Frequently Asked Questions

As a general rule electrical equipment used in remote operating environments should be tested at least once every 12 months. More frequent testing may be required, for example in relation to:

• electrical equipment used in manufacturing and workshop environments (6 months)
• commercial cleaning equipment (6 months)
• hire equipment (3 months).
• tools used on a construction site (3 months)

The standard applying to fire extinguishers is specified in the Australian Standard AS 1851 Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems and Equipment (www.standards.org.au). This guidelines state that: All fire extinguishers must be inspected every six months.

The tag of a portable fire extinguisher is yellow in colour and includes a matrix of months (row 1) and years (columns). The date in which an inspection occurs should be stamped into the fire extinguisher service tag by the person conducting the inspection. The tool used by portable fire extinguisher service technicians includes a sequence of numbers on it to denote the level or type of service performed. 

In the perfect world, a person inspecting a fire extinguisher would see a all inspections conducted in the same two months each year (six months apart), one with the number (1 - six monthly) and the other (2 - yearly) service inspection.

With extinguishers serviced by Remote Area Group you will also see a QR code adjacent to the extinguisher, you can scan this with a camera on a smart phone to see the service history and to report a fault. 

No matter what type of fire extinguisher you have, the manufacturing date should be stamped somewhere on the cylinder. It might be printed on the extinguisher label or stamped into the cylinder body. If you don’t readily see a date stamp, check under the plastic ring around the neck of the extinguisher or beneath the rubber boot at the base of the cylinder. If paint has obscured the numbers, remove it with emery cloth so you can read the date clearly. Generally they are in a 4 digit date format. 07/18 would indicate the extinguisher date is July 2018. 

Fire Extinguishers. 

Remote Hostile Environment = 4 yrs

Regular Area = 5 yrs

Fire Blankets.

Generally 10 yrs but may fail testing before then in hot environments. 

Fire Hose Reels. 

Generally 10 yrs but may fail testing before then depending on water types and pressures. 

General recommend audits

• Regular Office - 6 monthly
• Workshop - 3 monthly 
• Service Vehicles (Trades) - 3 monthly
• Remote Sites - 6 monthly 
• School/Childcare - 6 monthly

These are our recommendations but you should contact us for a free consultation if unsure. 

• Office - Regular Workplace kit
• Workshop - High Risk Kit
• Vehicle (City) - Low Risk Kit
• Vehicle (Remote) - 4WD Kit
• School - Regular Workplace + Asthma & Anaphylaxis Kit 

As a guide

CPR - should be refreshed every year

First Aid - is valid for 3 years. 

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