New Safety Standards for Portable Non-Aerosol Fire Extinguishers Take Effect on 20 December 2022
Portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers are mandatory products, and their standard was last updated on 15 December 2021. The Australian Government published this new mandatory safety standard on 20 December 2021 with a transitional period of 12 months. The updated requirements are to improve existing performance and identification requirements and to reduce the risk of a fire extinguisher not operating correctly during a fire.
This new safety standard applies to the supply of new, and imported second-hand products supplied in Australia for the first time.
Up to 21 December 2022, suppliers can still comply with the current requirements from Consumer Protection Notice No. 3 of 2004 – Consumer Product Safety Standard: Portable Fire Extinguishers.
After 21 December 2022, suppliers must meet the requirements of the Consumer Goods (Portable Non-aerosol Fire Extinguishers) Safety Standards 2021 only.
In the new requirements, a portable non-aerosol fire extinguisher must comply with the below standards:
- AS/NZS 1841.1:2007* – General requirements, and
- The following applicable standards:
- AS/NZS 1841.2:2007 – Specific requirements for water type extinguishers
- AS/NZS 1841.3:2007* – Specific requirements for wet chemical type extinguishers
- AS/NZS 1841.4:2007 – Specific requirements for foam type extinguishers
- AS/NZS 1841.5:2007 – Specific requirements for powder type extinguishers
- AS/NZS 1841.6:2007* – Specific requirements for carbon dioxide type extinguishers
- AS/NZS 1841.7:2007 – Specific requirements for vaporizing-liquid type extinguishers
- AS/NZS 1841.8:2007* – Specific requirements for non-rechargeable type extinguishers
*Part 1, 3, 6 and 8 of these standards have been modified as specified in the Safety Standard.
What is a portable non-aerosol fire extinguisher?
A portable non-aerosol fire extinguisher is defined in the new safety standard as an application that is:
- A portable fire extinguisher; and
- Not an aerosol fire extinguisher.
For comparison, a portable fire extinguisher means an appliance that:
- Contains an extinguishant that can be discharged onto a fire by the action of internal pressure; and
- Is designed to be carried and operated by hand; and
- Is designed to have a gross mass of not more than 23 kilograms.
BWES works with experienced and accredited laboratories locally and overseas and can provide you with cost effective testing solutions with the quickest turnaround time.
Contact BWES today to assist you with complying with this new safety standard.
This communication (including any attachment) has been prepared by BWES and is based on the available information at the time of publication and is believed to be true and accurate. The information contained in this communication should be used as a guide only and may cease to apply if applicable regulation or the product’s design or application is altered. BWES does not take responsibility for any Injury, Loss for damage suffered by any party’s interpretation or decisions made by any party on the information provided in this communication.