Five Common Fire Extinguisher Mistakes Northland Businesses Make – is your workplace safe and compliant?
Fire extinguishers are essential safety tools in every business or workplace — but they’re only effective if they’re correctly installed, visible, and ready to use. Unfortunately, many businesses unknowingly make critical mistakes that could cost them dearly in an emergency or compliance check. Some workplaces even miss the mark entirely by not having fire extinguishers at all, which is a serious compliance risk!
Let’s look at the most common fire extinguisher mistakes we see in Northland workplaces – and how you can avoid them.
1. No Fire Extinguishers at All
Problem: Some workplaces don’t have any extinguishers or hose reels onsite, or assume they’re not needed.
Why it matters: In New Zealand, most businesses are legally required to have fire extinguishers or hose reels and maintain them to national standards.
Fire Extinguisher Requirements for NZ Businesses:
- Legal Obligations:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA): Employers must provide a safe workplace, including adequate fire protection.
- Fire and Emergency NZ Act 2017: Requires that firefighting equipment is maintained and compliant with national safety standards.
- NZS 4503:2005: Sets the requirements for hand-operated firefighting equipment, including extinguisher types, signage, installation, and servicing.
- Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations 2006: Requires that extinguishers and hose reels be maintained under NZS 4503:2005.
- Staff Training:
Employers must also ensure staff are trained in fire extinguisher use, because even the right equipment is useless if no one knows how to use it!
Fix it: Fireco can assess your site and install the correct fire extinguishers (and signage), plus provide essential staff training.
2. Poor Placement or Mounting
Problem: Extinguishers are mounted too high, hidden behind furniture, or in hard-to-reach spots.
Why it matters: In an emergency, every second counts. Extinguishers should be easy to locate and access, with no obstacles or confusion.
Fix it: Mount extinguishers between 1.0m and 1.5m from the floor handle height, and position them in clear, visible, accessible locations.
3. No Signage
Problem: There’s no sign indicating where the extinguisher is or what type of fires it’s safe to use on.
Why it matters: NZ fire safety regulations require visible signage so that extinguishers can be found quickly, especially in a smoky or low-visibility emergency, and that the user is aware of the types of fire it’s rated for.
Fix it: Place compliant signage directly above every extinguisher, and make sure it’s visible from a distance. Read more about workplace fire safety signage here.
4. Wrong Type of Extinguisher
Problem: The extinguisher doesn’t suit the type of fire risk associated with the workplace (e.g. water-based extinguisher near electronics).
Why it matters: Using the wrong extinguisher can actually spread the fire or cause further harm.
Fix it: Match the extinguisher to the specific hazards in your workplace:
- Water – for wood, paper, textiles (Class A)
- Foam – for flammable liquids (Class B)
- CO₂ – for electrical fires
- Dry powder – for multiple types (A, B, C classes)
View our range of fire extinguishers and fire safety equipment here, or talk to the Fireco team for advice on which type of extinguisher is right for your business.
5. No Regular Servicing
Problem: Extinguishers are expired, discharged, or damaged.
Why it matters: A non-functioning extinguisher gives a false sense of security, as it may not function during an emergency.
Fix it: Fire extinguishers must be inspected and serviced every 12 months by a certified technician under AS/NZS 1851:2012 and NZS 4503:2005. Find more info about having your equipment serviced by Fireco here.
Stay Compliant and Fire-Safe with Fireco
Fire extinguishers are one of the simplest and most effective tools in your fire safety toolbox, but only if they’re correctly installed, maintained, and used!
Fireco is here to provide Northland and Auckland workplaces with:
- Site assessments
- Compliant supply and installation
- Annual servicing and testing
- Signage and placement guidance
Ready to get compliant or improve your setup? Get in touch with Fireco today.
