Fire Extinguisher Inspection & Replacement

When did you last look closely at the fire extinguisher, or portable extinguisher, in your home or workplace? Many people hang it up and only discover faded labels, an abnormal pressure gauge or a rusty base when moving or cleaning. Like other safety equipment, an extinguisher is not necessarily ready for use simply because it has been left in place. Prepared by Fire Station, Hong Kong fire extinguisher specialists, this guide explains the legal requirements, simple preliminary checks you can make, and what to do when you find a problem.

Contents

1. It's a legal point. Every year, every five years.
2. Is a domestic fire extinguisher an annual check? A 2024 exemption?
3. One: look at labels, check stickers with the same date of production
4. Second: Look at the pressure sheet (green, red)
5. The CO2 extinguisher doesn't have a pressure table. Check?
6. Number three: Look at the barrel.
7. Number four: Look at the fittings and the needles.
8. Number five: Look at the position.
9. Frequency of inspection: What is the difference between household, commercial and factory?
10. What's the contractor's annual test? What's the difference?
11. Three-minute self-check list.
12. What happens when problems are identified?
13. Common problems FAQ

I. Legal Point Provisions? Annual inspection, five-year water pressure test

The Fire Services Department's "Regulation, General Disposal and Recovery of Fire extinguishers" page is well written: The owner of the fire extinguisher is responsible for the proper maintenance of the fire extinguish er. Under the current legislation , the owner must arrange for a registered fire-fighting operator to inspect fire extinguishers at least once a year ; In addition, fire extinguishers are subject to hydraulic tests every five years to ensure that the equipment is in good readiness at all times.

More laws and regulations, such as "I don't care if the building is equipped" can be seen Hong Kong Fire Safety Regulations: Common Myths.

II. Annual inspection of domestic fire extinguishers? immunity in 2024

Following the amendment of the Fire Protection (Equipment and Equipment) Regulations, 2024 , citizens set up their own (i.e., not as prescribed by law) portable fire suppression equipment for their own use. is excluded from the scope of application of article 8 (1) of the Statute. In other words, domestic fire extinguishers and fire-fighting blankets are set up on a voluntary basis, and the owner is not required to perform the statutory duty to maintain the effective operation at all times as well as to be inspected by the registered contractor every 12 months.

However, immunity from legal liability does not amount to incompetence.

• It takes one minute a month to look at the pressure gauge.
• Pay attention to the validity of the label, and replace it when it expires.
• Use it and don't hang back.

Note: Fire extinguishers, which are required by law or licence plates, are not exempt from the exemption and are subject to annual inspection.

III. MATERIAL: LOOK AT THE LATER, PLACES ON THE DATE OF PRODUCTION

Information to look for on the label

• The Fire Department approves signs: all hand-held fire extinguishers may be supplied or sold in Hong Kong for approval by the Fire Services Department.
• Production date and producer: Fire Services Department agrees that fire extinguishers bear the same date of manufacture. Some products are marked to be valid and are counted from the date of production, not from the date of purchase.
• Type equals volume: dry powder, carbon dioxide, water agent determinants? How many kilograms or litres?
• Us age method: draw needles, aim, clicks, scrutinizing graphics.

Year Poster

The fire extinguisher at the commercial premises will be marked with an annual inspection sticker or label from the contractor to record the date of the last inspection.

• Was the last check date within 12 months?
• When was the last water pressure test? Did it take more than five years?
• If the sticker is so vague that it is not visible or there is no sticker at all, a check is arranged.

How long does it last?

This question is not answered by a single number. A fire-fighting consultant has pointed out that a well-maintained fire extinguisher has a long life, and that no annual inspection is required to replace it. So the key is that the results of the annual examination are valid with the label, rather than with a net count year. The simple principle is that if you can't even remember how long the barrel is bought, the opportunity is already to search for someone to examine.

IV. THE SECOND POSSIBLE: LOOK AT THE POSITIVES (Green, Red)

Dry powder, water, bubbles, etc. Storage pressure, fire extinguisher, barrel or top, with a fine circle pressure sheet, usually with three colour bands. Two seconds to look at the pointer, which is already the most basic check.

Pressure table limits

The pressure sheet reflects the pressure of "this moment" only, and the table itself is ageing. Sometimes the compass is stuck in the green for a long time, but the actual pressure has been lost. So the pressure table is the first level of filter ing, which cannot be a complete substitute for the contractor's annual inspection.

V. CO2 extinguishers without pressure gauges, check?

CO2 imported from the CO2 extinguisher is stored in liquid form, the internal pressure of the cylinder is mainly influenced by temperature and does not decrease significantly by the absence of CO2, so it is not possible to use the remaining pressure gauge, and therefore most CO2 extinguishers have no pressure table.

• Operator's approach: Check with the weight. The drum or valve will be filled or replaced with an empty cylinder weighing the total weight, which is less than a certain percentage of the standard weight.
• Users can do it: do eye-detection cylinders have rusty dents, candles have cracks, lock seals are intact; do they feel significantly lightened?
• Don 't do it: Don't test the spray, it's filled.

VI. THE THIRD ELEMENT: LOOK AT THE THROAT

When one of the following events occurs, serious consideration is given to replacing or finding an expert assessment:

• Rusted: Especially in the bottom of a s uture. Long-term contact with a fire extinguisher, either on the ground or in water, has to be carried up to the bottom. Rusted skins may have gotten thinner.
• Dimples, impact marks: Pressure distribution changed when pressure containers were deformed, and there was a safety risk.
• Fragmentation, welding anomalies: Disable immediately.
• Leaching powder, leaking fluid: White powder or water stains on the nozzles, interfaces or barrel bottoms, representing the ageing of the seal.
• Large-scale decorating of paints, discoloration of label s: does not affect function per se, but usually represents the age of the barrel and the lack of visibility of the label information is a problem.
• Inflating, deform ing: rare but extremely dangerous, away from and informing the contractor.

VII. THE FOURTH PLACE: LOOKING FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND THE LOCKER

• The security locker is the same seal: complete. The seal is broken, but you must have never used it. It may have been opened by mistake or maliciously. It should be checked by the contractor.
• Rubber Throat: Is it hardened, fractured, interface loose.
• Nozzles: Is there any dust, dust or insect jamming.
• Operator poles, lifts: Has there been any deformation, looseness.
• Carbon dioxide jets: there are no cracks, fixed or not secure.
• Hang ed: Is the fire extinguisher solid or has the fire extinguisher fallen.

VIII. V. POSSIBLE VIDEO: LOOK AT POINTS

Fire extinguishers are normal in their own right, but are misplaced or concealed.

• Are the fire extinguishers still in place? Have they been removed or borrowed?
• Are there any boxes, goods, chairs in front?
• Is the sticker clearly visible?
• Is it in a position where it's hot, damp, sun-shine or prone to crash?
• Do people or employees know it's on the side?

IX. Frequency of inspection: What is the difference between household, commercial and factory?

X. What does the contractor do for the year? What's the difference?

In general, the inspection of a registered fire-fighting operator includes:

• Check the model, capacity and accreditation to identify fire risk appropriate for the location.
• Check cartridges, valves, glue throats, nozzles, pins, seals.
• Storage formulas: checking pressure sheets and checking their functionality; CO2: scales.
• Dry powder: Check to see if there's a block.
• The scheduled water pressure test is due.
• Replacement of damaged parts, filling or recommended replacement.
• Label the check, issue the FS 251 certificate and send it to the fire department.

Fire Station installation and maintenance services are followed up by a third-level fire operator, who can check and issue FS251 for details and contact Contact Fire Station.

Eleven or three minutes of self-checking list.

In order to develop habits, the following processes can be used, both for domestic and commercial purposes, for a few minutes at a time:

The five steps can be printed in a form at the commercial premises and signed by the designated staff member on a monthly basis.

XII. How are the problems to be addressed when they are identified?

Detailed repairs are offered in exchange for Fire Extinguisher Servicing or Replacement. The replacement of old drums should not be treated as a general waste. The fire department means that fire extinguishers with chemical substances or pressure are chemical waste and should be recovered by the supplier or registered contractor, as Fire Extinguisher Recycling & Disposal.

Replacement of new cylinders

Fire Station is a specialized fire extinguisher store located in Tsuen Wan, with a fire-fighting equipment supplier, with fire-fighting service certified fire extinguishers, all products sold at special prices, and basic delivery package d. A new tank can be recovered on the day of delivery and issued by a third-stage fire-fighting contractor.

2kg dry powder extinguisher

It's about 36 cm, home, business, office.

Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Products

5kg dry powder extinguisher

Approximately 50 cm, building utility, parking lot, work corridor.

Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Products

2kg CO2 extinguisher

About 50 cm, electrical room, machine room, server room.

Fire Extinguishers & Fire Safety Products

I don't know which one to change. I can see it.How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher in Hong KongorWhatsApp 96309976Call.3464 3987. Annual check, replacement and recycling can be arranged once.Fire Extinguisher Recycling Service。

Frequent issues FAQ

How long is the fire extinguisher going to be checked?

The Fire Services Department requires the owner of fire extinguishers to arrange for a minimum annual inspection by a registered fire-fighting contractor and water-pressure testing every five years.

Do domestic fire extinguishers have to look for an annual check-up?

Following the amendment of the Fire Services Department (Equipment and Equipment) Regulations, 2024, the household voluntarily installed (i.e. not in accordance with the law) approved hand-held fire-fighting equipment for the purpose of housing, Exemptions are subject to the same legal duty to operate effectively at all times and to be inspected by a registered contractor every 12 months. However, it is still recommended that they regularly check the pressure sheet, the screech-like needle and replace it when it is expired or used. Commercial premises and statutory fire extinguishers are not exempt.

The pressure table pointer's in green.

The pressure sheet reflects only the pressure of the moment, and the table itself may be stuck or damaged, and the pointer is permanently green but the actual pressure has been lost. The pressure sheet is the first level of screening and cannot be a substitute for the contractor’s annual check-up and weight check.

The CO2 extinguisher doesn't have a pressure table. Check?

Carbon dioxide is stored in liquid form, not being surplus to the pressure gauge, and is generally checked by registered commercial scales, compared to the total weight indicated by the silo; the weight below the standard is replaced or filled.

Is the fire extinguisher valid?

The Fire Services Department accepts that fire extinguishers are marked with the same date of manufacture as the manufacturer, and that some products are marked to be valid, and are counted from the date of production, not from the date of purchase.

Can we use the fire extinguisher once?

No. Even if only a small amount is sprayed, either internal pressure or fire extinguisher may be insufficient, nozzles may be blocked by powder and should be considered as used for inspection, refilling or replacement by the contractor.

Is there a problem with fire extinguishers that should be repaired or replaced?

The replacement of a detailed domestic fire extinguisher is usually more cost-effective than maintenance. Old cartridges should be recycled by the supplier or contractor, and should not be disposed of as general garbage.

Where can the annual fire extinguisher inspection and replacement be arranged?

Fire Station at G/F, Karrie Industrial Centre, Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan The Fire Services Department approves fire extinguishers, provides door-to-door annual check-ups, replacements, recycling, and FS251 certificates issued by a third-level fire operator. 3464 3987 ，WhatsApp 96309976 。

Fire extinguisher inspections are not complex, but are often ignored because they are “too simple”. From this day on, every time you pass through a fire extinguisher in a house or company, you're used to looking at the same pressure table, you're one step ahead of most people. The commercial branch remembers the annual search for a contractor and the annual review of the FS251; Homes look at themselves every month. There's a problem. Contact Fire Station, check, replace, recycle, and make sure that the system around you is actually used by the qualified fire extinguish er.