The humble fire extinguisher. Along with telephone and post boxes, one of the most instantly recognisable iconic red symbols of British living. They are something that many of us hope we never need to actually use, and take comfort in the peace of mind the presence of a fire extinguisher gives.

However, not many people realise that this important piece of front line fire fighting equipment comes with a whole range of legal responsibilities. The fire extinguisher may be small in stature, but it comes with a large list of responsibilities.

SECUREIT is a South Wales-based family run company specialising in fire prevention and security solutions for residential and commercial properties. The company is dedicated to providing innovative and reliable products and services to protect its clients’ assets and ensure peace of mind. To assist customers with managing their fire extinguishers, SECUREIT has compiled this list of considerations to be referred to by business owners or designated individuals responsible for overseeing fire extinguishers in an organisation.

In the UK, fire extinguisher regulations, outlined in British Standard BS 5306, require a minimum of two Class A extinguishers per floor, annual servicing, and regular inspections to ensure they are in good working order and correctly positioned.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the Key Regulations:

Minimum Extinguishers:

A minimum of two Class A fire extinguishers (for wood or paper fires) are required on every floor, unless the premises are very small.

Servicing:

All fire extinguishers must be serviced annually to BS 5306 standards by a trained professional.

Maintenance:

Fire extinguishers should be inspected monthly by the responsible person to ensure they are in their correct location, haven’t been tampered with, and show no signs of damage.

Discharge Testing:

Water, foam, and powder fire extinguishers should undergo discharge tests every five years, and CO2 extinguishers every ten years.

Placement:

Fire extinguishers should be mounted in conspicuous positions where persons following an escape route can easily see them, ideally near exits.

Mounting Height:

Fire extinguishers weighing 4kg or less should have the handle mounted 1.5m from the ground, while those weighing more than 4kg should have the handle mounted 1m from the ground.

Proximity:

Building occupants should be no more than 30 meters from a fire extinguisher.

Specialized Extinguishers:

In addition to Class A extinguishers, ensure you have specialized extinguishers for Classes B (liquids), C (gases), D (metals), and F (cooking oils and fats).

Labelling:

Extinguishers should be clearly labelled with information such as the type of extinguisher, how and when to use them, and the date of the last test.

Risk Assessment:

The number of fire extinguishers required may be reduced based on a risk assessment, especially in sprinklered buildings or those with automatic suppression systems.

BS 5306-8:2023 Revision:

The latest revision of BS 5306-8:2023 revises the guidance pertaining to the number of A-rated extinguishers required in small premises, with areas under 50m² needing only one A-rated extinguisher, and spaces exceeding 50m² needing a minimum of two.

If you are looking for fire extinguishers advice or accredited fire prevention and security solutions in South Wales, SECUREIT can provide CCTV installation, intruder alarms, fire prevention systems, and access control for both commercial and residential properties.

Whether you’re in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, or Llanelli, our team of experienced in-house engineers ensures top-tier security tailored to your needs. Protect your home or business in Bristol, Bath or Bridgend with 24/7 surveillance from our own South Wales based monitoring control room, fire safety compliance, and cutting-edge security technology.

Don’t leave domestic or commercial fire safety to chance — contact SECUREIT today for a free domestic or commercial consultation and keep your home or business property fire safe and secure.

Don’t just protect it – SECUREIT.