FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

The rules and regulations surrounding fire extinguisher maintenance are contained in Australia Standard AS 1851 Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment.

All fire extinguishers need to be inspected every six months. However, some systems may require additional annual service. Every fire extinguisher should be emptied, pressure tested and refilled every five years.

How often your equipment will need to be tested and serviced will depend on your type of extinguisher and its age. If your firefighting agent has leaked, then it will need to be refilled, or the extinguisher replaced.

“Fires can happen fast. Often you or your employees will only have seconds to react.”

Maintaining your fire extinguishers to Australian Standards means storing the correct extinguisher type in the correct location and environment, scheduling inspections every 6 months, and replacing extinguishers in case of fault or damage.

It is important to be familiar with the different types of fire extinguishers in Australia, as using the correct equipment is vital to safely controlling a fire.

So, what are the 5 different types of fire extinguisher and what are they used for?

Knowing the different types of Australian fire extinguishers is essential. Using the incorrect extinguisher – for example a Class A water extinguisher on an electrical fire – will make the blaze worse, putting you and your workplace in danger.