Why Fire Extinguishers Should be Serviced

A UK fire extinguisher has four main parts

Tamper Seal (top)

The tamper seal does two things. It holds the safety pin in place and provides a visual indication that the safety pin hasn’t been removed so the extinguisher can’t have been discharged using the handle.

Gauge (top)

Damage or moisture can sometimes cause the gauge to stick. This means that the extinguisher could have lost all presure but the gauge would still show the needle in the green, indicating that it is fully pressurised.

Body (main red part)

If the fire extinguisher body shows any signs of corrosion, incliding dents, scratches or gouges, it could potentially be dangerous. It’s possible that the fire extinguisher could burst, releasing all pressure instantly and causing injury to the user.

The fire extinguisher must also display certain information on the label in regards to its operation, ratings and refilling information. If any of this text is no longer legible the fire extinguisher will be condemned.

Hose (long part)

If there is any kind of damage to the hose, it’s possible that it will leak during discharge. If all of the extinguishant (foam, water, powder etc.) isn’t reaching the fire due to a leak then the extinguisher will have a lower rating stated on the cylinder and won’t be as effective