Advice

Where possible, we aim to give you as much information to make the correct decisions regarding your fire and safety products and installation. However, we do advise that you seek professional advice to keep up with the latest changes in laws and regulations.

Why do I need a fire extinguisher?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order requires the 'responsible person' in the workplace (ie the employer / owner / person in control) to take general fire safety precautions to ensure the health and safety of staff and others.  This includes assessing all the fire risks and determining the controls necessary for eliminating or reducing the risk of fire.  These controls are very likely to include the provision and maintenance of suitable, portable fire extinguishers.

What is the fire triangle?

A fire triangle is the 3 elements needed to cause a fire. They are fuel, oxygen and heat.

How can fire be prevented?

Fire can be prevented by protecting combustible materials and substances (ie fuel) from exposure to sources of ignition and elevated temperatures (ie heat).  

Protection measures can include 'good housekeeping', correct material storage facilities, equipment maintenance and personnel training.

Which fire extinguishers do I need?

We have a section on advice that should offer everything you need to know. Please don't be afraid to take advice from a third party. Fire extinguisher specification is not as complicated as you may think.

If you click on the "Fire Extinguisher Guide" tab, this will advise you which extinguishers apply to each fire risk.

On this basis, you will need enough extinguishers to meet the A rating and sufficient extinguishers to cover any other risk that you may have. So if you have computers or electrical equipment, you should have sufficient Co2 extinguishers to cover the risk.  There are no technical calculations to measure  -  this is purely a best assumption.

How does an extinguisher work?

Portable fire extinguishers work when a suitable suppression media is discharged onto a fire, which cools the combustible materials and starves the fire of oxygen.

Why do fire extinguishers need servicing?

Portable fire extinguishers must be regularly serviced in order to ensure that, when activated, they perform correctly.

Maintenance labels and servicing intervals

Portable fire extinguishers must have a service label attached which shows the date it was commissioned, it's service history thereafter and the persons responsible for verifying its fitness for purpose.

Location and Siting

BS 5306-8 sets out guidelines for selection, location and siting of portable fire extinguishers.

Standards and Approvals

Fire extinguisher standards and approvals are as follows:

CE Mark  -  demonstrates verification and certification of compliance with the Pressure Equipment Directive: 97/23/EC by an independent notified body.

Kitemark  –  demonstrates verification and certification of compliance with the relevant product standards:  BS EN 3 by the British Standards Institute (BSI).

LPCB Mark  -  demonstrates verification and certification of compliance with the relevant product standards: BS EN 3 by BRE Global.

BAFE Mark  -  demonstrates verification and certification of compliance with the relevant product standards: BS EN 3 by British Approvals for Fire Equipment.