Safety requirements for portable fire extinguishers
Do you manufacture, sell, or import portable fire extinguishers in the Netherlands? Your products must meet the European safety requirements. In the Netherlands, portable fire extinguishers must also have a Government Inspection Mark (Rijkstypekeur) on the label.
Government Inspection Mark
Portable fire extinguishers (fire extinguishers of up to 20 kg) must have a Government Inspection Mark. You apply for the mark with Kiwa Fire Safety & Security (Kiwa FSS, in Dutch). This mark shows that the fire extinguisher is approved for sale in the Netherlands, and for which fire class (A, B, C, D, F) it can be used.
Government Inspection Mark requirements
When you apply for a Government Inspection Mark, you must include an inspection report. This report shows that the portable fire extinguisher complies with the required safety standards. Portable fire extinguishers are tested according to standard NEN-EN3-7. Portable fire extinguishers for class D fires (combustible metals) are tested for additional safety requirements.
If your extinguisher uses a carbon dioxide (C02) gas cartridge between 120 and 500 ml these cartridges must have a CE marking.
Government Inspection Mark number
If your application is approved by Kiwa you will receive a Government Inspection Mark number (Rijkstypekeurnummer). The Mark is valid for 5 years, after which you must reapply for a Government Inspection Mark. You may not manufacture or import fire extinguishers under an expired Mark number. You may only sell fire extinguishers under an expired number, if they were produced when the government type approval number was still valid.
You must put the Government Inspection Mark number, among other things, on the label. You can find a list of requirements for the label with Kiwa (in Dutch).
Please note: The technical requirements that apply in the Netherlands to portable fire extinguishers differ from those of other EU Member States. If a portable fire extinguisher is already allowed in another Member State, the Dutch government may only ban its sale in the Netherlands in exceptional cases.