When a fire breaks out, every second counts. Having the correct fire extinguisher in the right place can make the difference between a minor incident and a devastating fire. However, having an extinguisher isn’t enough – it must be the correct type, properly maintained, and users should know when and how to use it safely.
Are Powder Fire Extinguishers Now Banned Indoors?
This is one of the biggest questions we’re asked.
The simple answer is no – powder extinguishers are not banned and there is no legislation making it illegal to have them inside buildings.
However, British Standard BS 5306-8 now recommends that powder extinguishers should not be installed inside enclosed premises unless there is a specific risk that makes them necessary. This guidance is widely followed throughout the fire safety industry.
Why are they no longer recommended indoors?
Although dry powder extinguishers are highly effective, they can create significant problems inside buildings:
Today, powder extinguishers are generally recommended for:
Which Fire Extinguisher Do You Need?
💧 Water Extinguisher
Best for:
Ideal for offices, schools, shops and general workplaces.
Never use on:
🫧 Foam Extinguisher
Best for:
Commonly found in offices, warehouses and commercial premises.
Avoid using on:
⚫ CO₂ (Carbon Dioxide)
Best for:
CO₂ leaves no residue, making it ideal where protecting equipment is important.
Not suitable for:
🟡 Wet Chemical
Best for:
These are specifically designed for Class F fires and are essential in restaurants, takeaways and catering facilities.
🔵 Dry Powder
Best for:
Although versatile, these are generally not recommended for indoor enclosed spaces unless a fire risk assessment identifies a specific need.
Fire Extinguisher Safety Tips
Remember the PASS method:
P – Pull the safety pin.
A – Aim at the base of the fire.
S – Squeeze the handle.
S – Sweep from side to side.
Most importantly:
Fire Safety Facts
Don’t Forget Maintenance
A fire extinguisher is only effective if it works when you need it.
Responsible persons should ensure extinguishers:
Final Thoughts
Fire extinguishers are an essential part of any fire safety strategy, but choosing the correct type is just as important as having one in the first place.
While powder extinguishers remain legal, current British Standard guidance recommends avoiding their use inside enclosed premises because of the risks they pose to occupants. In most offices, shops and commercial buildings, modern water-based, foam, CO₂ or wet chemical extinguishers provide a safer and more appropriate solution.
If you’re unsure whether your premises have the correct extinguishers, a professional fire risk assessment and extinguisher survey can ensure you’re fully protected and compliant.
Contact us for further information.
Health and safety training ensures employees understand hazards, know how to work safely, and can respond effectively when something goes wrong. It’s the foundation of a safe workplace and a legal obligation under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires employers to provide “information, instruction, training and supervision” to protect staff.
Training is also proven to work. Over the past 50 years, systematic safety training has contributed to an 85% reduction in workplace fatalities in the UK.
Employers have clear legal duties, including:
Failure to meet these duties can result in unlimited fines, prohibition notices, and even imprisonment under the Corporate Manslaughter Act 2007.
Employees also play a vital role in maintaining safety. Their responsibilities include:
A trained employee is more confident, more productive, and far less likely to be involved in an incident.
The consequences of inadequate training are both human and financial:
In the UK alone, employers lose £42–£45 billion each year due to absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover — much of which is preventable through proper training.
Effective health and safety training leads to:
Health and safety training isn’t just a box-ticking exercise — it’s a strategic investment that protects people, strengthens businesses, and ensures legal compliance. The statistics make one thing clear: training saves lives, reduces costs, and builds better workplaces.
Contact us for further information.
Guest Blogging
If you feel that you could contribute to this blog then please feel free to send me a proposal of your guest blogging ideas and we can discuss these further info@walkersafety.co.uk . Please note any proposals must be of benefit to my readers from individuals with knowledge of their subject matter.
In garages, workshops and factory environments, welding gas cylinders are part of everyday operations — quietly sitting behind benches, beside welding bays or stored in designated gas cages. They’re easy to overlook because they’re familiar. But with updated UK guidance and increased inspection focus, 2026 is the perfect time to take a fresh look at the hoses, regulators and fittings attached to your welding gas cylinders.
Because yes, the expectations have tightened, and yes, replacing ageing accessories is often safer and more compliant than relying on extra checks.
Regulators used for oxygen, acetylene, argon mixes and CO₂ must now meet BS EN ISO 2503, be clearly date‑stamped, and show no signs of corrosion or damage. If your regulator is out of date or unlabelled, it will not pass inspection.
Welding gas hoses must comply with BS EN 559, and inspectors are increasingly favouring flexible stainless hoses (BS EN ISO 10380) in high‑risk or high‑movement areas due to their durability and heat resistance.
Unlike static LPG setups, garages and factories have:
This is why guidance now emphasises proactive replacement rather than “it still works, so we’ll keep it”.
Even with compliant equipment, modern inspections expect:
These checks are no longer optional — they’re part of standard workshop compliance.
While checks help, replacement is often the safer and more compliant choice.
If they’re older than 5 years, cracked, stiff, heat‑damaged or unmarked, they must be replaced.
If they’re older than 10 years, corroded or missing a clear date stamp, they must be replaced.
Jubilee clips are banned. Factory‑crimped ends only — anything else is an automatic fail.
A smart upgrade for high‑movement, high‑heat or high‑risk areas.
In short: if your accessories are ageing, mismatched or outdated, replacing them is easier than trying to justify them during an inspection.
| Component | Standard | Replace? | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hose | BS EN 559 | Every 5 years | Ageing, cracking, heat exposure, compliance |
| Regulator | BS EN ISO 2503 | Every 10 years | Service life; date stamped; corrosion risk |
| End fittings | Factory‑crimped | Replace if clipped | Jubilee clips banned |
| Stainless hose | BS EN ISO 10380 | Optional | Longer life, heat‑resistant |
| Leak testing | Daily | Not replace | Mandatory routine check |
Welding gas cylinders themselves are robust — it’s the accessories that quietly age, degrade and fall out of compliance. With updated standards now in place, replacing hoses, regulators and fittings isn’t just good practice; it’s the simplest way to stay safe, legal and inspection‑ready across garages, workshops and factory premises.
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
The week of 13 July 2026 brings several major developments in UK workplace safety. With new regulatory changes on the horizon, rising summer risks, and continued HSE enforcement activity, employers should treat this week as a critical moment to tighten controls and refresh training.
RIDDOR
The and Safety Executive is preparing a major overhaul of RIDDOR, the UK’s workplace injury and dangerous‑occurrence reporting regulations. A public consultation closed on 30 June 2026, and the direction is clear: stricter, broader, and more prescriptive reporting rules, especially for construction.
RIDDOR changes employers must prepare for:
With the consultation now closed, HSE is expected to publish draft final rules soon. Employers should begin reviewing internal reporting systems, training supervisors, and auditing incident‑logging processes.
Summer heat remains a major risk across UK workplaces, especially construction. Rising temperatures have led to increased cases of heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, all of which can severely impair concentration and raise accident risk.
Barbour have released an employee fact sheet for working in the sun and heat Employee-Factsheet-Working-in-Sun-and-Heat.pdf
These measures are essential as July heat continues to intensify across UK construction sites.
Recent HSE enforcement updates show a disturbing pattern: falls through fragile roofs, skylights, openings, and unprotected platforms remain among the most prosecuted failures in 2026.
Analysis of 2026 HSE prosecutions shows that machinery entanglement, unsafe isolation, vehicle strikes, and hazardous exposure continue to recur across construction, manufacturing, logistics, and maintenance.
This week is an ideal time for employers to revisit guarding, isolation procedures, and vehicle‑movement controls.
This week’s safety priorities are clear:
Contact us if you would like further information.
This year’s Alcohol Awareness Week takes place from 6-12 July 2026.
Alcohol Awareness Week returns from 6–12 July 2026, offering a national moment to pause, reflect, and talk openly about our relationship with alcohol.
Across the UK, communities, workplaces, and health organisations are coming together to shine a light on how drinking affects our health, our wellbeing, and the people around us.
Whether you drink regularly, occasionally, or not at all, this week is an opportunity to understand the facts, challenge assumptions, and explore healthier habits that support a better quality of life.
Key Stats
If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact us.
Additional information can be found by clicking here – Alcohol Awareness Week Resources.
