Fire Extinguisher Servicing & Maintenance

1. The first thing our BAFE-qualified fire safety experts will look at is the outside condition of the fire extinguisher to make sure it’s rust and corrosion free, as well as free from any damage. We will also check the hose (if applicable) to make sure it hasn’t started to perish and remains flexible. Another important visual check is to make sure the operating instructions are clear and legible.
2. We will then check it hasn’t been discharged and that the pressure reading is still within the green value on the gauge.
3. Next we will remove and check the discharge hose for blockages. This is especially important if the fire extinguisher is stored in an older building or an unused room as insects can make their way into the hose and start to build a home. This can then impede the efficiency of the extinguisher in an emergency.
4. Lastly we weigh the extinguisher to make sure it’s within a 10% tolerance of the original weight. If there are any issues with the weight our engineers will inspect the extinguisher to determine the cause. Depending on the cause they will either recharge the extinguisher or advise that it is replaced.

The cartridge-operated fire extinguisher basic service starts off very similar to the stored pressure service procedure with an inspection of the outer casing, checking the instructions are legible and checking the hose for blockages or signs of perishing. After this there is a slightly different procedure:

1. Once the externals have been checked the headcap is unscrewed and the contents are checked. For powder extinguishers, this means checking the powder for signs of clumping or caking. For water-based fire extinguishers, the contents are poured into a bucket. If there is a 10% difference between the manufacturing weight and the recorded weight it will be investigated and replaced.
2. Next, the gas cartridge is inspected to ensure that there are no signs of corrosion, the 7 key pieces of information are legible, it’s less than 10 years since manufacture and is within the 10% tolerance by weight. If the cartridge fails one of these checks it will be replaced with a new one.
3. If everything passes, the contents of the extinguisher (liquid/powder) will be put back, the headcap reattached along with the gas cartridge.

We can also carry out extended services which are required every 5 years however due to the cost of these services it is typically cheaper to replace your fire extinguishers at this point. The majority of the materials used within a fire extinguisher can be recycled once it has been fully dismantled although an extended service is usually the most sustainable solution.

Our extended service includes the complete basic service described above however also looks at the internals of your fire extinguisher.

1. Our engineer will discharge the extinguisher so that they can dismantle the fire extinguisher safely.
2. They will then unscrew the headcap and make sure that all of the removable elements are free from any corrosion or damage.
3. With the headcap removed they will inspect the inside of the extinguisher using an inspection camera to check for any corrosion or damage.
4. If the extinguisher passes the internal inspection the engineer will replace all of the O-rings, and refill the fire extinguisher with the same medium (foam, powder, water etc). Once the headcap has been screwed on the extinguisher will be repressurised.
5. If the refill requires a chemical additive (such as foam or powder) the fire extinguisher will be labelled with the new chemical formula.

The extended service of a cartridge-operated extinguisher is very similar to the basic service. The difference with an extended service is that once the basic service is completed, it will be discharged to test that it is working correctly. After the discharge, any remaining liquid/powder will be drained from the casing which is then rinsed out. It is then refilled with the same type of extinguishant and a new gas cartridge replaces the one that has just been discharged.