Fire Extinguisher Servicing Requirements In Australia

As a building owner, facility manager or strata committee member in Australia, you know that having fire extinguishers on site isn’t enough. What really matters are fire extinguishers that will work when needed. This article outlines your legal obligations and provides a step-by-step guide to help you achieve compliance.

A commonly cited Australian industry statistic, which has also been referenced in US academic research, indicates that more than 95 % of all fires are extinguishable if the correct fire extinguisher is used promptly.

From a compliance perspective:

Therefore, as a building owner or manager, you are responsible for ensuring your extinguishers are correctly serviced and that you can demonstrate it (via tags, records, and servicing history), in the event of an audit, insurer review or incident.

The bedrock standard for fire-extinguisher servicing is AS 1851-2012 (Routine service of fire protection systems and equipment).

In addition to the standard, extinguishers must meet the BCA requirements for the provision of fire-safety systems in Class 2-9 buildings (commercial, residential strata, public buildings). The BCA, within its National Construction Code, commonly references AS 2444 for the selection and location of extinguishers.

State and territory jurisdictions also impose duties on building owners to maintain “essential fire safety measures” (EFSM) and issue Fire Safety Statements, where applicable.

It’s worth noting that change is on the horizon. The standard AS 1851 has updates scheduled and any new version will affect servicing regimes. For example, one resource explains that an update “AS1851-12” is expected to take effect from 13 February 2026 with changes to maintenance practices.

In practice: Building owners should keep abreast of these changes, which may affect servicing intervals, documentation requirements and compliance obligations.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the servicing intervals relevant to fire extinguishers in Australia under AS 1851-2012 and industry best-practice.

Each extinguisher must carry or be accompanied by a tag or label showing the service date, next due date, what work was done, and by whom. Building owners should retain servicing records (digital or print) for at least 7 years in many cases, both for audit readiness and insurance compliance.

Compliance isn’t just about service intervals, you must first ensure the right extinguishers are installed, in the correct locations and appropriate for the fire hazard. Standards such as AS 2444 cover selection, location and mounting.

A building audit by a specialist (such as Essential Asset & Fire), can verify that you are compliant from the outset.

Extinguishers must be mounted in visible, unobstructed positions, at the correct height (typically no more than 1.2 m from the floor for handheld units) and within a relevant travel distance (e.g., typically no more than 15 metres) for occupants.

Common non-compliance issues include extinguishers being blocked by stored goods, removed from brackets, tags missing or not updated and incorrect extinguisher types being used for the local hazards.

Testing and servicing must be done by qualified, accredited service providers.

Building owners should check that their service provider holds the relevant accreditation, insurance, provides tagged reporting and meets AS 1851 requirements. The NSW Government provides guidance on what the relevant accreditations are if you are unsure.

Every service visit should result in:

The cost of failing to service extinguishers isn’t just financial fines, it’s potential loss of life, injury, property damage, business interruption and reputational risk. Non-compliance can also lead to penalties under workplace health & safety (WHS) laws in different jurisdictions.
Given that it is reported over 95% of fires are extinguishable if the correct extinguisher is used promptly, you don’t want to rely on chance.

Here is a practical workflow you can follow to ensure your extinguishers are fully serviced and compliant:

If you own or manage a building in Australia, it’s not enough to simply have fire-extinguishers. You must ensure they are correctly located, regularly serviced, properly documented, and ready for action. Complying with standards such as AS 1851-2012 and following best-practice intervals (6 month, 12 month and 5 year inspections), is not just a regulatory tick-box, it’s a vital part of your risk-management framework.

With over 95 % of manageable fires extinguishable if handled early and correctly, your servicing program can make the difference between a small incident and a major loss.

Important Disclaimer: This article is general in nature and does not constitute legal or building compliance advice. Always consult a licensed fire safety practitioner and review relevant legislation for your property classification.