All fire extinguishers in the UK must be serviced every 12 months in line with BS 5306-3. This applies to all businesses, HMOs, commercial premises, communal areas and managed residential properties. Some high-risk environments may require additional checks such as extended servicing or pressure testing.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must ensure extinguishers are maintained. This is usually the landlord, business owner, building manager, employer or property management company. Servicing must be carried out by a competent fire safety technician.

A certified technician will check the extinguisher’s pressure, weight, components, safety pin, tamper seal and overall condition. They will also verify the contents, confirm the extinguisher is suitable for the area, carry out any required refills, and replace any units that fail compliance. A service label and documentation are provided.

Failing to service extinguishers can invalidate insurance, lead to enforcement notices, fines and breaches under the Fire Safety Order. It can also cause extinguishers to malfunction during a fire which puts lives and property at risk.

Yes. You receive a full service report confirming each extinguisher inspected, the work completed, compliance status and any recommendations. A service label is attached to each extinguisher as required by BS 5306.