The mandatory standard prescribes requirements for cylinder construction, performance testing and identification colours for fire extinguishers.
About portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers
The mandatory safety standard was last updated on 15 December 2021.
This mandatory standard applies to fire extinguishers that contain chemicals which can be discharged in a rapid stream to extinguish different types of small fires. These chemicals include:
- water
- wet-chemical
- foam or powder
Portable fire extinguishers can be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.
The mandatory standard prescribes requirements for cylinder construction, performance testing and identification colours.
Mandatory standard
The Consumer Goods (Portable Non-aerosol Fire Extinguishers) Safety Standard 2021 sets out requirements for portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers.
The mandatory standard is based on certain sections of the voluntary Australian New Zealand standard AS/NZS 1841.1:2007 Portable fire extinguishers. There are several parts to this Australian New Zealand standard and the one that will be relevant for your product depends on the type of chemical used in the portable fire extinguisher. AS/NZS 1841.1:2007 is available from SAI Global.
You must consult the mandatory standard for these details.
Key requirements
These requirements aim to give suppliers a general idea of what is required by the mandatory standard. Suppliers must not rely on this information as a complete guide to compliance.
Materials and construction design
Cylinder construction
- Anti-corrosion treatment.
- Stability.
Performance test requirements
- Effective discharge.
- Fire rating.
Identification colours
Identification colours for type of extinguishment.
Testing
The mandatory standard specifies testing to ensure portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers meet the requirements for:
- materials and construction design
- performance test requirements
- identification colours.
It is recommended that suppliers organise testing through specialist laboratories with the right skills, experience and equipment to ensure fire extinguishers comply with the mandatory standard.
Supply
The mandatory safety standard applies to all new portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers. It does not apply to second-hand portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers unless:
- the fire extinguisher has been imported into Australia; and
- the fire extinguisher is being supplied, or offered for supply, to a person or persons within Australia for the first time after being imported.
More information is available in the Explanatory Statement on the Federal Register of Legislation website.