Fire extinguisher service in South Africa: how often, who may do it and what to get in writing
Headcore
In short
In South Africa, only an authorised person employed by a permit holder may service a fire extinguisher, to the standards incorporated into the Pressure Equipment Regulations, such as SANS 1475-1. Johannesburg's by-laws, for example, require an inspection by a registered, competent person at least once every 12 months and a written certificate for the owner.
How often should a fire extinguisher be serviced in South Africa?
Johannesburg requires an inspection at least once every 12 months. Under the City's Emergency Services By-laws, every building owner must have all fire-fighting equipment "inspected by an appropriately registered and competent person at least once every 12 months" (section 16(1)(c)(iii)), and all portable extinguishers and hose reels "serviced and maintained in accordance with SABS 0105 and SABS 1475" (section 16(1)(b)).[5]
Johannesburg's by-laws also require the owner to keep a "comprehensive service record" of all fire-fighting equipment and furnish it to the Chief Fire Officer every 12 months (section 16(1)(d)). Johannesburg premises registered for flammable substances must have their fire-fighting equipment inspected, maintained and serviced by a "competent, registered and appropriately qualified tradesman" at least every 12 months (section 39(3)(a)).[5]
Nationally, the regulations tie servicing to standards. Regulation 19(1) of the Pressure Equipment Regulations (PER) bars any user from using, requiring or permitting the use of a fire extinguisher unless it is "filled, recharged, reconditioned, modified, repaired, inspected or tested in accordance with the relevant safety standard" incorporated into them. The incorporated standards include SANS 1475-1 and SANS 10105-1.[1][2]
The General Safety Regulations add that the employer's fire-fighting equipment "shall be maintained in good working order" (regulation 13J(2), inserted in March 2025).[3]
Who is allowed to service a fire extinguisher?
Only an authorised person employed by a permit holder. PER regulation 19(2) reads: "No person shall fill, recharge, recondition, modify, repair, inspect or test any fire extinguisher unless such person is an authorised person employed by a permit holder", and the permit must be issued by an organisation approved by the chief inspector.[1]
An authorised person is one "registered as competent within the scope of work" by an organisation the chief inspector has approved (regulation 1). For fire, the Department of Labour's guidance notes give an SAQCC (Fire) registered fire technician as the example.[1]
The same notes say the permit applies to fire extinguishers "in accordance with SANS 1475" (note (e) to regulation 5). An organisation approved to issue permits needs a valid accreditation certificate (regulation 19(4)).[1]
Breaching regulation 19(1) or 19(2) is an offence carrying a fine or imprisonment of up to 12 months, plus a further R200 fine or one day's imprisonment for each day a continuing offence goes on (regulation 20).[1]
Who must arrange the fire extinguisher service: the employer or the building owner?
Often both, under different rules. Since March 2025, regulation 13J(2) of the General Safety Regulations requires every employer to provide "an adequate supply of suitable fire-fighting equipment at strategic locations or as may be recommended by the fire chief of the local authority concerned", maintained in good working order.[3]
Breaching regulation 13J is an offence under regulation 14 of the General Safety Regulations, carrying a fine or imprisonment of up to six months, plus a further R200 fine or one day's imprisonment for each day a continuing offence goes on. The same duty was regulation 9(2) of the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces until Notice 6907 of 5 December 2025 deleted regulation 9 from them.[4][3]
In Johannesburg, the by-laws put servicing on the owner of the building, defined to include anyone who receives rental or profit from the premises and a sectional-title body corporate (sections 2 and 16(1)).[5]
Which standards apply to fire extinguisher servicing?
In South Africa, the Pressure Equipment Regulations incorporate these extinguisher standards by number (GN R. 262 of 2017), and the Department's notes name SANS 1825 for CO2 cylinders.[2][1]
| Standard | Title or role | Where the rule comes from |
|---|---|---|
| SANS 1475-1 | The production of reconditioned fire-fighting equipment, Part 1: Portable and wheeled (mobile) rechargeable fire extinguishers | PER schedule; the extinguisher permit (note (e) to PER regulation 5); Johannesburg by-laws s16(1)(b) |
| SANS 10105-1 | The use and control of fire-fighting equipment, Part 1: Portable and wheeled (mobile) fire extinguishers | PER schedule; Johannesburg by-laws s16(1)(b), as SABS 0105 |
| SANS 1910 | Portable refillable fire extinguishers | PER schedule |
| SANS 1567 | Portable rechargeable fire extinguishers: CO2 type extinguishers | PER schedule |
| SANS 1825 | Only an organisation accredited to it may re-validate high-pressure rechargeable containers used as CO2 extinguishers; stations accredited to SANS 1425 may not inspect or test them | Note (c) to PER regulation 19 |
How do you check that a fire technician is registered?
Ask for the technician's SAQCC Fire registration and the company's SANS 1475 permit, then look them up: the SAQCC Fire website offers a "Verify a Technician" and a "Verify a Company" search.[7][1]
SAQCC Fire describes itself as an industry-elected, non-profit company "mandated by the Department of Employment and Labour" to register individuals in the sector on training, qualifications and experience, with SANS 1475 as the basis for servicing portable fire extinguishers, hose reels and hydrants.[7]
In Cape Town, the Community Fire Safety By-law, in the version published on Open By-laws, makes this the owner's check: no one may fill, recharge, recondition, modify, repair, inspect or test an extinguisher under SABS 1475: Part 1 without an SABS permit or an SAQCC certificate of competence, and the owner "may not allow" anyone else to do it (section 17(3) and (4)).[6]
What should you get in writing after a fire extinguisher service?
In Johannesburg, a certificate: every person who inspects, services or repairs fire-fighting equipment must "certify in writing that the equipment or installation concerned is fully functional" and furnish that certificate to the owner (section 16(2)(a)).[5]
Under Johannesburg's by-laws, if an extinguisher cannot readily be repaired to a functional state, the technician must instead notify the Chief Fire Officer in writing "without delay" (section 16(2)(b)).[5]
In Johannesburg, apart from inspection, service, repair or fire-fighting, no person may remove or interfere with fire-fighting equipment on any premises (section 16(3)).[5]
What should a fire extinguisher service quote include?
A price per extinguisher, broken down by the regulated tasks each unit needs: an inspection only, or a refill or recharge, repairs and parts, reconditioning or a test, the activities PER regulation 19(2) and Cape Town's by-law list one by one.[1][6]
CO2 extinguishers due for re-validation of the cylinder go to an organisation accredited to SANS 1825 (note (c) to PER regulation 19), so put that on a line of its own.[1]
Cape Town's by-law, as published on Open By-laws, does not allow an extinguisher to be taken off the premises for servicing "unless the appliance is replaced temporarily with a similar appliance in good working condition" (section 17(7)), so loan units belong in the quote too.[6]
What to put in your request
- A count of extinguishers by type (dry chemical powder, CO2, foam, water) and size, with serial numbers, plus any hose reels to service in the same visit.[5][2]
- The date of the last service, with a copy of the last certificate or service record.[5]
- The SAQCC Fire registration number of each technician who will do the work, and the company's SANS 1475 permit, both sent before the visit.[1][7]
- For CO2 extinguishers: which cylinders are due for re-validation, and the SANS 1825 accreditation of the organisation that will do it.[1]
- Temporary replacement units for any extinguisher taken off site, as Cape Town's by-law, in the version published on Open By-laws, requires.[6]
- A written certificate that each extinguisher is fully functional, and written notice of any unit that cannot be repaired.[5]
- A service record you can furnish to the Chief Fire Officer, where your by-law asks for one, as Johannesburg's does every 12 months.[5]
- A quote priced per extinguisher, with inspection, recharge, repairs and parts, reconditioning and testing as separate lines.[1][6]
Questions buyers ask
Is SAQCC Fire registration a legal requirement?
Registration with an approved body is. PER regulation 19(2) allows only an authorised person, registered as competent by an organisation the chief inspector has approved, and the Department of Labour's notes give an SAQCC (Fire) registered fire technician as the example. Cape Town's by-law, as published on Open By-laws, accepts an SABS permit or an SAQCC certificate of competence.[1][6]
Is the extinguisher service the landlord's job or the tenant's?
It can be both. The General Safety Regulations put the duty to keep fire-fighting equipment in good working order on the employer (regulation 13J(2)), while Johannesburg's by-laws put servicing on the building owner, which includes anyone receiving rental and a body corporate (sections 2 and 16(1)). Settle in the lease who books and pays for the service.[3][5]
Do CO2 extinguishers need a different test?
The cylinder does. The Department of Labour's notes say high-pressure rechargeable containers used as CO2 extinguishers may only be re-validated by an organisation accredited to SANS 1825, and that test stations accredited to SANS 1425 are not allowed to inspect or test them (note (c) to PER regulation 19).[1]
What happens if an extinguisher fails the service?
In Johannesburg, the technician either repairs it to a functional state and certifies it in writing, or notifies the Chief Fire Officer in writing without delay that it cannot readily be repaired (section 16(2)). Using an extinguisher that was not serviced to the incorporated standard breaches PER regulation 19(1).[5][1]
Sources
- Department of Labour (Government Gazette 41256), Guidance Notes to the Pressure Equipment Regulations, Revision 2 (GN 1265), with the text of each regulation, 17 November 2017.
- Department of Labour (Government Gazette 40713), Incorporation of health and safety standards into the Pressure Equipment Regulations, 2009 (GN R. 262, replacing the schedule), 24 March 2017.
- Department of Employment and Labour (Government Gazette 52226), General Safety Regulations, 2025: amendment (Notice 5954), inserting regulations 13H to 13J, 6 March 2025.
- Department of Employment and Labour (Government Gazette 53783), Amendments to the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces and the General Safety Regulations (Notice 6907), 5 December 2025.
- City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Emergency Services By-laws (Notice 826, Gauteng Provincial Gazette Extraordinary 179, as amended by Notice 1118 of 31 August 2011), 21 May 2004, as amended 31 August 2011.
- Open By-laws (Laws.Africa), City of Cape Town, Community Fire Safety By-law, 2002 (version as at 21 August 2015), 21 August 2015.
- SAQCC Fire, Welcome to SAQCC Fire: about us, registration and the technician and company search, 2025.