Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person has a legal duty to ensure fire safety equipment ‘are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair’.
While the law doesn’t explicitly require extinguisher inspections, it is implied. The standard BS 5306-3 provides guidance on the different types of inspections. Adherence to the standard is not a legal requirement, but doing so demonstrates compliance.
The standard states that extinguisher should be subject to inspections and servicing. Visual inspection should be carried out on a monthly basis to ensure that they are in place and in suitable condition, so that they can do their job in the event of a fire.
This online training course is designed for responsible persons, or those tasked with conducting fire extinguisher visual inspections, with the knowledge they require to suitably undertake them.
Fire extinguishers are critical in any fire prevention plan. They can prevent the loss of property and life, as well as prevent fires entirely. However, they cannot function if they are not in place and in adequate condition.
As such, those that are responsible for any premises are legally responsible to ensure that all fire prevention measures are able to do their job, as they were meant to. Fire extinguishers inspections need to be carried out regularly. Businesses can face heavy fines if inspection dates are missed. Ignoring this responsibility can not only lead to fines but also endanger other equipment and human lives as well.