Understanding fire extinguisher regulations in the UK and knowing when to use an extinguisher can feel like a minefield.
But it doesn’t need to.
If you work in an office or are the Responsible Person for a building in the UK, or both, we’ve got you covered.
In this article, Richard Davis, one of our fire risk assessors, outlines the laws around fire extinguishers and the importance of receiving proper training.
What are the main legal requirements regarding fire extinguishers in the UK?
Fire extinguisher regulations in England and Wales fall under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, while similar duties apply in Scotland under separate legislation.
All non-domestic premises, workplaces, public buildings, common areas, and residential blocks must comply with this legislation.
The responsible person, such as an employer, owner, landlord, or managing agent, must:
- Conduct a fire risk assessment.
- Provide and maintain appropriate fire safety measures, including fire extinguishers.
- Share identified risks and training with other building occupants.
This legislation is not a case of ‘You may want to do this,’ It’s a case of ‘You shall do this.’
You must have appropriate fire safety measures, including fire extinguishers, in place.
What awareness do Responsible Persons have around this legislation?
The clients we work with have varying levels of awareness.
For example, we work with several housing providers that are really up to speed. They have invested in the training and development of their staff, understand their statutory responsibilities, and take them seriously. From policy development and training to fire risk assessments, they’re covered across the board.
Other organisations haven’t got a clue and aren’t engaged in this area.
In the middle, you’ve got a cohort of people who, from my experience, are aware of fire safety, but they treat it as a tick-box exercise.
It’s a case of, ‘Have we had a fire risk assessment? Yes, we have’, and we might go back 12 months later and nothing’s changed.
And, of course, they’re vulnerable. They’re vulnerable to prosecution, and the people who occupy their premises are vulnerable from a safety perspective.
We find cases like this puzzling, and they’re a driving force behind the work we do to educate and inform people.
Anyone with even a cursory knowledge of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 knows that the Responsible Person, which normally is an organisation, is responsible for fire safety.
It’s not down to individuals or the fire and rescue service. It’s the organisation that’s responsible.
What does the reader need to know about recent updates to fire extinguisher regulations?
From 4th July 2025, the use, testing, and maintenance of fire extinguishers containing Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), often referred to as “C8” chemistry, will be legally prohibited across the United Kingdom.
This ban applies to both portable and fixed systems containing PFOA-based foam. For the uninitiated, this is a type of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), a firefighting foam that’s used to suppress liquid fuel fires.
It’s essential that the reader understands the type of extinguishers they’ve got in their premises.
If they have foam extinguishers, the best advice I can give is to seek advice from someone in a professional organisation, be that someone like North West Fire Solutions or an extinguisher supplier and maintenance company.
They will have a look at your extinguishers and determine whether or not they possess this type of chemical.
How does the legislation ensure that building occupants are adequately trained to identify fire hazards and respond effectively?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 stipulates that Responsible Persons must provide occupants with information about fire hazards and appropriate fire safety instruction and training.
This should include training on extinguisher types, when they should be used, and how to safely operate them.
Responsible Persons must understand that although, yes, they have a duty to provide fire extinguishers in a premises and for the workforce to use those fire extinguishers safely, it’s essential that they know what it means to use them safely.
There isn’t a duty that members of the workforce have to use those extinguishers—it’s a judgement they need to make.
They can only make that judgement based on appropriate, suitable training and hands-on use of the extinguishers themselves.
What common mistakes do businesses make when it comes to fire extinguisher compliance?
Some businesses don’t have any level of compliance.
They may not have the correct type or suitable number of extinguishers on-site, or they may not have any CO2 extinguishers to tackle electrical fires.
There are lots of other mistakes we see businesses and Responsible Persons make, including:
- Extinguishers being placed far from the escape route.
- Violations of the 30 metre rule, which stipulates that you shouldn’t be any more than 30 metres away from a fire extinguisher.
- Using old, expired equipment (going back to the PFOA-based foam example; if they contain this type of foam, they must be replaced).
One major mistake is neglecting the testing and the servicing. Extinguishers should be visually checked on a monthly basis.
The person doing the visual check should have received training and know what to look for.
Your extinguishers should also be professionally serviced and recertified at least once every 12 months. The person carrying out the servicing must be competent to perform this duty.
If we go right back to the start of the article, non-compliance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is a criminal offence.
This offence can result in unlimited fines and up to two years’ imprisonment in England and Wales.
There are also the obvious consequences of safety failures leading to injury and death, insurance invalidation, legal action, and reputational damage.
What misconceptions do Responsible Persons have when it comes to using fire extinguishers?
Many businesses out there invest a lot of time in electronic systems for recording, servicing, and training. That gives them the facility to interrogate the user dashboard to ensure that the records are in place.
Other organisations don’t do any of the necessary checks, training, or servicing and/or don’t record them. They think that simply saying ‘We’ve done XYZ’ will suffice, but they can’t prove this and haven’t documented it.
Essentially, if a fire occurred at their premises and they ended up in court, they’d have no evidence to fall back on. As such, they’re putting themselves—and the people for whom they have a responsibility—in a very vulnerable position.
Some readers may not know this, but there are some types of buildings in which the use of fire extinguishers in common areas such as corridors and staircases is actually discouraged, such as a purpose-built block of flats.
This type of building will typically have a ‘Stay Put’ policy. In simple terms, this means that if there was a fire in one of the flats, obviously that flat would evacuate, but the other residents would stay in place.
These misconceptions can be ironed out through training, development, and a willingness to understand the current legislation and how the landscape is changing moving forward.
North West Fire Solutions helps to develop that knowledge base so that people can discharge their responsibilities effectively.
How does fire extinguisher training help people know how to react in the event of a fire?
Fire extinguisher training allows you to correctly identify the type of fire that’s involved.
For example, if you had a wastepaper basket fire at your premises, you’d know, from the training you received, that you should typically use a water extinguisher in this situation.
If the fire involved hot oil, it’s a different class of fire altogether. Putting water on it would be pretty disastrous.
The second key thing that fire extinguisher training teaches you is how to operate an extinguisher safely.
You don’t want the first time you get your hands on a fire extinguisher to be the first time you discharge it. If this were to happen, you’d put yourself—and potentially others—at serious risk due to your lack of knowledge and experience.
It’s very important to know when not to attempt to put out a fire with an extinguisher.
The priority for anyone who discovers a fire is firstly to raise the alarm, then ensure that the building is being evacuated and the fire and rescue service is being called.
What we don’t want people to do—and we emphasise this in the training—is discover a fire, grab an extinguisher, and try to put out the fire when other people in the building have no idea there’s a fire in the first place.
This point touches on a core element of our fire extinguisher training, which is understanding fire behaviour—specifically, how fires behave inside buildings compared to outside.
When you’re sitting around a bonfire toasting your marshmallows, it behaves very differently from a fire in a bedroom or an office.
Responsible Persons and building occupants must understand this if they’re going to use a fire extinguisher. By having this knowledge, they can approach a fire with a good understanding of the hazards and risks in front of them.
Another key component of our training is developing clarity, confidence, and composure when using an extinguisher. We advise participants to have a go at putting a fire out with someone who’s going to be with them and have their back in this scenario.
What are the legal obligations around fire extinguisher refresher training?
There’s no set legal frequency, but The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 demands occupants receive adequate and timely instruction and training.
I suggest this implies regular refresher training, and I’d say you’re looking at around every three years as an optimal frequency.
If you’re the Responsible Person in an office, you may want to consider increasing the frequency, particularly if you have a high staff turnover.
It’s essential that all refresher training is recorded so you’re covered if the local fire and rescue service ever walks into your building and asks to see evidence of training.
When new hazards are introduced to your premises, this may also be a good time to hold refresher training.
How often should fire extinguishers be inspected, serviced, or replaced to meet UK regulations?
A monthly visual inspection must be carried out by a trained member of staff.
They need to confirm the location, do the visual inspection, and then record that they’ve carried out this visual inspection.
Annual servicing must be carried out by a competent person in accordance with British Standard 5306, including checking the function and the condition.
An extinguisher needs to be discharged and refilled every five years, be that with water, foam, or powder.
Carbon dioxide extinguishers require a hydrostatic pressure vessel test every 10 years.
If you’re unsure of anything and would like further guidance, feel free to contact us.
Get fire extinguisher training from North West Fire Solutions
Our expert training will ensure you know how to use an extinguisher correctly and how to choose the right extinguisher for a specific fire classification.
The people who deliver the training, by and large, have an extensive fire service background.
They understand how to use fire extinguishers and the legal requirements and statutory obligations that Responsible Persons have. They also understand the hazards of entering a room and using the extinguisher because they’ve done it many times.
When you enrol in our fire extinguisher training course, you’re not learning something out of a manual or textbook.
You’re learning from people with direct personal experience.
Reach out to us at 0151 665 0124 or email info@nwfiresolutions.co.uk.