5 Common Fire Extinguisher Mistakes We See in Newcastle Offices
(And How to Avoid a Fiery Fiasco!)
Let’s be honest: fire extinguishers in offices often get treated like decorative red wall art — until something starts smoking in the break room microwave.
As fire safety pros with boots on the ground in Newcastle, we’ve seen it all. Here are the top 5 mistakes that could turn your “we’re fully compliant” confidence into “why is everything on fire?”
1. The “Wrong Type” Worry
Water extinguisher on electrical fire? Congratulations, you’ve just created a shocking situation. Use CO₂ or dry powder for electrics. Know your extinguisher types — it’s not one-size-fits-all.
2. MIA Maintenance
That annual service BS 5306-3 recommends? Don’t skip it. Out-of-date extinguishers are just heavy red lies. Get them serviced annually by a competent engineer — not Gary from accounts.
3. Blocked, Boxed, or Buried
If your fire extinguisher is hiding behind the office Christmas tree or printer paper mountain, you’re doing it wrong. They must be visible, accessible, and NOT used as coat hangers (yes, we’ve seen it).
4. Zero Staff Training
You’ve got the kit — but does anyone know how to use it? In an emergency, “point and pray” doesn’t cut it. Train your team. You might just save your office carpet.
5. Poor Signage or No Signage
If people have to guess where the extinguisher is, you’ve already lost. Clear, visible signage = fast response time. Bonus points if it’s not handwritten in Biro.
Don’t Be That Office
We help Newcastle offices stay fire-safe and fully compliant (without boring the life out of you). Whether you need extinguisher servicing, training, or a full fire risk assessment — we’re your people.
📞 Call Sanjay at The Fire Safety Company on 01748 811992 Or visit 👉 our contact page
Because nothing kills office productivity quite like setting off the fire alarm with a burnt toast incident.
