Having either a plumbed-in or handheld fire extinguisher fitted is mandatory motorsport safety equipment for most motorsport disciplines. 

Whether you enjoy rally driving or GT racing, the risk of a flash-fire occurring at any moment is real. 

This is why you need to have your racing fire extinguisher carefully serviced by experts to protect you and the car. 

Your motorsport fire extinguisher will need to be serviced by an expert technician- this is where we can help.

This guide will walk you through the process and answer frequently asked questions.

We shall also explain how our team will make it easy and very straightforward to get your fire extinguisher serviced through us.

Motorsport fire extinguisher servicing 

The vast majority of motorsport fire extinguishers must be expertly serviced at least every 2 years (check this timeframe, as it depends on your motorsport governing body).

It's also important to note that certain bottles can have a lifespan of up to 10 years. 

However, as mentioned, the vast majority of motorsport disciplines require the entire system to be checked by an expert technician every 2 years to comply with the sanctioning body. 

Even if you are not competing in an organised motorsport event, many motorsport participants still have their fire extinguishers comply with safety regulations set out by, say, the FIA.

The reason is simple: it's not just about complying with safety regulations to get the car ready for race day; these systems help save lives, whether you are racing or just practising on private land or a track. 

Therefore, whether you are participating in an organised motorsport event or not, it's important to have your fire suppression systems serviced. 

As a secondary consideration, this system can help stop the spread of a fire that might otherwise have made the vehicle a total insurance write-off.

Can I carry out the servicing myself?

No, the reason is two-fold: health and safety. As you are working with pressurised gas, this should always be left to the experts. 

The second reason is to satisfy safety homologations; an approved technician from an authorised dealer and serving team will be needed in order to correctly service the equipment.

Here at Nicky Grist Motorsports, we live and breathe motorsport. For this reason, Nicky and the team know firsthand how vital a well-maintained fire suppression system is, and we can handle this process for you.

What work is involved when servicing motorsport fire suppression systems?

We carry out a visual inspection.

It's commonplace to think that a 2-year safety inspection just involves checking pressure levels and topping up the relevant gas. 

However, the check is more comprehensive; the work starts in the workshop with a visual inspection. This means that any parts, such as a faulty pressure gauge, may need to be replaced as well as damaged hoses.

A visual inspection of working parts, including frayed hoses, therefore will be conducted.

Cleaning

Cleaning certain parts of the bottle may be needed in some circumstances. The bottle will often have been used in many races, from dusty, arid conditions which are often encountered in, say, rally-driving. 

This dust can penetrate metal threads, the actual pressure meter and other areas of the fire extinguisher. We may therefore need to conduct some preliminary cleaning before work starts.

Check over nozzles, seals and pressure gauges

Sometimes a bottle and other aspects of the fire suppression system will need replacing. 

Rubber seals or a pressure gauge can become damaged. A bottle’s needle might indicate it's in the green; however, it could also be caused by a faulty pressure meter and needs to be replaced.

Recharging the bottle 

A key part of the motorsport fire extinguisher servicing is, of course, repressurising the whole bottle with the correct fire suppressant. 

We will ensure the bottle is refilled to the correct level and that the old fire suppressant agents are removed from the bottle before this work is carried out.

Reassemble 

We then reassemble the bottle and pressure test.

Label and date

Just as you see servicing stickers added to fire extinguishers in commercial premises, this is the same for your motorsport fire extinguisher. 

We then add an applicable label and date so the owner can make a note and visually check from time to time when they need to get the system serviced again. 

Does Nicky Grist Motorsports service all types of fire extinguishers? 

We can supply and service Lifeline Fire and Safety Systems range of equipment.

We can therefore supply brand-new Lifeline fire suppression systems. We can also offer servicing and replacement parts.

We can also supply, service, and install SPA Design systems.

I need to purchase a new fire extinguisher system for my motorsport vehicle- can you help?

We offer a range of plumbed-in and also handheld systems. Plumbed-in systems can be divided into two broad categories: “electrical” and “mechanical”.

Each driver will often state a preference; however, the distinction between the two systems lies in how they are activated. One is activated electronically, such as with a push button or a flip switch often located on say the rally cars dashboard. The mechanical system instead relies on pull-cords to activate the system. 

What if I have discharged the system, yet the pressure indicator is still in the green?

In these circumstances, where a system, such as a handheld system, has only been partially discharged, you should have it serviced immediately by a qualified technician.

This means that even if the pressure meter reads green and the system is still within servicing intervals, it should still be serviced again if it's been fully or partially discharged. 

As any motorsport professional will tell you, the fire extinguisher system is too vital to the occupants safety to gamble with, therefore it must be well maintained. Quite often, if a flash fire were to occur, say, in a rally spec car in the middle of nowhere, deep in the forest, it's only the fire extinguisher systems that are in place to help protect the driver, co-driver, and the car itself.

If the system has been used, can it be used again?

Yes, sometimes a system will have been used and fully discharged because of a fire. However, as long as the system is in a condition that allows it to be re-serviced, it can often be reused. 

Quality manufacturers such as Lifeline / SPA Design Systems provide excellent aftercare and replacement parts. Therefore, if the system has been triggered, say, to extinguish a very minor electrical fire, the system can often be re-serviced, commissioned, and put back into service.

What's the turnaround time for servicing racing fire extinguisher systems?

This depends on the work required, such as whether replacement parts are needed. 

Do have a chat with our team on: 01981 241 040 we will be able to advise you of current turnaround times and applicable prices.