Fire Extinguisher Servicing & Installation
Types
Regulations
How many?
There are five main types of fire extinguisher. Each is designed to cope with a specific fire hazard, but some are combination and can be used for more than one type of fire.
- WATER is used for Class A fires which involve common hazards such as wood, straw, paper and coal.
- FOAM can be used for Class A fires but is also suitable for use with
There are five main types of fire extinguisher. Each is designed to cope with a specific fire hazard, but some are combination and can be used for more than one type of fire.
- WATER is used for Class A fires which involve common hazards such as wood, straw, paper and coal.
- FOAM can be used for Class A fires but is also suitable for use with a Class B fire (flammable liquids) so it can tackle petrol and paints.
- CO2 (carbon dioxide) can be used for electrical hazards and can also tackle flammable liquids under Class B risks.
- POWDER is suitable for many different types of fires so it is good for premises where there could be fires involving flammable liquids, gas or electrical fires as well as Class A fires.
- WET CHEMICAL is designed specifically for fires involving cooking oil and fat (such as chip pan or deep fryer incidents) but it is also effective with Class A fires.
How many?
Regulations
How many?
The number will depend on the size of your premises and whether yours is a low or high risk business.
As a general rule, in a low risk workplace an employee should be within 30 metres of a fire extinguisher. It is best to site them close to potential fire risk and at room exit doors and stairways.
It’s important that employees can get hold
The number will depend on the size of your premises and whether yours is a low or high risk business.
As a general rule, in a low risk workplace an employee should be within 30 metres of a fire extinguisher. It is best to site them close to potential fire risk and at room exit doors and stairways.
It’s important that employees can get hold of an extinguisher quickly so if possible, mount them on the wall or on a stand with an identification sign above so that they can be seen clearly.
Make sure that staff know where the extinguishers are, that they are trained to use them and ensure that someone has responsibility for checking them regularly (in case they have been stolen or tampered with.)
Most types of extinguisher need to be discharged and refilled at certain intervals. Again, as a rule of thumb, extinguishers should be visually inspected regularly – around once a month – and tested or serviced each year.
It is an employer’s responsibility to ensure that they are maintained and ready to be used if needed.
Regulations
Regulations
Regulations
Regulations relating to fire safety in the UK changed in 2006 when the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect. It brought together all fire safety legislation into one single order.
And it made business owners and managers responsible for carrying out a fire safety risk assessment and implementing and maintaining a fir
Regulations relating to fire safety in the UK changed in 2006 when the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect. It brought together all fire safety legislation into one single order.
And it made business owners and managers responsible for carrying out a fire safety risk assessment and implementing and maintaining a fire management plan.
All businesses, however small, must carry out a fire risk assessment and decide on fire detection, alert and equipment needed although in a very small workplace, such as a shop or two person office, the fire warning system could be as simple as someone shouting “Fire!”
The Order does not specify minimum fire safety measures (but remember that your industry may be covered by other legislation covering minimum provision.) However, you could be prosecuted if you fail to protect your staff and an insurance company could refuse to pay for damage if it could have been prevented by proper safety measures or equipment.
Employers who would like help in carrying out a risk assessment or have any doubts about their fire policy – such as the correct number of extinguishers to buy - should take professional advice from us.
Fire Risk Assessments
Overview
From 1st October 2006 The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person (RP) of any non domestic premises to carry out a fire risk assessment, including measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire, and identify persons at risk. Where there are 5 or more employees, a record must be kept of significant findings and a definition of a Responsible Person is contained in the above Order.
There are official guidance documents on www.gov.uk which will assist you in conducting a fire risk assessment.
Where the RP does not have control of all parts of the building and it is shared with other persons, they should be informed of significant risks identified. The person who does have control (landlord, owner, or other employer etc.) has a responsibility to make sure the regulations are complied with, in the parts they control. This may require communication and cooperation between parties to ensure coordination of fire safety provisions, fire fighting measures, evacuation procedures etc.
Knowledge & Experience Required
Each RP must consider his or her own circumstances and capabilities in respect of the risk assessment process. Nobody knows as much about the business/activities as the RP but if the RP is not confident in his or her own ability to complete their fire safety risk assessment then they can arrange for a suitably qualified or experienced person to complete the assessment on their behalf.
Objectives
- Identify fire hazards and people at risk and to remove or reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm to as low as is reasonably practicable;
- Determine what fire safety measures and management policies are necessary to ensure the safety of people in the building should fire occur by:
- Reducing the probability of a fire starting.
- Ensuring that all occupants are alerted and can leave the premises safely its the event of a fire.
- Limiting the effects should a fire occur.