How do the different Standards work?

Standard AS/NZS 1841 Portable Fire Extinguishers

All Fire Extinguishers that are sold in Australia or New Zealand are required to comply with the standard AS/NZS 1841 Portable Fire Extinguishers.

This standard specifies the requirements for portable fire extinguishers.

It covers design, performance, construction, materials, methods of manufacture and  labelling of the extinguishers to  make sure that they are fit for purpose.

There are specific versions of the standard that cover each fire extinguisher types.

AS/NZS 1841.1 : General Requirements

AS/NZS 1841.2 : Water Extinguishers

AS/NZS 1841.3 : Wet Chemical Extinguishers

AS/NZS 1841.4 : Foam Extinguishers

AS/NZS 1841.5 : ABE Dry Powder Extinguishers

AS/NZS 1841.6 : Carbon Dioxide CO2 Extinguishers

AS/NZS 1841.7 : Vaporizing Liquid  Extinguishers

AS/NZS 1841.8 : Non-Rechargable Extinguishers

Extinguishers carrying this label ensures that the fire extinguisher is up to Standard for sale.

Standard NZS4503:2005 Hand Operated Fire Fighting Equipment (HOFFE)

This is Standard NZS4503:2005 Hand Operated Fire Fighting Equipment (HOFFE) and is different to AS/NZS 1841 which just concentrates on the Portable Fire Extinguisher only.

The HOFFE Standard is designed to cover the selection, installation, distribution, signage and maintenance of Extinguishers, Fire Blankets and  Fire Hose Reels within a building, vehicle or vessel.

The objective of the standard is to provide a mechanism to ensure that HOFFE is installed, inspected and maintained to an adequate level (as set out in the standard).

This requires a more holistic approach and requires having someone come to have a look over your site to assess the building for Fire Hazard Classification. To ensure that the correct type and size of fire extinguisher has been selected for the most likely fire types and fire risk level to be encountered.

The building must be measured and distances to extinguishers and exits taken into consideration. 

Multiple types of extinguishers may be required to cover off the different hazard types within a building.

These extinguishers must be installed at correct heights on brackets and with compliant signage also installed at correct heights.

Once the HOFFE distribution has been worked out and installation has taken place (Commissioning) then the extinguisher / fire-blanket / fire hose must be tested every 12 months to ensure it is still in working order and that the fire risks or distances within the building have not changed.

Tests are carried out on the extinguisher, the extinguisher is labeled, tagged and a detailed Fire register report needs to be issued for records of compliance to the standard. 

Any business owner that has HOFFE installed into a building must keep it maintained in accordance with NZS 4503:2005

Failing to keep the HOFFE compliant with the standard can result in fines or potentially problems with insurance cover in the result of fire.

Please let us know if you have any questions about how it all works or if you would like us to organise for a technician to come out and look over your premises for HOFFE. 

This service is only available in the Auckland area.