extinguisher service

 

PSC offer a service for servicing extinguishers on a fully comprehensive basis for £6.00 per extinguisher. To book a service reply to this email or pick up the phone 01455 557877 and we will be happy to deal with your service.

 

British Standard BS5306 Part 3 2000, recommends that all portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance inspection and service, by a competenent person. It also recommends a monthly and six-monthly visual inspection that can be done locally on-site by a non-competent person. The qualification for compency in this instance is that the person (engineer) shall have attained a prescribed certificate of competency following a recognized training course run by an accredited British fire extinguisher training establishment, under a quality assurance criteria. The certificate is awarded under the title of QAS 3169 part 3 and 4. On the annual service visit each extinguisher is stripped down and the contents emptied into a bucket for re-use or disposal, depending upon condition. The exterior/interior of the extinguisher is checked for signs of corrosion and interior for signs of split/lifted linings, the CO2 cartridge is weighed and discharge hose and valve assembly checked for correctness of actions etc. The whole lot reassembled using new washers and seals where required, and the label signed off stating the date of that service visit.

This action varies slightly depending upon type but applies generally to all gas cartridge and stored pressure type extinguishers. However it does not apply to CO2 extinguishers, which are sealed under high pressure. These are weighed accurately against their known full weight criteria, which is stamped upon the neckband.

Once every five years each extinguisher (except CO2) is subjected to a discharge test, wherein the contents are expelled under the normal operating pressure and technique of the extinguisher, and then refilled as per a service visit.

When an extinguisher has been discharged it has to be refilled or replaced as soon as possible, (bearing it mind that its purpose cannot be fulfilled while it is empty). Most larger type premises carry a small stock of spares so as to be able to replace the odd one or two during the year if necessary, thereby avoiding the costly call-out charge for an engineer to come on site to refill one extinguisher outside the normal annual service visit.

Note: You cannot use the part contents of any extinguisher once it has been partly discharged.

 

Paul Coughlan