Fire extinguisher and hydrant inspections — intervals, check scope and documentation

Short answer: the label of an EN 3-compliant extinguisher shows the agent type (powder, CO₂, foam), the fire classes it suits (A, B, C, D, F), agent mass or volume, operating temperature range, manufacturer details and the standard marking. This determines whether the extinguisher fits the hazards of its location — a powder ABC unit at a flammable-liquids station, a CO₂ unit at an electrical switchboard.

During an inspection check label legibility — a damaged or missing plate means nobody knows what is inside or what it is for. In the register record the unit number, type, mass, fire classes, location and dates: last service, next service and agent replacement due.

Short answer: between authorised services the site should run its own simple checks — gauge needle in the green zone (for gauged units), intact seal and pin, working nozzle and hose, corrosion- and dent-free body, legible label, and clear access with proper signage. Such a check fits in a minute per unit.

In practice the most common defects are not missing extinguishers but blocked access (pallets, carts, boxes), a seal removed after someone 'checked if it works', and a unit hung too high or moved without updating the signage. Access and signage checks combine naturally with regular site walkthroughs.

Short answer: indoor hydrants undergo periodic servicing — as a rule an annual inspection covers the cabinet, hose (unrolled and checked), valve, nozzle and signage, and every 5 years hoses undergo a hydraulic test. Periodic checks of system performance and pressure come on top.

As with extinguishers, an authorised provider services the hydrant, but the owner is responsible for access and everyday condition: the cabinet must not be locked without a quick way to open it, blocked, or used as storage. Report any hydrant defect immediately — it is equipment firefighters and staff rely on in a fire.

In the Registers and inspections module every extinguisher and hydrant has a card with its number, type, location and all deadlines: annual service, agent replacement, cylinder or hose test. The system shows what expires this month — one service visit can be planned instead of several.

Fire point locations are worth linking to the Maps and zones module, where extinguishers and hydrants appear on the site map next to escape routes — during a round the inspector scans the point on site and ticks the checklist on a phone. A defect can immediately become a report with a removal deadline, and the service record is ready to show at an inspection. VIMS organises the register and deadlines — servicing itself is done by an authorised provider.

Maintenance of fire protection equipment and extinguishers follows Polish Standards and the manufacturer's instructions, at intervals set by the manufacturer but at least once a year — as required by the Polish Interior Minister's regulation of 7 June 2010 on fire protection of buildings. In Poland this is often loosely called “extinguisher legalisation”, but formally it is servicing and maintenance.

Type 25 hose reels (semi-rigid hose), type 52 hydrants (layflat hose) and landing valves are checked under the EN 671 series; in practice this means an annual inspection and a hose pressure test at maximum working pressure at least every 5 years. External hydrants (above and below ground) need periodic flow and pressure testing of the fire water supply.

Pressure-vessel supervision (UDT) applies to some vessels — including CO₂ extinguisher cylinders, which require periodic testing; the test date is stamped on the cylinder. The extinguishing agent has its own shelf life, and an expired disposable extinguisher is replaced rather than serviced.

Extinguisher placement follows the Polish regulation: at least one unit of agent (2 kg or 3 dm³) per 100 m² of fire zone area, with a walking distance to an extinguisher of no more than 30 m. The fire equipment sign (ISO 7010) marks its location — keep it on the site safety map and tag inspection points with QR codes or NFC.