Legal Responsibilities to Fire Extinguishers

In thousands of shops, schools, care homes, hotels, factories and offices across the UK, fire extinguishers are positioned ready to be used should a fire occur. We walk past the familiar red fire extinguishers daily, and yet little notice is given to them unless the emergency situation arises.

Legal Responsibilities to Fire Extinguishers

The Responsible Person is obligated by governing law to carry out, or arrange for, a fire risk assessment of the business premises.

As part of the fire risk assessment, the premises must be equipped with the appropriate fire detection and fire-fighting equipment, and fire extinguishers come under this equipment.

As the Responsible Person, it is your duty to ensure fire extinguishers are readily available on your premises and that an adequate number of people are trained to use them if a fire were to occur. In order to remain compliant with the current British Standard (BS 5306-3), fire extinguishers must undergo a yearly service.

It is the obligation of the Responsible Person to ensure that the yearly service is carried out by a reputable and trustworthy fire safety services provider, such as Churches Fire & Security.

For more information about the remit of the Responsible Person, see our informative video guide.

Fire Extinguisher Requirements

Class A fire risks (paper, wood, textiles etc.) are present in most buildings. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that a minimum of two Class A fire extinguishers per floor be clearly accessible all of the time.

The number of extinguishers required varies. Churches Fire & Security can determine the amount needed to comply with the Order and to provide adequate fire protection for the building.

Fire Extinguisher Types

There are several types of fire extinguishers, each with a specified use depending on the type of fire present.

• Water – Fire Class A; Suitable for use on wood, paper and textiles, water extinguishers eject a spray over Class A fires
• Co2 – Fire Class B; Suitable for use on electrical ignitions and flammable liquids and Class B fires
• Foam – Fire Class A & B; Suitable for use on both Class A and Class B fires, appropriate on petrol, oils, fat  and paint fires
• Powder – Fire Class A, B & C; Suitable for fire on a mixture of materials, Powder extinguishers are notably useful on methane, hydrogen and flammable liquid fires
• Wet Chemical – Fire Class F; Specifically for use on cooking oil fires, Wet Chemical extinguishers are commonly found in kitchens.