GUIDE, CHECKLISTS & LOGS
Fire Extinguisher Checklist & Logs
Create an efficient fire extinguisher checklist and logs for the perfect fire safety guide.
Performing routine (i.e. monthly) fire extinguishers checks is a necessary component of fire safety compliance. Fire extinguisher checks are important for ensuring the devices are functioning correctly and your team is prepared in case of a fire emergency.
Here’s how we make the process as quick and simple as possible:
- Ensure fire extinguisher checks are performed consistently and never missed.
- Store and access training videos and guides.
- Keep a digital log of all your checks as proof of compliance with all safety regulations.
- Trigger auto prompts and escalations for managers to take corrective action quickly if an issue is identified.
What is a fire extinguisher checklist?
A fire extinguisher checklist, also known as a fire extinguisher inspection form, is a tool to ensure your building is protected from fire hazards. It is used by safety officers and facility managers to conduct scheduled fire extinguisher inspections.
You should record details in this form, such as the location and condition of the fire extinguisher, its labels and maintenance tags, and any signs of damage. This helps to prevent unforeseen circumstances in the event a fire extinguisher is necessary in the building. It also reduces risks and promotes workplace safety.
Why do you need a fire extinguisher checklist?
You need a fire extinguisher checklist to help identify potential threats to your fire extinguishers. These can be anything that renders the devices ineffective during an emergency situation. A predetermined checklist helps standardise periodic fire extinguisher inspections.
Fire extinguisher inspections are compulsory by law. They ensure that fire safety protocols are correctly in place for the benefit of building occupants. With an effective checklist, inspectors can easily identify issues that can compromise the functionality of your fire extinguisher.
Employers must ensure all legal requirements are met in this area, including monthly visual inspections of portable extinguishers. If a building is found non-compliant with fire safety regulations, the business can face penalties and legal action. This can also hamper the safety of the building and its employees.
To avoid such circumstances, create a visual self-inspection checklist for your fire extinguishers.
What are the benefits of using a fire extinguisher checklist?
Following a fire extinguisher checklist can help ensure you cover all inspection points monthly, which ensures the fire extinguishers are safe and ready to use. Here are some of its other benefits:
Safety
Regular inspections ensure your building is safe from fire and can be used easily when needed. This helps to stop the spread of any small fire that has the potential to spread and cause massive damage.
Compliance
Regularly inspecting fire extinguishers with a checklist also enables you to stay compliant with all fire safety laws. Fire codes and regulations require all businesses to have functioning fire extinguishers on-premises.
Mental Assurance
Knowing that your fire safety protocols are regularly tested and functioning can give you massive peace of mind. It also spreads a positive work environment and employee satisfaction.
Disaster Prevention
If impending issues are caught on time and addressed effectively, a small incident can be contained and prevented from becoming a major disaster.
Preventive Maintenance
A fire extinguisher checklist standardises your inspection activities and helps you conduct preventative maintenance activities for any identified tampering, rust, or wear and tear.
What should be recorded on a fire extinguisher inspection checklist?
Depending on the country’s regulatory requirements, businesses should record a few aspects on a fire extinguisher inspection checklist.
- Location and accessibility: Confirm that the fire extinguisher is easily visible and unobstructed.
- Tamper seal: Make sure the tamper seal is unbroken and undamaged in any way.
- Locking pin: The locking pin should be intact and free of any physical damage, corrosion, or clogging.
- Stand and wall mounting: Make sure the stand and wall mounting of the fire extinguisher are intact.
- Pressure gauge: Confirm that the pressure gauge or indicator is in operational position and lift the extinguisher to see if it is still full.
- Operational instructions: Make sure the instruction label is legible and prominent. It should also face outward.
- Service date: Confirm that the last professional service date is mentioned on the tag. Fire safety laws require the extinguisher to be inspected by a maintenance contractor within the past 12 months.
- Signage: The monthly inspector needs to sign and date-mark the back of the tag.
How to conduct a regular fire extinguisher inspection
To conduct a monthly fire extinguisher inspection correctly, the following steps can be followed:
Check availability
First, walk up to the fire extinguisher and check that it is accessible easily. It should also have a valid maintenance tag and a label or nameplate facing outwards.
Examine the Physical State of the Extinguisher
The fire extinguisher must be physically undamaged. The tamper seal and locking pin should be intact and free of rust or corrosion. Look for leaks or visible damage.
Examine the Physical State of the Extinguisher
Make sure the fire extinguisher is charged and the pressure gauge is in the green position.
- Cartridge-operated extinguishers: Check the indicator and ensure it is depressed.
- CO2 extinguishers: Weigh the extinguisher and ensure the weight matches with the one recorded on the maintenance label.
Update the tag
Sign and mark the date on the annual maintenance tag. Add details such as the extinguisher’s location, any recorded deficiencies, observed condition, etc.
Suggest Action
Plans If any anomalies are spotted, the inspector has the duty to recommend action plans to rectify the issue. It is imperative that the fire extinguisher be in a completely functional state. This ensures you adhere to fire regulations and protect the safety of your employees.
What’s an annual fire extinguisher inspection vs. a monthly inspection?
Fire extinguisher inspections are required monthly and yearly. The monthly inspections are primarily visual checks performed to ensure that the extinguisher is in working condition. They can be done by anyone in the organisation familiar with fire extinguisher operation.
The monthly inspection includes:
- Checking for physical damage that is visually evident.
- Reading the pressure gauge.
- Checking for accessibility.
- Verifying labels and dates.
The annual fire extinguisher inspection, on the other hand, is more thorough and can only be performed by a trained professional, such as a licensed fire protection agency. The annual inspection includes:
- Checking the mechanical parts of the extinguisher.
- Verifying that the extinguishers are placed in multiple places on every floor and close to cooking equipment.
- Identifying any malfunctions in its functioning and suggesting corrective measures.
- While the monthly inspection ensures you can spot any issues with the extinguisher quickly and fix them, the annual inspection is a more detailed examination of whether the extinguisher is ready to be used in case of an emergency.
Logit’s fire safety software and checklists can protect your business with an all-in-one solution for fire extinguisher inspections, fire walks, and safety checks performed on-site and on schedule.
Experience what Logit can do.
What’s an extended fire extinguisher test?
An extended fire extinguisher test, also called overhaul service or extended service (ES), is an in-depth inspection of the fire extinguisher to ensure it is in good condition. For water, powder, or foam extinguishers, this test is conducted every five years. For CO2 extinguishers, the extended test is conducted every 10 years.
This test requires careful handling and is conducted by a trained and well-equipped engineer. After an extended test, the fire extinguisher can be reused. The extended fire extinguisher service includes:
- Discharging the extinguisher.
- Inspecting its internal mechanical parts, extinguishing agent, and physical condition.
- Performing a hydrostatic test to check its pressure resistance and integrity.
- Servicing and overhauling the valve.
- Refilling the extinguisher.
- Replacing any defective parts.
The extended test can be performed at the extinguisher’s location or by replacing it with an extinguisher that has already undergone the ES.
Using Logit’s fire extinguisher checklists can ensure your extended tests run smoothly and that no crucial checks are left unperformed.
Fire Extinguisher Checklist FAQs
Will Logit’s fire extinguisher checklists be compliant with Fire Safety Regulations?
Yes, Logit’s fire extinguisher checklists cover all fire safety aspects mentioned under the Fire Safety Regulations. You can use our checklists to standardise your monthly, yearly, and five-yearly fire extinguisher checks for a foolproof, safety-compliant inspection.
How often do I need to carry out fire extinguisher inspections?
You should carry out visual fire extinguisher inspections every month to ensure they do not show external wear and tear and are in working condition. To adhere to legal standards in the UK, you also need to service your fire extinguishers annually, followed by extended servicing every ten years.
How long does a fire extinguisher last?
The average lifespan of a fire extinguisher is 10 to 12 years. However, the exact time will depend on the type of extinguisher and its maintenance.
- Powder, foam, and water extinguishers should be replaced every 10-12 years, even if they don’t show any external damage.
- CO2 extinguishers should be replaced or refurbished after 10 years from the date of manufacture.
- Non-rechargeable extinguishers also need to be replaced every 10 years.
- Rechargeable extinguishers should undergo regular inspection and be replaced every 5-6 years.
- Dry chemical extinguishers need hydrostatic testing every 12 years. If they are still in good condition, they can last for another 5-10 years.
Why choose Logit?
Maintaining the quality of your fire extinguisher is important for the safety of your workplace and for remaining compliant with the country’s fire safety laws. Logit’s fire extinguisher checklists can help inspectors and safety officers conduct efficient inspections regularly without missing any crucial checkpoints.
With Logit, you can:
- Perform monthly fire extinguisher tests with predefined checklists.
- Diagnose and record faults.
- Eliminate paperwork.
- Reduce fire risks at the workplace.
View more checklists templates
We have many digital checklists and forms designed specifically for any business in any sector. Use our customisable templates to assign repeatable tasks, and ensure teams follow procedures and stay compliant. Logit templates are easy to create and all you need is a mobile device for quick access. Here are just a few of the templates available for you to use as is or customise to meet your specific needs.
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Article contributed by
Jon Prete
Jon is a marketing expert and content writer with years of experience researching and writing on topics including SaaS and cloud technology. His 20+ years marketing experience at leading software and tech companies around the globe enhances the quality of the information he shares with audiences.
