What does fire extinguisher servicing cost, and what affects the price?
The cost of annual fire extinguisher servicing depends on how many extinguishers you have, which types they are, how your site is laid out and what condition the units are in. Parts, refills and replacements add to the cost. A free site survey gives you a quote based on what is actually on site.
There is no single price for fire extinguisher servicing, because no two buildings hold the same equipment. This post sets out what goes into the cost of an annual service, what can add to it, and how to get a quote that reflects your premises.
What an annual service covers
Under BS 5306, portable fire extinguishers are serviced annually by a competent person. At the visit, each extinguisher is checked for:
- Its type, and whether it suits the fire risk where it sits
- Pressure, where the extinguisher has a gauge
- Damage or corrosion on the body, hose and nozzle
- The safety pin and tamper seal
- Its mounting, position and signage
Each unit is labelled with its service date, and you receive a record of what was checked. That record is part of what the Responsible Person needs to show the equipment is maintained.
What affects the price
Number of extinguishers
This is the biggest single factor. More units means more time on site.
Types of extinguisher
Water, foam, dry powder, CO2 and wet chemical extinguishers are each checked differently. Some types also need a more involved service as they age, at intervals set by BS 5306. If any of yours are due, you are told at the annual visit.
Site layout and access
A single-floor shop takes less time than a multi-storey hotel or a site spread across several buildings. Restricted areas such as plant rooms, and work that has to fit around trading hours, also change how the visit is planned.
Condition of the equipment
Damaged, discharged or out-of-date units cannot be signed off as they are. They need refilling, repair or replacement, and parts or new extinguishers are an extra cost on top of the service.
Whether the extinguishers suit the building
Servicing an extinguisher does not make it compliant if it is the wrong type for the risk beside it, or if there are too few for the floor area. BS 5306 sets which type suits each risk and how many a building needs. Where the survey finds a gap, you get a separate recommendation through our fire extinguisher supply service.
Why skipping a service costs more later
A missed annual service leaves no record that the equipment works. That leaves the Responsible Person exposed if the fire and rescue service inspects the premises. Extinguishers that go several years without attention are also more likely to need replacing than servicing.
How to keep the cost predictable
- Keep extinguishers on their brackets and clear of obstructions, so each one is easy to reach on the day
- Report any extinguisher that has been used, even partly, so it can be refilled
- Keep the last service record to hand
- Book the service for the same time each year
- If your fire doors also need inspecting, ask for both in one visit
Getting a quote
Firestop quotes after a free site survey, so the price reflects the extinguishers you actually have and the building they are in. Requests go through our online quote tool. For more on the service itself, see fire extinguisher servicing. New to the terms? See the glossary.