General guidance only. Check the standard itself and take advice from your own competent person for the job in front of you. Last reviewed 22 October 2026.
Why servicing matters
A portable extinguisher is life-safety equipment that sits unused for years. Gauges drift, valves seize, cases corrode and someone moves the unit behind a door. BS 5306-3 sets out the commissioning and maintenance routine that keeps extinguishers safe and ready, and it works in layers: a quick look every month by the people in the building, a basic service every year by a competent engineer, and a heavier extended service at longer intervals.
Monthly checks by the responsible person
The responsible person or someone they nominate should walk round once a month and confirm that each extinguisher:
- is in its place, visible and not blocked, with its signage;
- shows no sign of discharge, tampering, damage, corrosion or leakage;
- has an intact pin, tamper seal and label, and a gauge in the correct range where one is fitted.
Anything that is not right should be dealt with straight away rather than saved for the next service.
The annual basic service
Once a year a competent technician carries out a basic service. It is a hands-on check of condition, operation indicators, labels, accessibility and service history, including the manufacture date. The unit is labelled or tagged afterwards so the next person can see what was done and when.
It is there to catch the obvious faults and to decide whether a unit needs an extended service, a repair or replacing.
Extended service
An extended service goes deeper. For most extinguishers it comes round at about five years, and for carbon dioxide extinguishers at about ten years. It usually involves discharging the unit to test it, checking and servicing the valve, refilling or recharging and repressurising. The exact interval depends on the type of extinguisher, its condition and the manufacturer's guidance, so use the standard and the maker's instructions rather than a single figure.
Record the year of the last extended service against each unit. It is the item most often missing when you take over a customer's extinguishers.
When to service or replace early
- After any use, however slight, the unit should be serviced or replaced straight away.
- After damage, corrosion or a leak.
- When a unit has been discharged or tampered with.
- When it is obsolete or not worth the cost of servicing. Say so in your report so the customer can decide.
What to record
For each extinguisher, record its reference and location, type and size, year of manufacture, the date of the last basic and extended service, the checks made and the weight or pressure where you read it. Keep the annual service certificate and the schedule together as the site's asset register. New or relocated extinguishers should be checked and commissioned by a competent person before they are relied on.
Competence
BS 5306-3 expects servicing to be done by someone with the training, tools and knowledge to do it. The BAFE SP101 scheme assesses both extinguisher companies and the individual technicians they employ, and customers can check registrations on the BAFE register. If your customer asks for third-party certification, find out which scheme they mean before you quote.
Common questions
How often should fire extinguishers be serviced?
A competent technician should carry out a basic service at least once a year under BS 5306-3, and the responsible person should check the units by eye every month.
What is an extended fire extinguisher service?
A deeper service, usually including a discharge test, valve service and recharge. For most extinguishers it is due at about five years, and for carbon dioxide extinguishers at about ten, depending on type, condition and the manufacturer's guidance.
Who can service fire extinguishers?
A competent person with the training, tools and knowledge to follow BS 5306-3. The BAFE SP101 scheme assesses companies and technicians, and customers can check registrations on the BAFE register.
What should I do if an extinguisher has been used?
Service or replace it straight away, even if it was only partly discharged.
How Compliar helps
Compliar has a Portable Fire Extinguisher Annual Service Record, referenced to BS 5306-3. It carries an extinguisher schedule with one row for each unit: reference, location, type, size, year of manufacture, last extended service year, the visual checks and the weight or pressure reading.
- Maintenance plans on an annual cycle, scheduled against the property (maintenance plans are on Office seats and above).
- Failed or overdue units raised as defects and turned into a quote for replacement or extended service.
- Reports sent as branded PDFs when the engineer finishes, with the site history kept in one place.
Less paperwork. More progress.
Book a demo and Keiran will walk through your own jobs. Early adopters lock their price for 3 years, with no contract.