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Testing advice

Fire extinguisher testing advice for Bexley buildings

Find out how often alarms, extinguishers and emergency lighting need checking, who is allowed to do the work, and what evidence an inspector will ask to see. Get fire safety equipment testing and maintenance advice in Bexley.

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Office area with fire extinguishers, first aid kit and safety documents.

Equipment covered

What gets tested and when

Extinguisher service intervals
Basic servicing happens annually, with extended discharge or overhaul at five and ten years. A competent person must carry out the work and record it.
Weekly alarm tests
Every week a manual call point is triggered and the sounders checked. The date, time and result go straight into the fire log book so there is always a current weekly alarm test record for Bexley premises.
Emergency lighting checks
Monthly function tests confirm the lamps illuminate. An annual duration test runs the batteries down completely. If your emergency lighting has never been tested, a specialist starts with a full survey of every fitting.
Row of buildings under a cloudy sky.

How the testing advice works

The process follows four stages, from the first question to a written maintenance plan you can hand to any contractor.

  1. Technician kneeling by a fire extinguisher checking equipment with tablet.

    Enquiry received

    You describe the building and the equipment already installed, or note that no records exist yet.

  2. Two workers reviewing building plans on a table with safety equipment.

    Specialist review

    A separate firm examines floor plans, existing certificates and the current condition of each device.

  3. Worker kneeling to inspect a fire door with clipboard and toolbox.

    Written schedule issued

    You receive a clear timetable showing exactly when each alarm, light and extinguisher needs attention.

  4. Two workers inspecting a fire door frame with a measuring tool and clipboard.

    Evidence filed

    Completed test sheets are added to the log book so an inspector can verify compliance on any visit.

Questions answered before you book

Advice covers testing intervals only. No one tries to sell new extinguishers or alarm panels during the consultation, so you get independent guidance on what the building actually requires.

If you have taken over a building with no records at all, a specialist starts from scratch. They identify every device, check its condition and build a fresh log book from the first visit.

Not every extinguisher suits every room. Water types fail on electrical fires and powder units restrict visibility in narrow corridors. A review confirms whether the right type sits in the right place.

A competent person must sign off the annual emergency lighting duration test. This means a specialist holding a recognised qualification in emergency lighting systems. They record each fitting’s discharge time and note any that fail to hold their charge.

Fire extinguisher and hose reel signage on a blue wall.

What you receive after the review

Every recommendation rests on the physical state of the equipment and the legal duties that apply to the responsible person. Nothing is guessed or assumed.

Maintenance schedule
A dated list showing when each extinguisher, alarm zone and emergency light needs its next inspection or service.
Log book template
Blank pages formatted to capture exactly what to record in the fire log book, ready for weekly and monthly entries.
Competence criteria
Notes explaining who can service extinguishers and test alarms, so you know which contractors meet the standard.

Areas covered for testing advice

Fire safety equipment testing and maintenance advice is available across Bexley. Specialist firms travel to flats, houses in multiple occupation, shops and offices throughout the borough to review installed systems.

If your street falls just outside the boundary, send an enquiry anyway. Nearby areas like Dartford and Plumstead are often covered.

Ask about your testing schedule

Send a description of your building and the equipment in it. You will hear back with the steps needed to arrange fire safety equipment testing and maintenance advice in Bexley. There is no obligation to buy anything.

  • No sales pressure
  • Independent guidance
  • Clear next steps

These details are passed to a specialist, as the privacy page describes.

Sending this costs you nothing. The privacy notice goes into what happens to your details. They reach one independent fire safety specialist covering Bexley, and that specialist may pay us when the enquiry is passed on. Comparing quotations with other firms remains entirely up to you.

Prefer email? Write to hello@bexleyfire.co.uk