BS 5306 pt 8 2012 New Standards

Recently, there has been a significant update to BS 5306 pt 8, which outlines the standards for fire extinguishers and their placement in various environments. Below are the major changes that you need to be aware of:

Key Changes to BS 5306 pt 8

• Empty Buildings: Section 4.4 states, “The Responsible Person or Competent Person should assess the provision of extinguishers where buildings, or parts thereof, are unoccupied.”
• Location of Fire Extinguishers: Fire extinguishers should be located next to the fire risk to prevent any confusion.
• Outdoor Installation of Powder Extinguishers: Powder extinguishers are now required to be installed outdoors due to asphyxiation risks during evacuation. “Powder extinguishers should generally NOT be specified for use indoors, unless mitigated by a health and safety risk assessment.”
• Replacement of Water Extinguishers: Water extinguishers should be replaced with foam extinguishers, as foam extinguishers are safer if accidentally used on electrical fires.
• Environmental Considerations: Section 4.2 emphasizes that “the impact of the discharge of the extinguisher medium should be taken into account.”
• Extinguisher Training: Section 4.5 states that a competent person has a duty to inform the Responsible Person of the training needs.
• Consistency in Extinguisher Standards: Extinguishers to BS5423 (old extinguishers coloured blue, black, and cream) must be in a serviceable condition and have a fire rating. Extinguishers to BS5423 and new extinguishers to BS EN3 must be consistent throughout the building and not mixed.
• Electrical Cover: Section 5.4.2 specifies that “only non-conductive media, such as powder, carbon dioxide, or other clean agents, should be specified for use on electrical equipment.”
• Extinguisher Signs: Section 6.1 requires that the position and type of extinguisher should be indicated on a sign, so if the unit is removed, this can be identified during a safety inspection and a replacement ordered. Section 6.2 states that if an extinguisher is not visible, it should be indicated by a location sign.
• Travel Distances: Maximum travel distances from a fire to a fire extinguisher are as follows: Class A – 30 metres (or 60 metres between extinguishers) Class B – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers) Class C – 30 metres (or 60 metres between extinguishers) Class D – assessed on a case-by-case basis Class F – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers) Electrical equipment fire risk – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers)
• Class A – 30 metres (or 60 metres between extinguishers)
• Class B – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers)
• Class C – 30 metres (or 60 metres between extinguishers)
• Class D – assessed on a case-by-case basis
• Class F – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers)
• Electrical equipment fire risk – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers)
• Protection Measures: Measures should be taken to afford protection from corrosion and vandalism.
• Class A Provision: Class A materials are generally present in all premises. The basic scale of extinguisher provision recommends at least a minimum of two extinguishers on any floor that offer a combined rating of 26A if portable fire extinguishers are the only means of first aid fire defense.
• Class F Coverage: The coverage required for Class F is calculated from the surface area of liquid risk in square metres. If more than two 75F extinguishers are required, a fixed system should be considered.
• Class A – 30 metres (or 60 metres between extinguishers)
• Class B – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers)
• Class C – 30 metres (or 60 metres between extinguishers)
• Class D – assessed on a case-by-case basis
• Class F – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers)
• Electrical equipment fire risk – 10 metres (or 20 metres between extinguishers)

For more information on these recent changes or any fire safety-related subject,

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Related Resources

• PAT Testing
• Basic Fire Awareness Training
• BS 5306 Main Points To Consider
• Does Your Business Have Too Many Fire Extinguishers?
• Fire Risk Assessments

Class | Maximum Travel Distance | Distance Between Extinguishers

• Class A: 30 metres, 60 metres
• Class B: 10 metres, 20 metres
• Class C: 30 metres, 60 metres
• Class D: Case by case
• Class F: 10 metres, 20 metres
• Electrical Equipment Fire Risk: 10 metres, 20 metres

Travel Distances Table