Is extinguisher maintenance compulsory in France?

The maintenance of fire extinguishers is governed by strict standards in order to guarantee their effectiveness in the event of a fire. Two essential texts frame these regulations:

The NF S 61-919 standard:This standard defines the requirements for the servicing, maintenance and checking of portable fire extinguishers.

The decree of May 20, 1963: This decree concerns regulations relating to the manufacture, loading, testing and renewal of fire extinguishers. It stipulates that this equipment must be checked regularly to ensure that it is in good working order.

French regulations require several types of intervention to ensure that extinguishers are always ready for use when needed.

First of all, there are visual checks that can be carried out by the owner or manager of the premises. These inspections are simple and quick, but essential to ensure that the extinguishers are in good condition.
Visual checks should cover the following points:
 

• Presence of an intact safety seal: An intact seal guarantees that the extinguisher has not been used or handled improperly.
   
• Legibility of labels: Labels must be visible and legible to enable quick identification of the extinguisher's characteristics (type, capacity, inspection date...).
   
• Accessibility and location:The extinguisher must be easily accessible and unobstructed.
   
• Absence of visible deterioration:The extinguisher must show no signs of corrosion, leaks or damage.

Technical maintenance, on the other hand, requires the intervention of a certified professional, i.e. a technician trained and qualified to carry out more in-depth checks. This maintenance includes:
 

• Pressure testing:Pressure extinguishers (such as water or powder extinguishers) must undergo a pressure test to check their tightness and ability to operate under high pressure.
   
• Internal mechanism check:This includes checking the proper functionality of the trigger mechanism, valve and other internal components.
   
• Replacement of extinguishing agent:After a period of use or a certain amount of time, extinguishing agents (water, powder, foam, etc.) may lose their effectiveness and need to be replaced.
   
• Recharging of extinguishers:Some extinguishers, once in use, need to be recharged.

This thorough check must be carried out annually, except under special conditions defined by regulations. A fire extinguisher can thus have a useful life of several years, but it is absolutely essential to guarantee its effectiveness throughout this period.

Extinguishers have a limited lifespan. If an extinguisher has a defect, or has not been properly maintained, it must be taken out of service and replaced. In addition, extinguishers must be brought up to standard in accordance with regulations and the NF S 61-919 standard.

The extinguisher must be replaced at the end of its period of validity, generally 10 to 20 years, depending on the type of extinguisher. A certified professional will then check and replace all the components required to ensure its proper operation.

To find out more about the lifespan of extinguishers, consult our guide: Lifespan and maintenance of extinguishers: the guide

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In summary, fire extinguisher maintenance is not only mandatory, but also subject to strict standards in France to ensure their proper operation in the event of fire. Compliance with standard NF S 61-919 and the decree of May 20, 1963 is imperative to ensure the safety of premises and people.

Establishment owners or those responsible for safety must therefore ensure that annual maintenance by a certified professional is carried out. They must also carry out regular visual checks to ensure that extinguishers are ready for use when needed. Ignoring this obligation could compromise the safety of occupants and lead to penalties in the event of an inspection.
If you have fire extinguishers on your premises, make sure you scrupulously comply with these legal requirements. For more details on good practice, see our article What does fire extinguisher maintenance involve? and make sure they're well looked after.