🔥 Fire Safety Questions & Answers 🔥

Kings Fire provides fire safety services and products across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, London and the surrounding Home Counties.

Our main service area includes locations such as Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Stevenage, Hitchin, Watford, Northampton, Oxford and North London.

Please contact us if your location is not listed, as we may still be able to assist.

The Responsible Person is legally accountable for fire safety within most non-domestic premises.

Depending on the building and how it is occupied, the Responsible Person may be:

• The employer
• The building owner
• The landlord
• The managing agent
• The occupier
• Another person who has control of the premises

Their responsibilities include arranging and regularly reviewing the fire risk assessment, implementing suitable fire precautions, maintaining fire safety equipment and ensuring employees receive appropriate information and training.

Where more than one Responsible Person has duties within a building, they must cooperate and coordinate with each other.

Passive fire protection refers to fire safety measures built into the fabric of a building. These measures help contain fire and smoke, protect escape routes and prevent fire from spreading rapidly between different areas.

Examples include:

• Fire-resistant walls, floors and ceilings
• Fire doors
• Fire-resistant glazing
• Fire stopping around pipes, cables and ductwork
• Cavity barriers
• Fire-resisting compartments

Unlike fire alarms or extinguishers, passive fire protection does not normally require someone to activate it during a fire.

Fire safety signs help people understand what to do and where to go during an emergency.

Signs may be needed to:

• Identify fire exits and escape routes
• Show the location of fire extinguishers and other equipment
• Identify fire alarm call points
• Display fire action instructions
• Warn people not to use lifts
• Remind occupants to keep fire doors closed
• Identify hazards or specialist firefighting equipment

The type and location of signage required should be determined by the fire risk assessment.

Emergency lighting is normally required where the failure of the normal lighting could prevent people from escaping safely.

It may be needed to illuminate:

• Escape routes
• Corridors and staircases
• Changes in floor level
• Fire exits and final exit doors
• Fire alarm call points
• Firefighting equipment
• Windowless rooms and internal areas
• Larger open spaces
• High-risk task areas

The requirement should be determined through the Fire Risk Assessment. Emergency lighting must also be inspected, tested and maintained at appropriate intervals.

No. Kings Fire does not require customers to sign a maintenance contract before we visit or discuss their requirements.

Where appropriate, we can arrange an initial site visit to assess your needs and provide a clear, itemised quotation. Nothing is supplied, replaced or repaired without prior agreement.

We believe long-term customer relationships should be based on reliable service, transparent pricing and trust rather than restrictive contracts.

Fire safety law does not set one fixed review frequency for every type of premises. A fire risk assessment must be reviewed regularly and kept up to date.

It should also be reviewed whenever:

• There are significant changes to the building or its layout
• The use of the premises changes
• Working practices or processes change
• The number or type of occupants changes
• New machinery, substances or hazards are introduced
• Fire safety equipment is installed, removed or altered
• There has been a fire, false alarm, incident or near miss
• There is reason to believe the existing assessment is no longer valid

An annual review is widely recognised as good practice for many premises. However, an annual review does not automatically mean that a completely new fire risk assessment must be completed every year.

A new assessment may be needed where there have been significant changes, the existing document is no longer suitable or sufficient, or a competent fire risk assessor recommends that it is replaced.

Different extinguishers are designed for different types of fire.

Common types include:

• Water extinguishers for Class A fires involving solid materials such as wood, paper and textiles
• Foam extinguishers for Class A fires and certain Class B flammable-liquid fires
• Carbon dioxide extinguishers for electrical equipment and certain Class B fires
• Dry powder extinguishers for particular Class A, B and C risks, including flammable gases
• Wet chemical extinguishers for Class F fires involving cooking oils and fats
• Specialist extinguishers for risks such as combustible metals and lithium-ion batteries (Class L)

No single extinguisher is suitable for every fire. The correct type, size and location should be determined by a competent fire extinguisher provider, taking account of the fire risk assessment and the hazards present.

Portable fire extinguishers should normally receive:

• Regular visual checks by the person responsible for the premises
• A basic service every 12 months by a competent fire extinguisher technician
• An extended service or overhaul at the interval applicable to the extinguisher type
• An additional inspection after use, damage, discharge or suspected interference

Water-based and standard powder extinguishers commonly require an extended service every five years. Carbon dioxide extinguishers normally require an overhaul every ten years.

The precise maintenance requirements depend on the extinguisher type, construction, condition and manufacturer's instructions.

Fire extinguishers installed outside should be protected against weather, corrosion, accidental damage and extreme temperatures.

Depending on the location, suitable protection may include:

• Weather-resistant fire extinguisher cabinets
• Protective covers
• Secure vehicle or equipment boxes
• Suitable stands or mounting brackets
• Frost protection for compatible water-based extinguishers

The extinguisher must remain visible or clearly identified, readily accessible and suitable for the temperatures to which it may be exposed.

Kings Fire supplies a range of fire extinguisher cabinets and protective equipment for outdoor locations.

Fire extinguishers should not normally be left loose on the floor.

They should be:

• Securely mounted on a suitable wall bracket
• Positioned on a purpose-designed fire extinguisher stand
• Installed inside an appropriate cabinet or fire point

Leaving extinguishers directly on the floor can expose them to damage, make them harder to locate and create an unnecessary trip hazard.

Kings Fire maintains servicing records for the equipment we inspect and proactively contacts customers when their next scheduled maintenance visit is approaching.

Following each inspection, customers receive the relevant digital documentation. This may include:

• Service certificates
• Equipment asset registers
• Location reports
• Defect information
• Recommendations and quotations

Customers can also access available documentation through the Kings Fire customer portal.

The amount and type of fire safety equipment required depends on:

• The size and layout of the premises
• The activities carried out
• The fire hazards present
• Travel distances and escape routes
• The number and type of occupants
• The findings of the fire risk assessment
• Relevant British Standards and industry guidance

When Kings Fire completes an extinguisher survey or servicing visit, we review the equipment provision against the risks present.

We will advise if equipment is missing, incorrectly positioned, unsuitable or no longer required. Our aim is to provide the correct protection without selling unnecessary equipment.

In most cases, fire extinguishers and associated equipment that you have purchased belong to you.

A service provider should not remove equipment that you own without your permission.

The main exception is where equipment has been supplied under a clearly documented hire, rental or inclusive maintenance agreement. In that situation, ownership will depend on the terms of the agreement.

Check previous invoices or contractual documents if you are uncertain whether your equipment was purchased or hired.

Kings Fire uses appropriately trained and competent technicians for the work they undertake.

Our portable fire extinguisher services are provided through our third-party-certified BAFE SP101 registration. This includes the selection, commissioning, installation, servicing and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers within our certified scope.

Other specialist services are undertaken by suitably qualified Kings Fire personnel or carefully selected trusted contractors.

We will not undertake work outside our competence or certification.

Yes. When Kings Fire completes an initial fire extinguisher service, we create a digital equipment asset register.

The register may include:

• The location of each extinguisher
• Extinguisher type and size
• Manufacturer information
• Date of manufacture
• Previous test or extended-service dates
• Future testing or replacement dates
• Equipment condition

Recorded defects or recommendations

An updated register and service certificate are provided following each inspection and made available through the customer portal where applicable.

The asset register also helps customers complete monthly visual checks and plan future fire safety expenditure.

Kings Fire does not normally charge for a fire extinguisher or fire safety signage survey carried out for quotation purposes.

Following the survey, we provide a clear and itemised quotation explaining what is required.

For new developments or buildings that are not yet occupied, we may also be able to provide an initial equipment proposal from suitable building plans. A physical site survey may still be required before the final equipment provision is confirmed.

We can coordinate different fire safety services for the same day where practical.

However, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, emergency lighting and other systems have different servicing frequencies, technical requirements and competency arrangements. It may therefore be more appropriate for separate technicians or visits to be arranged.

Our office team will discuss the available options and coordinate the work to minimise disruption wherever possible.

The appropriate fire alarm system depends on the building, its use, occupancy, layout and fire risk.

A fire alarm system should not be specified solely from a brief description of the premises. The required category and level of protection should normally be identified by the fire risk assessment and developed through a competent fire alarm system design process.

Installing a system without suitable professional guidance can result in:

• Insufficient detection
• Inadequate warning for occupants
• Incorrectly positioned devices
• Poor false-alarm management
• Unnecessary equipment and expense
• A system that does not reflect the building's fire strategy

Kings Fire can review your requirements and provide fire alarm servicing, remedial work and fire alarm installation services.

No. An annual wet pressure test is only one part of maintaining a dry riser system.

Dry risers should also receive an intermediate visual inspection. This checks accessible components such as:

• Inlet breechings
• Landing valves
• Cabinets and doors
• Caps, chains and straps
• Signage and identification
• Evidence of damage, corrosion or obstruction

During the annual wet test, the system is filled with water, pressurised and checked for leaks and pressure loss.

A dry riser should not be pressure-tested using compressed air as a substitute for the required wet test.

The fire and rescue service does not normally take responsibility for testing privately owned fire hydrants located on commercial sites or private property.

The building owner, occupier or Responsible Person should ensure that private hydrants are properly inspected, maintained and tested.

A competent provider should complete the required flow and pressure testing and record the results.

Where possible, hydrant flow testing is best arranged outside periods of freezing weather.

Flow testing can release a considerable volume of water. During very cold conditions, discharged water may freeze and create a slip or vehicle hazard on roads, yards and pedestrian routes.

Kings Fire commonly recommends arranging hydrant testing between approximately March and November, although testing can be completed at other times where weather and site conditions allow it to be carried out safely.

A fire stopping survey examines fire-resisting compartments and identifies openings or defects that could allow fire and smoke to spread through a building.

Common issues include:

• Unsealed openings around cables and pipes
• Inadequately sealed ductwork
• Missing or damaged fire stopping
• Incorrect materials
• Unsupported or poorly installed penetration seals
• Defects above suspended ceilings
• Openings created during refurbishment or service installation

The survey should clearly record the location and nature of defects and provide recommendations for appropriate remedial work.

Fire doors form part of a building's fire precautions and must be maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and good repair where fire safety legislation applies.

The frequency of inspection should be based on the building's fire risk assessment, the use of the door, its condition and the amount of traffic it receives. Doors in busy or high-risk locations may require more frequent checks.

Specific additional requirements apply to multi-occupied residential buildings in England where the top storey is more than 11 metres above ground level. In those buildings, Responsible Persons must:

• Check communal fire doors at least every three months
• Use best endeavours to check flat entrance fire doors at least every 12 months

These particular frequencies do not automatically apply to every commercial building, but all fire doors must be suitably inspected and maintained according to the risk.

A fire door should not be wedged or propped open unless an appropriate automatic fire-door release or hold-open device is installed.

Suitable arrangements may include:

• A hold-open magnet connected to the fire alarm system
• An approved acoustic fire-door retainer such as Dorgard
• Another suitable automatic closing or release system

The device must allow the door to close when required during a fire or alarm condition.

An unauthorised wedge prevents the door from containing fire and smoke and can place building occupants at serious risk.

Kings Fire normally quotes for fire door remedial work following a survey completed through Kings Fire and our trusted fire-door contractor.

This ensures that:

• The condition of each door has been properly verified
• Defects are clearly identified
• Repair recommendations are appropriate
• The remedial contractor has reliable information
• Completed work can be properly documented

We have encountered surveys containing insufficient information, unclear photographs or inappropriate recommendations. Depending on the quality of the existing report, a new inspection may therefore be required before remedial work can be priced.

Yes. Following a fire door inspection, Kings Fire can arrange a wide range of remedial work through our trusted contractor.

Depending on the door and its certification, work may include:

• Adjusting doors and self-closing devices
• Replacing suitable hinges or ironmongery
• Repairing or replacing seals
• Correcting excessive gaps where a compliant repair is possible
• Replacing glazing components
• Repairing frames and surrounding elements
• Installing suitable signage
• Replacing door sets that cannot be safely repaired

We will always consider whether a compliant repair is possible before recommending complete replacement.

Yes. Kings Fire is SafeContractor certified.

SafeContractor independently assesses areas such as our health and safety arrangements, policies, procedures, insurance and operational documentation.

Further information is available on our Accreditations and Memberships page.

Yes. Kings Fire is third-party certificated and BAFE SP101 registered for portable fire extinguisher services.

The BAFE SP101 scheme assesses the competency of portable fire extinguisher organisations and their employed technicians. It covers services including extinguisher selection, commissioning, installation, servicing and maintenance.

Using a BAFE SP101 registered provider gives customers independent evidence that the organisation and its technicians have been assessed against defined competency requirements.

Yes. Kings Fire operates a quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2015.

ISO 9001 certification demonstrates that we have structured processes for areas including:

• Quality control
• Customer service
• Document management
• Internal review
• Corrective actions
• Continual improvement

Our certification supports our commitment to providing a consistent and professionally managed service.

Yes. Kings Fire is a member of the Fire Industry Association and an Affiliate Organisation of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers.

Our Managing Director, Darren King, also holds Member status with the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and uses the professional designation MIFSM.

Our accreditations and memberships support ongoing professional development and help us remain informed about changes within the fire safety industry.

Yes. Kings Fire Ltd acquired Herts Fire Protection in August 2026 following the retirement of its owners, Dave and Mandy Gough.

Herts Fire Protection continues to operate as a trading name of Kings Fire Ltd, retaining its established local identity and customer relationships while being supported by the wider Kings Fire team.

Existing Herts Fire Protection customers will continue to receive the personal service they are accustomed to, with access to Kings Fire's wider range of fire safety services, including fire extinguisher servicing, fire alarm servicing, emergency light testing, fire risk assessments, fire door inspections, fire safety training and fire hydrant testing.

Existing Herts Fire Protection customer pricing is also being honoured following the acquisition.

Read more about the aquisition here.