Life expectancy and maintenance of fire extinguishers: the guide

There's no need to remind you that the safety of your premises in the event of fire requires rigorous maintenance of your fire extinguishers. To avoid unpleasant surprises in the event of an incident, your extinguishers must be operational and up to standard. In this guide, you'll find everything you need to know about extinguisher maintenance and service life.

What is the average lifespan of a fire extinguisher?

The average lifespan of an extinguisher varies according to its category:

Service life of a water extinguisher

Water extinguishers have an average lifespan of 10 years. However, it should be serviced every year to check its condition and should be recharged every 5 years.

Service life of a powder extinguisher

The powder extinguisher has an average lifespan of 20 years, which is the longest lifespan compared with other extinguishers. Nevertheless, it's still important to service this extinguisher annually and recharge it every 5 or 10 years, depending on the model.

Service life of a CO2 extinguisher

The CO2 extinguisher, on the other hand, has a 10-year lifespan and must be inspected annually with a refill every 10 years.

Foam extinguisher service life

Foam extinguishers have an average lifespan of 15 years, and should be checked every year. Like a powder extinguisher, it should be recharged every 5 or 10 years.

Please note that the lifetimes given are for guidance only, and may vary depending on the model and the environment in which it is used. It is therefore important to check with the manufacturer.

What is the regulatory periodicity for fire extinguishers?

According to nfs 61-919 extinguisher maintenance rules, the regulatory periodicity for ensuring the good condition of an extinguisher is mandatory. It is necessary to follow the checking advice to the letter to minimize risks and be compliant in the event of a problem:

1 Annual maintenance

Every year, you need to call in a fire extinguisher maintenance company to make sure your safety equipment is in good condition.

2 Five-yearly maintenance

Every five years, a thorough inspection is required, often including internal checks and an extinguisher recharge.

3 Maintenance of permanent pressure or CO2 extinguishers

Every 10 years, extinguishers must undergo specific tests to assess their performance and replace extinguishing agents if necessary.

We recommend signing a fire extinguisher maintenance contract with a company specializing in this field. This will enable you to delegate the management of your safety equipment to this company without the need to anticipate deadlines and interventions.

Why is extinguisher maintenance essential?

Maintenance of fire extinguishers is compulsory, as its purpose is to guarantee:
Compliance with nfs 61-919 standards rules for extinguisher maintenance: If this nfs 61-919 standard is not complied with, you may suffer an increase in the cost of your insurance, penalties or worse, a temporary or permanent halt to your business.
The safety of people and your business: poorly maintained fire extinguishers put people's lives at risk and can have a considerable impact on the future of your business in the event of a fire (loss of stock, premises, financial problems).

What are the steps involved in extinguisher maintenance?

The maintenance of an extinguisher is carried out in several stages:

Visual inspection:A check is made of the general condition of the extinguisher, as well as its accessibility.

Technical assessment:The checking agent ensures that the extinguisher shows no signs of leakage, and checks the pressure of the extinguisher.

Agent recharging:Depending on the maintenance cycle, the agent may have to recharge the extinguisher.

Adding an extinguisher maintenance label: This label is proof of the equipment's conformity. It also indicates the actions carried out on it.

Is it compulsory to take out a maintenance contract for fire extinguishers?

It's highly advisable to contact a maintenance company to guarantee the safety of people and your premises. What's more, calling on an extinguisher maintenance company offers several advantages:

Centralized management of deadlines and checks.
Interventions planned in advance without any intervention on your part

Moreover, most maintenance companies offer coaching on how to use an extinguisher in the event of a fire.

In conclusion, ensuring regular maintenance of your extinguisher is a legal obligation enabling you to keep your premises and people safe. By following our recommendations on the maintenance cycle, you should minimize the risk of incidents linked to faulty equipment. Finally, we recommend that you contact a company specializing in fire extinguisher maintenance. This will give you peace of mind to entrust the management of your safety equipment to a company like Scutum, which has all the knowledge and skills needed to guarantee the good condition of your fire equipment.