Checked, Charged and Compliant: Fire Extinguisher Commissioning Made Simple

Who Can Carry Out Commissioning?

Responsibility lies with your “Responsible Person” (under legislation such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) to ensure extinguishers are commissioned and maintained properly. But the actual commissioning must be done by a competent person.

What does “competent” mean in this context?

• Someone trained and experienced with portable fire extinguishers (types, media, hazards).
• Familiar with BS 5306-3 requirements (including commissioning, servicing, recording).
• A qualified fire safety professional who has received recognised technical training and works in accordance with current British Standards and industry best practice.

Why can’t I just do it?

It’s tempting to think commissioning is as simple as hanging a red cylinder on a wall, but it’s far more than that. It’s a formal safety check to verify the extinguisher’s condition, pressure, and suitability before use.

Without the right tools, training, or knowledge of BS 5306-3, critical issues can be missed, such as:

• Pressure loss or under-charging (especially in CO₂ units)
• Damaged valves or seals from transport
• Wrong extinguisher type for the fire risk
• Incorrect mounting or missing signage

Even if it looks fine, DIY commissioning doesn’t meet the “competent person” legal requirement under British Standards or the Fire Safety Order 2005. That means your extinguishers won’t be certified, traceable, or compliant, and could affect insurance or audit results.

A qualified fire safety engineer can complete commissioning quickly, giving you confidence and full compliance from day one.

What Happens During Commissioning?

Here’s a practical, step-by-step breakdown of what commissioning should cover:

1. Unpack & inspect – remove packaging, check cylinder for dents, damage, corrosion, missing parts.
2. Check labels & markings – manufacturer, model, date, serial number, correct fire class rating, media type.
3. Check weight/pressure – for pressure-gauge models the indicator must be in the correct zone; for CO₂ models a weight check is required (±5% tolerance generally) per BS 5306-3.
4. Check seals, pins, tamper indicators – safety pin intact, tamper seal present, O-rings, discharge horn/valve etc.
5. Confirm suitability for location – does the extinguisher type match the fire risks of that zone (electrical fire, flammable liquids, etc)? Is it appropriate for environment (temperature extremes, corrosive atmosphere)?
6. Mounting & signage – correct height (for example up to 1.5 m for < 4 kg units, up to 1 m for heavier). Signage and visibility must conform with BS 5306-8.
7. Label/tag commissioning info – engineer name/ID, date, next service due, site location. The baseline info goes into your fire log and servicing records.

Why Commissioning Matters

• It ensures the extinguisher is fit for purpose from day one, compliant with BS 5306-3 and your legal duties.
• Without commissioning, you might install a device that was damaged during transit, under-charged, wrongly mounted or unsuitable for the hazard.
• Compliance risk: You need to prove that equipment is “in efficient working order” and maintained by competent persons under the RRO.
• Insurance or audit consequences: If your extinguisher fails in an incident and wasn’t properly commissioned, you’ll have weak evidence of due diligence.
• Maintenance: Commissioning gives the information (weight/pressure) you will compare against at servicing intervals. Without this baseline you lose traceability.

Pre-Commissioned Units: Hidden Risks

A common trap people fall into is buying extinguishers labelled “pre-commissioned” or “ready to go” because they think it saves time and/or money. Wrong.

Problems that arise:

• Transport, storage and handling can alter pressure or damage components. You won’t know unless it’s commisioned on-site.
• The extinguisher may be fine in isolation, but might be the wrong type or rating for your specific risk/hazard or location.
• Having a supplier label doesn’t equal compliance with BS 5306-3 commissioning on the premises and by a competent person.
• If an audit or fire authority asks for commissioning evidence and you only have a purchase receipt you’ve still got a compliance gap.

Certificates & Audit Records

Accurate documentation is essential. Each extinguisher must have:

• A commissioning certificate or report showing the date, location, and engineer details.
• Labels or tags indicating the commissioning date and next service due.
• An entry in the site fire logbook or digital asset register for traceability.
• A record of any defects or remedial actions identified during commissioning, including follow-up work or replacements carried out.
• Keep records from servicing thereafter, so that when an inspector turns up you can produce a full history of that extinguisher.