Fire Fighting Equipment should be serviced annually in accordance with BS5306. To ensure that Fire Extinguishers are in good working order, they must have:
- A commissioning service
- An annual service
- An extended service or be replaced every 5 years
Note: The exception to the 5-year replacement are CO2 Fire Extinguishers which should be “hydraulically tested” on a 10-yearly basis.
Fire Extinguisher Commissioning
Fire Extinguishers do not come ready commissioned because they could be damaged, discharged or have lost pressure during delivery. Therefore, BS 5306 part 3 recommends that Fire Extinguishers are commissioned on-site by a competent person.
BS 5306-3 (Clause 5.1) states “All extinguishers should be subject to commissioning on initial positioning. The commissioning of an extinguisher should be carried out by a competent person. Upon removal from its packaging and transit protection, and immediately prior to placing in its designated place, the extinguisher should undergo the sequence of commissioning service actions taking into account the safety precautions. Upon completion of the above procedures the extinguisher should then be installed and positioned in accordance with BS 5306-8”.
Fire Extinguishers should be regularly checked by the nominated person to make sure that appliances are in their proper position and have not been tampered with. Your monthly inspection should provide a good indication of the overall health of the Fire Extinguishers.
You should check:
- The fire extinguisher is still present in its designated location
- No damage has occurred to the equipment
- No obstructions are blocking the equipment from view or from easy access
- The fire extinguisher is fully charged and operational
However, if a Fire Extinguisher is damaged or unable to be used safely, it should be replaced immediately. If the Fire Extinguisher has been discharged, it is to be recharged or replaced and the used fire extinguisher returned to your service provider for refilling and re-issuing. Fire Extinguishers should also be routinely inspected by a competent service technician to ensure they have not been discharged or lost pressure.
BS 5306-8 (Clause 4.7) states “The Extinguishers referred to in this part of BS 5306 should be commissioned, inspected, tested and maintained by a competent person in accordance with BS 5306-3 annually”. A competent person should also replace fire extinguishers that are no longer usable with serviceable extinguishers.
Fire Extinguisher Extended Service or Replacement
The British Standard sets out works which should be completed for an extended service which applies to water, foam and dry powder Fire Extinguishers which should be tested by discharge on a 5-yearly basis.
Dry powder and foam type Fire Extinguishers are not suitable for test discharging on site for environmental reasons. These appliances are therefore replaced on a new-exchange basis. This approach means that works can usually be completed in one visit.
The new-exchange system means that Fixfire® provides a new warrantied extinguisher of the same type and remove the existing extinguisher which is due for extended service.
We maintain record cards for each site, which detail the location, age and type of each Fire Extinguisher. This information enables us to predict ‘extended service’ work prior to each visit so we can come prepared.
Following each inspection, we issue a Service Report and Certificate of Inspection.
Got a question about Fire Extinguishers? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999.
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Most fire safety courses offer a mix of classroom-based learning and practical training experience, educating attendees on how to respond in the event of an emergency.
In order to fulfil your obligations under current Fire Safety Law, it is essential that you have a documented regime of Fire Safety tests and checks and personnel who are suitably trained to respond correctly in the event of an emergency.
All Fire Safety Training is provided by experienced, time-served and qualified persons from a Fire Safety background.
Even if the cameras don't identify the culprit, they can identify who was in the area at the time of the false alarm activation. Fixfire® specialises in integration and will bring together your Fire, Access and Security systems providing enhanced functionality.
Fixfire® provides leading-edge integration with ancillary systems and equipment. Our mission is to deliver reliable, well-engineered installations that provide you with peace of mind 24/7.
Smoke detectors that are placed too close to kitchens, cooking appliances, locker rooms or bathrooms will most likely be accidentally activated by the smoke or steam emitted by these sources. Detectors might need to be relocated.
Smoke detectors are more sensitive and are installed in any environment where smoke or steam would not normally be present. Heat detectors are installed in areas such as kitchens where smoke detectors would constantly false alarm during routine cooking. Multi-sensors combine smoke and heat in one detector and offer immunity to false alarms in certain applications.
New detectors have improved technology and can measure a range of conditions to potentially be more effective at detecting a fire condition.
Flush Fire Detectors ensure protection is not compromised in any areas where conventional ‘un-pluggable’ detection could be subject to abuse. It is widely used in SEN Schools.
Make sure the alarm system is properly and regularly maintained.
Fixfire® is BAFE accredited for the Design, Installation, Maintenance and Servicing of Fire Alarm Systems.
All works are carried out by our employed, uniformed and trained Fire Alarm engineers.
Following each visit, a Certificate of Inspection is issued.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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