What Are the Legal Requirements for Fire Extinguisher Maintenance and Installation?

Fire safety compliance is not simply good practice; it is a legal requirement. Failing to maintain or install fire extinguishers correctly can lead to prosecution, financial penalties and, most importantly, put people’s lives at risk.

Understanding your responsibilities and working with competent professionals is the key to staying compliant and protecting your business.

The Legal Framework: Your Duty as the Responsible Person

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every business must have a Responsible Person. This person is legally accountable for fire safety and must appoint one or more Competent Persons to manage and maintain preventative measures, including fire extinguishers.

A Competent Person must have the right training, experience, and access to the correct equipment and manufacturer guidance. The relevant British Standards are:

• BS 5306-3 for commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers
• BS 5306-8 for selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers

Installation and Positioning Requirements

According to BS 5306-8, the Responsible Person must ensure that all fire extinguishers remain in full working order after installation and that their coverage is reviewed whenever there are changes to the building’s layout or use.

Part 8 of the standard emphasizes that fire protection should be considered as a complete system. Portable fire extinguishers are an essential component of that system, but their presence alone does not remove the need for other fire protection measures such as internal rising mains, hose reels, sprinklers, automatic or manual extinguishing systems, mobile units, and fire alarm systems.

When installed and maintained correctly, fire extinguishers are safe, reliable, and straightforward to operate. Research demonstrates that extinguishers are effective in a significant number of incidents each year and play a major role in first aid fire safety. Their portability and immediate availability allow for a rapid response during the early stages of a fire.

The recommendations set out in BS 5306-8 are designed to help those responsible for building safety plan and control the potential consequences of fire.

It is also important to note the legal obligation to ensure that all preventative and protective measures are carried out by a competent person. Conducting a fire risk assessment is a key part of this duty of care for anyone responsible for managing a workplace.

Maintenance and Service Intervals

Portable fire extinguishers are classed as life safety equipment. To remain compliant, they must be regularly serviced to ensure they are safe, reliable, and suitable for use.

Maintenance intervals 

It is the duty of the responsible person to ensure that extinguishers are maintained regularly by a competent person. A planned system of maintenance is intended to ensure that the equipment is:

• In working order
• In good repair
• Suitable for the hazard

Servicing Intervals

After commissioning, portable fire extinguishers are subject to four types of service.

• Basic - completed annually by a qualified engineer for all extinguishers, to ensure that the extinguisher is still safe for use and fit for purpose, the hazards in the location have not changed, the extinguisher has not been tampered with or used, the media and propellant are within allowances and that the extinguisher will work if required. The engineer will inspect all components, replace seals and O-rings, check pressure levels and ensure all labelling and tags are current.

• Extended - performed every 5 years in addition to a basic service for water, foam and powder. The extinguisher should be discharged to check that it will work when operated. 
• Recharge - this service should be performed whenever an extinguisher is used/ partially used, has been subject to an extended service or overhaul, or has been found to have incorrect mass during basic service.
• Overhaul (high pressure extinguishers CO2) – this is a specialist factory operation.

Note: it is more time- and cost-effective to replace water-based & powder extinguishers after 5 years, and CO2 extinguishers after 10 years.

The AFFF Ban

From July 2025, extinguishers containing Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) must be removed from use. These extinguishers contain PFAS chemicals, which are being phased out for environmental and health reasons. 

What is the legislation?

• In June 2011 the use of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in foam extinguishers was banned; any extinguishers containing PFOS had to be removed from use.
• In July 2020 the UK banned the sale of AFFF extinguishers that contain PFOA and the use of these extinguishers for training. Existing stocks could be used with permission and under guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• A full ban on use was implemented from 4^th July 2025. Any remaining stock must be disposed of as hazardous waste.

What has replaced the banned extinguishers?

Most foam fire extinguishers now will use ‘C6’ film-forming fluoroprotein (FFFP). The main agents contain telomer-based foams which do not contain or break down into any chemicals currently listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.

How Stallard Kane Can Help

Fire safety compliance can be complex, but with the right support, it becomes simple and reliable. Our Risk Solutions team delivers national fire extinguisher installation, testing and maintenance services to help your business stay compliant and safe.

We can:

• Supply and install the correct extinguishers for your premises
• Carry out annual servicing in line with BS 5306
• Through our partnership with Jactone, we can offer a safe replacement for old C8 containing AFFF extinguishers: fully eco-friendly foam and Watermist, which has a wider range of fire classes for use.

Do not risk non-compliance. Stay safe, and legal: protect your business with help from Stallard Kane.