Fire extinguishers are mandatory on business premises for adequate and timely protection against a prospective fire hazard. Apart from the requirement of simply owning the appropriate tools for fire protection, it is also necessary for businesses to ensure their equipment is serviced and ready to use.

How Often Should a Fire Extinguisher be serviced?

According to Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), fire extinguishers present on commercial properties must be serviced every year. It is important, however, that an experienced professional performs the job. A qualified individual will start with a visual examination, which will involve:

• Checking the hose to make sure it isn’t blocked or chocked
• Searching for any signs of damage
• Checking to see whether the instructions mentioned on the fire extinguisher are readable

 What if the Service Examination Fails?

After servicing the fire extinguisher, the SCDF will label it to confirm future inspectors that it has been verified. If the servicing personnel find that the fire extinguisher is expired or damaged in any way, they will immediately advise you to buy a new one.

To ensure that people adhere to fire extinguisher servicing, Singapore has many companies that offer their services for maintenance and replacement. It is always better to be safe rather than to be sorry. Yearly servicing and timely replacement of your commercial fire extinguishers can surely help prevent mishaps.