Fire extinguishers are a safety precaution that saves innocent lives daily in the UK; they are a bylaw requirement in all public space buildings. These can be undervalued but would be the first thing you would look for if a minor, manageable fire broke out in your building. Fire extinguishers are a life-saving tool because they act as the first line of defence in a fire outbreak to aid escape from the premises.
It is a legal requirement for all non-domestic/commercial properties to equip their building with the correct firefighting equipment. It is also a requirement to ensure they are maintained annually. Simply installing portable fire equipment is not acceptable and could lead to severe penalties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The nominated appointed person responsible for fire safety in your premises (Responsible Person/Duty Holder) needs to demonstrate with due diligence they have sourced a quality provider for the installation, service, and maintenance of your portable fire equipment.
Regular maintenance of your fire extinguishers is not only crucial but is required by both BS5306:3 2017 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Having a fire extinguisher on site is the first step to efficient fire safety. Regular maintenance ensures that the extinguishers are working efficiently and can be used effectively in an emergency.
FLR Fire and Security have extensive experience within fire safety, offering an all-inclusive package to make your servicing easy, with no hidden costs or charges. All parts and labour covered by your annual package deal.
FLR Fire and Security guarantee:
- Free survey and quote without obligation
- Fire extinguisher installation and service work performed to the highest standards
- All extinguishers carry a British Standard Kitemark
- A five-year warranty on all new equipment
- Installation and service work performed promptly
- Value for your money
There are multiple types of fire extinguishers for specific categories of fires.
The five types of fire classified are A, B, C, D, and F.
- A – Fires containing wood, paper, rubber, fabrics, and many plastics
- B – Flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel or oils
- C -fires involving flammable gases
- D – fires involving burning metals
- F – fires involving cooking oils such as used in deep-fat fryers.
- Electrical fires (the letter E is not used; instead, the symbol of an electric spark will be displayed) – these electrical equipment fires.
Understanding the types and classifications is very important, as you will have to supply suitable extinguishers by law to mitigate the risks to your business. Having the wrong extinguisher can seriously threaten your fire safety and could also leave you without valid property insurance if you ever encountered fire damage.
Why do you need fire extinguishers?
- Save lives
- The most commonly used type of protection against fires
- Research shows that fire extinguishers save people in 80% of fire incidents.
- Aid escape from the premises
- They limit the spread of fire, and in the process, reduces the amount of pollution and smoke that emerge from a fire incident.
- Fire extinguishers come in different forms to suit different fire types.
- Every employer, owner or occupier of business premises is accountable for having the correct volume and type of fire extinguishers. They act as the first line of defence in the event of a fire.
Having the correct fire extinguisher can help save lives and property, making it an absolute essential in every building, both home and commercial.