Fire Safety Stick - Non Compliant For Business Premises
There are numerous adverts throughout the UK advertising fire safety sticks. The sellers of this Italian made product claim that this product can be used to replace traditional fire extinguishers used in business premises. The claims are not strictly true as these products do not conform to any British Standard Code of Practice, do not have a fire rating, do not have a BSI kitemark and cannot be serviced to BS5306:3 or specified in a commercial premises to BS5306:8
Below is one of the claims made on the fire safety stick website -
But I could buy a normal extinguisher for a lot less?
Yes, you could, but overall the Fire Safety Stick is much better value and will cost a lot less in the long run. Traditional extinguishers only have a shelf life of 5 years maximum and even then, only if they are serviced every year (which will cost you further). The FSS needs no servicing at all, and has a proven shelf life of over 15 years. Depending on the risk of different classes of fires, you may need to have two different ones. The Fire Safety Stick, however, is suitable for all major classifications so you only need one. Finally, if you did use a traditional extinguisher or accidentally set it off, the mess it creates will cost you an awful lot more. The FSS leaves no mess, no residue and no corrosive damage.
The FSS has already saved some users £,000's instead them having a traditional extinguisher!
Claims that all traditional fire extinguishers have a maximum of 5 years is not quite true. They fail to mention that Co2 fire extinguishers have a 10 year life cycle.
Traditional fire extinguishers do not make a mess if specified correctly. The only fire extinguisher that will make a 'mess' is dry powder although if specified correctly will only be installed outside or inside only if a class 'C' fire risk is deemed to require coverage as part of a FRA. Water, foam, wet chemical make an area wet which can be cleaned easily, Co2 is a gas so the claim it may cost 'an awful lot more' should be taken lightly.
Fire extinguishers should be supplied and sited in accordance to risk and the fire ratings required. You will only know what is required by using a competent fire professional who has the correct certification as stated in the British Standards.
In order to conform to the British Standards traditional fire extinguishers have to be serviced annually in accordance with BS5306:3 to ensure they are free from defects and will work correctly and safely in a fire situation. The fact that a fire safety stick cannot be serviced to the British Standards should be enough for any business owner to question the claims made by the sellers of this product that its fit for commercial use.
The advice for any UK business owner is to completely discount this form of fire fighting equipment for their business premises. The fire safety stick does not conform to any British Standard for portable fire fighting equipment, It cannot be serviced to the British Standards and cannot be used in a commercial property for this reason. A fire risk assessment would identify that your premises does not have the correct equipment, coverage and it also may effect your insurance. Fire Authorities will investigate fires and will prosecute for breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, proof of competency for the organisation supplying and maintaining your firefighting equipment will need to be shown as part of any investigation.
The fire safety stick has without doubt been proven to extinguish a fire with its certification from other countries so this type of equipment should only be considered for non commercial use only.
Should your business require a professional survey, quotation and installation of fire fighting equipment for your business premises please contact our friendly team.