Fire extinguishers in workplaces and the common parts of buildings need an annual basic service by a competent person under BS 5306-3:2017, an extended service with discharge test typically every 5 years for water, foam and powder, a CO2 overhaul every 10 years, and monthly visual checks. BritCertify services extinguishers across London, priced by quote on number and type.
How often do fire extinguishers need servicing?
Every 12 months as a minimum. BS 5306-3:2017 sets out an annual basic service by a competent person, an extended service with a discharge test typically every 5 years for water, foam and powder extinguishers, a CO2 overhaul every 10 years, and monthly visual checks by the responsible person in between.
| Check | Who | How often | What it involves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual check | Responsible person or staff | Monthly | In its place and unobstructed, safety pin and tamper seal intact, gauge in the green, no visible damage |
| Basic service | Competent person | Every 12 months | Weight or pressure check, inspection of body, hose and fittings, new tamper seal, dated label |
| Extended service | Competent person | Typically every 5 years (water, foam, powder) | Test discharge, internal inspection, refill and recharge |
| CO2 overhaul | Competent person | Every 10 years | Overhaul and pressure test of the cylinder, or replacement |
The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires firefighting equipment to be maintained in efficient working order. Servicing to BS 5306-3 is the recognised way of showing that it has been.
Which fire extinguisher do I need?
One that matches the fires you are most likely to have. All extinguishers are red, with a coloured band or label showing the type.
| Type (colour) | Use on | Do not use on | Typical London premises |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water (red) | Class A: wood, paper, textiles | Electrical equipment, cooking oil, flammable liquids | Offices, shops and stockrooms |
| Foam (cream) | Class A and Class B: flammable liquids | Cooking oil and fat fires | Offices, shops, garages and workshops |
| CO2 (black) | Electrical equipment and Class B | Cooking oil fires; not effective on Class A | Offices, comms rooms, beside electrical intake cupboards |
| Dry powder (blue) | Classes A, B and C, and electrical | Enclosed indoor spaces, where the powder affects visibility and breathing | Outdoor areas, vehicles, fuel stores |
| Wet chemical (yellow) | Class F: cooking oils and fats | Electrical equipment | Restaurant and takeaway kitchens |
Most offices and shops need water or foam for general combustibles plus CO2 near electrical equipment. Commercial kitchens need wet chemical extinguishers and fire blankets. Your commercial fire risk assessment should state what is needed and where.
Where should extinguishers be positioned?
On the escape route, close to exits and near the specific hazards they are meant for, so that someone can pick one up on the way out rather than going further into the building. They should be wall-mounted or on a stand, with an identification sign above showing the type and what it can be used on.
Extinguishers that sit on the floor get kicked over, used as doorstops or hidden behind stock. If your layout has changed since the extinguishers were placed, for example after a refit or a change of tenant, the positions may no longer match the risks, and we will point that out during the service.
How many extinguishers does my premises need?
Enough that nobody has far to go to reach the right type for the risk in front of them. The number depends on floor area, the number of storeys, the layout and any specific hazards such as a commercial kitchen, a server room or a fuel store. Your fire risk assessment should set it out.
Most small premises need fewer extinguishers than they expect, but of the right types and in the right places. A single-storey shop might need a water or foam extinguisher by the exit and a CO2 beside the electrics; a restaurant adds wet chemical and a fire blanket in the kitchen. Buying more of the wrong type adds servicing cost without adding safety.
What should staff know about using an extinguisher?
Only tackle a fire if it is small, you have been trained, the alarm has been raised and your exit is behind you. If in doubt, leave and call 999. Make sure staff know which extinguisher is for which fire, and never let anyone ‘test’ an extinguisher by pulling the pin, because a partly discharged unit may be empty when it is needed.
What happens during an extinguisher service?
Each extinguisher is inspected, tested as its type and age require, resealed, labelled and recorded.
- We check the extinguisher is the right type for the risk next to it.
- We inspect the body, hose, horn, handle and pressure gauge for damage and corrosion, and weigh CO2 units to check for loss of contents.
- We read the manufacture date and service history to see whether an extended service or overhaul is due.
- We check mounting, identification signs and that nothing blocks access.
- We fit new tamper seals and a dated service label, and record each unit in the service report.
If an extinguisher fails, or would cost more to refurbish than to replace, we label it, explain why and quote for a replacement before doing anything else.
Do landlords and block managers need fire extinguishers?
Not automatically; the fire risk assessment decides. In many residential common parts, the assessment concludes that residents should leave rather than fight a fire, so extinguishers are not provided. Where they are provided, they must be maintained like any other.
In HMOs, the HMO fire risk assessment and licence conditions decide, and many councils focus on a fire blanket in each shared kitchen. In plant rooms, lift motor rooms and caretakers’ stores within blocks, a CO2 extinguisher for staff and contractors is often appropriate. A fire risk assessment answers this question for your building.
What problems do we find with extinguishers in London premises?
- Extinguishers used as door wedges, which defeats both the extinguisher and the fire door.
- The wrong type for the risk: a water extinguisher beside a deep-fat fryer, or a single CO2 unit as the only cover in a shop full of stock.
- Missing safety pins or broken seals after someone has pulled the pin to ‘test’ it.
- Gauges reading in the red, or service labels several years out of date.
- Units inherited from a previous tenant with no service history.
- Powder extinguishers in small offices, where discharge indoors would make escape harder.
How is extinguisher servicing priced?
By quote, based on how many extinguishers you have, their types, and whether any extended services or CO2 overhauls are due. Send us a count by type and photos of the service labels and we will quote including VAT. Servicing can often be combined with a fire risk assessment review or fire alarm service to save a separate visit. Request a quote to get started. We hold £5 million public liability insurance.
Fire extinguisher servicing pricing (inc. VAT)
| Option | Price (inc. VAT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual basic service | Quote | Priced by the number and type of extinguishers on site |
| Extended service (discharge test) | Quote | Typically every 5 years for water, foam and powder |
| CO2 extinguisher overhaul | Quote | Every 10 years |
| Replacement extinguishers | Quote | Only where a unit fails or is beyond economic repair |
Servicing is priced once we know how many extinguishers you have and of which types, and quotes include VAT. Central London parking or Congestion Charge may be added; we always confirm before booking.
Book this serviceWhat's included
- Annual basic service to BS 5306-3:2017
- Check that each extinguisher type suits the risk nearby
- Extended service or CO2 overhaul identified when due
- New tamper seals and dated service labels
- Location, mounting and signage check
- Service report listing every extinguisher
- Advice on monthly visual checks
How it works
Count and identify
Tell us how many extinguishers you have, of which types, and the dates on their service labels. Photos of the labels help us quote accurately.
Written quote
We quote inc. VAT for the annual service plus any extended services or CO2 overhauls that are due, before anything is booked.
On-site service
Each extinguisher is inspected, tested as its type and age require, resealed, labelled and checked for the right location and signage.
Service records
You receive a service report listing every extinguisher and its result, ready for your fire risk assessment file and your insurer.
Fire Extinguisher Servicing: frequently asked questions
Is fire extinguisher servicing a legal requirement?
The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires the responsible person to maintain firefighting equipment in efficient working order, and BS 5306-3:2017 is the recognised way to do it: an annual basic service by a competent person, extended services and CO2 overhauls when due, and monthly visual checks. London Fire Brigade and insurers may ask to see the service records.
Can I check my own fire extinguishers?
Yes, for the monthly visual check, and you should. Confirm each extinguisher is in place and unobstructed, the pin and tamper seal are intact, the gauge reads in the green and there is no damage, then record the check. The annual service, extended service and CO2 overhaul need a competent person with the right equipment and training.
What does the service label on an extinguisher show?
It shows when the extinguisher was last serviced, what type of service was carried out and who did it, usually with the date the next service is due. Check the labels during your monthly visual checks. A label more than 12 months old means the extinguisher is overdue for its annual basic service under BS 5306-3:2017.
Which fire extinguisher should a restaurant kitchen have?
A wet chemical extinguisher for cooking oil and fat fires, which are Class F fires, plus a fire blanket for small pan fires. A CO2 extinguisher is useful near electrical equipment. Never use water on burning oil, because it can cause a violent flare-up. Your commercial fire risk assessment should state the number, type and position of extinguishers for your kitchen.
What is an extended service?
A more thorough service carried out typically every 5 years for water, foam and powder extinguishers. The extinguisher is test discharged, inspected internally, then refilled and recharged. It confirms the extinguisher will actually work when needed, which a weight or pressure check alone cannot fully show. CO2 extinguishers have an overhaul every 10 years instead.
What happens to an extinguisher that fails its service?
We label it as failed, explain the reason, such as corrosion, damage, loss of pressure or an overdue overhaul, and quote for a replacement before taking any further action. You decide whether to go ahead. Until a replacement is in place, the area relies on the remaining extinguishers, so we tell you whether the cover still matches the risk.
Sources and official guidance
Written and checked by the BritCertify technical team. Last reviewed 6 October 2026.