New revision Is291: 2015

The requirements of this standard IS291 : 2015 are minimum requirements .

The person responsible for the provision and management of fire and safety within a building must familiarize themselves with the stipulations of IS291:2015 as detailed below .This is a summary document only and it is strongly recommended that the full standards be read by the responsible person

Responsible Person – Definition

Person having control over fire safety provisions adopted in or appropriate to the premises or building or risk where PFEs are installed .

PFE-Definition

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Responsibilities of Responsible Person

The responsible person is responsible for ensuring that the fire fighting equipment is installed ,inspected ,maintained discharge tested and refilled to this standard and that those working in and occupying the premises or building are trained proficiently in their use .

The responsible person shall maintain the fire register for each premises for which they are responsible .The fire register shall be kept in a safe place and shall be readily available for inspection by any authorised officer (fire officer /inspector ) and the authorised competent person (Maintenance Engineer ).

A summary record of each monthly inspection carried out by a responsible person in accordance with clause 8 of the standards shall include the following .

Date of inspection

Number of PFEs inspected

Person who carried out the inspection

Detail of any faults and action taken .

Section 8.1 – Frequency of inspection

It is the responsibility of the responsible person on site to ensure that the visual inspections are completed at intervals of no greater than 1 month and are documented in the fire register as detailed above .

Training in the use of PFEs is an important part of compliance with the fire safety management policy .

Annex B – Documentation

These requirements are minimum requirements to comply with the stipulations of IS291:2015 .

. Fire Safety Register

. Certificate of Inspection /maintenance

. Maintenance /Competent persons report (Asset List )

Under the fire services act the person responsible for ensuring that the fire safety register is present on the premises and maintained is the person with control of fire safety provisions .

Fire services act – Fire register must me kept on site and fully maintained .

Section 9.4.1

All Extinguishers over 10 years old before the date of maintenance ,shall be brought to the attention of the responsible person as they no longer comply with this standard .They must be replaced under the stipulations and requirements of IS191:2015 and the European Pressurised Equipment Directive 97/23/EC .

Section 1- scope

All Fire Extinguishers must now be fitted with a safety PRV (pressure release valve ).All those not fitted with a PRV do not comply with this new standard and cannot be maintained in accordance with this standard and therefore cannot be maintained or certified and must be replaced .

Provision of Portable Fire Extinguishers 5.3.1.1

(class A Fire Risks )Minimum Provisions

At least 2 portable fire extinguishers suitable for dealing with class A fire risks shall be provided for each storey /floor and t he minimum value of the provision shall not be less than 26a on any storey/ floor .

Typical value/fire rating of a standard 6lt foam extinguisher is 13a thus meaning that a minimum of 2 No. class A Rated Fire Extinguishers should be installed on each floor .

Note : This does not negate the need for the installation of Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers where there is an electrical risk of fire and a risk assessment should be completed to determine the need /requirement for same on a site by sire basis .Floor area /size should be taken in to account on a building by building basis .

Section 7.5.1 Mounting of Extinguishers

Any fire extinguisher weighing less than 4 kg maximum hang handle height is 1.5m from the floor and any extinguisher weighing above this weight ,maximum hang handle height is 1m from the floor .This is for manual handling issues .

Section 7.4 Visibility of PFEs

PFEs should not be obstructed or obscured from view in any way shape or form .Signboards (fire point signs) shall be used to permanently mark the location of fire extinguishers /fire points .Identification signs of fire equipment shall also be in accordance with I.S. EN ISO 7010 and the health & safety Authority safety and health signs information sheet .

Section7.7 ­– Ptotection of Fire Extinguishers

Extinguishers are not to be mounted near any heat source including radiators ,central heating boilers or heating appliances .

Discharge Testing :

Every PFE shall be tested by discharge every 3 years (recommend 33% yearly )from date of commissioning or 4 years from the date of manufacture of the PFE ,whichever is first and subsequently every 3 years from last date of test discharge .

Under the regulations citied together as , The fire services act 1981/2003 ,the person for ensuring that the fire safety register is present on the premises and maintained is the person with control over thre fire safety provisions .

The required documentation includes:

a)Service label/ record ( Correctly filled out and competent person identified )

b)Maintenance /Competent persons report. ( following each scheduled maintenance of PFEs)

c)Certificate of Inspection /Maintenance. (Within a month following each scheduled maintenance of PFEs ).

d)Fire Safety Register .( Responsible person shall maintain and have a register for each premises ,readily available for inspection by any authorized officer and authorised competent person (s)

These requirements are minimum requirements .Nothing in this Annex is intended to restrict any person(s) and or organisation (s) using extra documentation in addition , but not in place of the documentation required by this Annex .Some key additions have been clearly advised and shall be recorded on the service label /record .

a)Name and contact details of the organisation which employs/instructs the competent person who carried out the work .

b)initials ,signature or identification number .

c)year of manufacturer .

d)Notification of the following :Commissioned/Maintained/Discharge Tested/pressure testedand or refilled .

e)Gross weight of the PFE excluding discharge hose and nozzle .

f)Date of next maintenance due .

The Colour coding of PFEs:

To identify the extinguishing agent contained shall be in accordance with I.S.En 3-7 which allows that the colour to identify the extinguishing agent shall cover an area up to a maximum of 10 % of the surface area of the PFE body .

I.S EN 3-7 part 16.1 states the following : The colour of the body shall be red 3000 as specified in farbregister RAL -841-GL .

This means that chrome or stainless steel extinguishers installed are not comliant with I.S.291:2015.