Site control aka monthly inspections
As service providers to the fire industry, we often offer the service of Site Control to our customers, but do we action it as per the relevant national standard requirements? Or do we do a quick site visit because we have seen it as an offering by other companies in the industry or because it has been on our price list year after year after year?
Or is it because we have read SANS 10105-1:2021 Ed 4 and understand that it is speaking to our integrity as service providers to the fire Industry and the responsibility that we have to guide our clients, small and large, in meeting the requirements.
The following points as per SANS 10105-1:2021 Ed 4 need to be brought to the attention of our customers:
The definition of a responsible person as per point 3.11 states: Person (being the owner of the building or a person appointed in writing by the owner) who is responsible for the site control of fire extinguishers and for the upkeep of the necessary records
The definition of site control as per point3.14 states: visual, “quick check” examination of a fire extinguisher, carried out by the responsible person to ensure that the fire extinguisher is usable and has not been tampered with, that the maintenance due date has not expired and, when relevant, that the necessary arrangements are made to have the fire extinguisher reconditioned
Section 7 furthermore requires that this inspection shall be visually inspected at least once a
month and the following aspects SHALL be checked during the inspection:
a) Whether the extinguisher is in its assigned position and is of the correct type and size
b) Whether access to and visibility of the extinguisher are not obstructed
c) Whether the location of the extinguisher is identified
d) Whether the operating instructions on the extinguisher are visible and facing outward
e) Whether any security seal has been broken
f) Whether the extinguisher and its mountings have been physically damaged or have corroded
g) Whether the extinguisher shows signs of leakage or the nozzle shows signs of blockage
h) Whether pressure indicating devices, if fitted, are in the operating range and
i) Whether the maintenance due date on the maintenance label has expired
It is strongly suggested that if your company is doing the monthly inspections on behalf of the owner (your client) you:
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Ensure that the owner has appointed your company in writing to carry out the inspections on their behalf or at least that the client has issued an order number to your entity
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A control inspection list is drawn up in accordance with point (a) to (i) above and that these specific points are addressed during the inspections done by your technicians/staff
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If your 1475 company has been contracted to conduct monthly inspections, the fire technician (because of his training) has the responsibility to also check if the fire extinguishers are legal. If illegal, please inform the client as no further inspection can be conducted on these extinguishers.
Also take note that the standard requires corrective action to be taken if necessary to:
a) Correct the position, access and visibility of the extinguisher as per point 7 (a) (b) or (c)
b) If any of the other checks show that an extinguisher might have been tampered with, or is damaged, impaired, leaking, undercharged or overcharged or that the maintenance due date has expired or that the extinguisher is due for reconditioning or is obviously corroded, arrange for the reconditioning of the extinguisher in accordance with SANS 1475-1