguishers required will depend upon the type of business carried out.

This advice is available from a number of sources:-

• Recommendations from the Local Fire Officer;
• From a Fire Risk Assessor following a fire risk assessment of your premises;
• Approved suppliers of fire extinguishers.

All fire extinguishers should be maintained by a competent person at least once a year.

A written record showing the date of the last maintenance examination, this will normally be in the form of a sticker on the side of the extinguisher together with an entry in the fire log book.

The competent person should a schedule of the fire extinguishers serviced.

In addition to the annual maintenance, regular checks to be carried out to ensure:-

• The extinguisher is still in the correct location and on its bracket
• Instructional sign above the extinguisher
• The tamper seal is in place
• The extinguisher is accessible
• The stored pressure is correct where applicable
• No obvious defects

All checks to be recorded in the fire log book.

Staff with no training should not be expected to attempt to extinguish a fire; however, all staff should be familiar with the location and basic operating procedures for the equipment provided, in case there is need to use it.

If the fire strategy requires, for example certain staff members i.e. Fire Marshals to be deal with the situation in the initial stages if safe to do so, then they should be provided with a more comprehensive training.

All training to be recorded in staff personnel files and the fire log book.