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Phil West
Member - 2 posts
Could you please advise me how often a fire extinguisher should be checked by a competent person? The company that I deal with at present is stating that they should be checked every six months. I believe this to be an overkill and was looking at extending the time from 12 months to 18 months and maybe then to 24 months as there have been no problems identified at inspection. When an extinguisher has been discharged accidentally, it is replaced immediately and the used one brought back into service at the earliest opportunity. Many thanks.
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Ciaron Dunne
Member - 85 posts
Phil,
As Tina Zenthon comments in the forum, British Standard BS5306 Part 3 2000 recommends that all portable fire extinguishers are subjected to an annual maintenance inspection and service, by a competent person. In case you missed Tina's response, please see:
http://www.workplacelaw.net/forum/thread.php?thread_id=36
You should also consider using a company registered by the British Approvals for Fire Equipment (BAFE). tel. 0181 541 1950, e-mail http://www.bafe.org.uk
Regards
Ciaron Dunne, Editor
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Anonymous
Regarding fire extinguisher checks, the engineers that check mine are trained by the British Fire Consortium to the QSP94001 standard. Is this good enough?
Thanks
Duncan Varney
Director of a fulfillment warehouse
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Michael Ney
Member - 4 posts
Whatever training courses the fitters have been on, the work is primarily one of dedication, thoroughness and practical skills. Fire extinguishers are fairly simple bits of kit, they suffer from corrosion, dirt blocking the working parts, impact damage and abuse. If the operatives have been trained and show those skills and dedication, then they are "competent". Much of it comes down to supervision. If you find that when you open up a water type extinguisher that has been serviced and find rust, a gas cylinder in poor shape, the handle mechanism stiff and inadequate to pierce the cartridge, the safety pin jammed tight or the hose perished, then the "service" wasn't competent. That is part of management.
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Anonymous
I believe that all portable fire extinguishers should be subjected to annual maintenance.This should be carried out by contractors.However,all fire extinguishers should be checked on a weekly basis.
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Chris Johnson
Member - 5 posts
Please Note: The British Standard for the Installation and Servicing is being reviewed at this time. Public Consultation is closed (before most found out about it) but write in with your input. The revised standard is in draft, but due to be published mid to late 2008.
It may require 3-year updates for all "Competent Persons" and some clarification regarding the practice of Mail Order, to ensure on site commissioning (could be damaged in transit).
I have asked them to clarify; filling, installing and commissioning.
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