Fire Extinguisher Testing

Why do we need our Fire Extinguishers Testing?

Under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the responsible person must provide general fire precautions including the provision of means to fight fire.

The means to fight fire in most cases would be in the form of Portable fire extinguishers that conform to British or European standards. Extinguishers should be visually inspected on a regular basis preferably monthly and should be fit for purpose and serviced annually.

We service and maintain extinguishers in accordance with BS 3506 pt 3 and BS EN3.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Water
Water is the cheapest and most widely used fire extinguisher. Used for Class A fires. Not suitable for Class B (Liquid) fires, or where electricity is involved.

Water is the cheapest and most widely used fire extinguisher. Used for Class A fires. Not suitable for Class B (Liquid) fires, or where electricity is involved.

 

Foam
Foam is more expensive than water, but more versatile. Used for Class A & B fires. Foam spray extinguishers are not recommended for fires involving electricity.

 

Powder
Often termed the ‘multi-purpose’ extinguisher, as it can be used on classes A, B & C fires. Best used on Class B fires but will extinguish Class C gas fires. Specialist powders are available for class D metal fires.

 

Co2
Carbon Dioxide is used for fires involving electrical apparatus, and will also extinguish class B fires.

 

Wet Chemical
Wet Chemical is mainly used of cooking oil and fats, but can be. Also be used on class A fires. 

Summary

BS EN 3 is the standard new extinguishers should conform to. BS EN 3 requires that the entire body of the extinguisher be coloured red. A zone of colour of up to 5% of the external area can be used to identify the contents using the system below:

• Water has an entire body of red as standard
• Foam would have a zone colour of ‘Cream’.
• Powder would have a zone colour of ‘Blue’.
• Co2 would have a zone colour of ‘Black’.
• Wet Chem would have a zone colour of ‘Yellow’.

For more information please call us on 02920 809090