Purchasing Fire Extinguishers Online
Its quite common for people to think that purchasing fire extinguishers online will save them money and time rather than using a professional fire protection business. We have assessed using online fire extinguisher companies and the results are quite alarming not to mention being more expensive in most cases but potentially putting end users in danger.
Can an online fire extinguisher provider carry out a professional and qualified fire extinguisher site survey?
The simple answer is no they cannot. In order to provide a fire extinguisher site survey your building must be surveyed by someone who is competent and has the ability to survey strictly to British Standards (BS5306:8)
In order to be competent to British Standards the fire extinguisher assessor must have completed the necessary training and obtained certification along with refresher courses which have to be completed every three years.
The training, time and everything else that goes into becoming a competent fire extinguisher professional comes at a cost. One of the reasons why online fire extinguisher companies can practically give them away is because they do not have that level of competency that comes with a fire extinguisher professional.
Commissioning of Fire Extinguishers
The commissioning of fire extinguishers is a requirement of British Standards (BS 5306:3) if this is not done in accordance with the standard by persons with the appropriate training, skills, knowledge, experience, and competency (Certification) you and others are at risk of injury and furthermore, may invalidate your insurance cover in the event of a fire.
If the online fire extinguisher provider claims to send fire extinguishers to you commissioned this is completely false. British Standards (BS5306:3) states that commissioning of fire extinguishers must completed on site prior to being installed by a competent technician. If they say they will send a technician that will be an additional cost, and they always use a sub-contractor. This comes at an additional cost to you which is usually expensive and raises the cost of the 'cheap' fire extinguisher considerably.
Fire Safety Insurance
Does the internet fire extinguisher provider have liability and other associated insurances? Insurance companies often investigate claims and may want to see evidence of competency for the organisation supplying and maintaining your fire-fighting equipment. If you cannot prove that you have complied with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, you may have a difficulty in getting a full insurance payment, what will that mean to you and your business?
The training, time and everything else that goes into becoming a competent fire extinguisher professional comes at a cost. One of the reasons why online fire extinguisher companies can practically give them away is because they do not have that level of competency that comes with a fire extinguisher professional.
Competency
Can the internet fire extinguisher suppliers prove competency within the fire safety industry for portable fire extinguishers? Mostly they are businesses who purchase a warehouse full of extinguishers and sell a lot cheaply to make a profit, Often without any knowledge of what they are providing. 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 the investigation.
Will the fire extinguishers you are considering purchasing be brand new and undamaged?
We have found in a large number of cases that fire extinguishers sent to clients are not brand new. They have been found numerous times to be year old already which means clients do not get the whole life cycle of the fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers can be damaged when taken out the box also which means they are possibly dangerous.
Co2 Fire Extinguishers purchased online
There are a huge amount of online fire extinguisher providers who sell very cheap co2 fire extinguishers. This is because they provide steel units which are very heavy. Aluminium Co2 fire extinguishers are much better quality and nearly two kilos lighter than the steel bodied equivalent. We have also encountered huge amounts of co2 fire extinguishers being sold cheaply online as new and when inspected found to be refurbished fire extinguishers. While refurbished co2 fire extinguishers are ok to install it is worth while remembering that they do not come with the British Standard Kitemark or a fire rating. Not having a fire rating can mean that your fire extinguisher coverage falls under the requirements of the British Standards (BS5306:8)
Fire Extinguisher Warranty
Although internet fire extinguisher providers state that they supply a five-year warranty how is this processed? If a fire extinguisher loses pressure for instance you then must send it back and then how long do you have to wait for its replacement (That's if they honour it in the first place) This then leaves areas of the premises with no fire cover which could lead to serious problems should you have a fire. This would also cause issues with your insurance and compliance with fire safety law if an investigation took place.
Fire Extinguisher Health & Safety Implications
Do online fire extinguisher providers have adequate Health & Safety Policy, Risk Assessments and Method Statements? We would suggest that most do not which means you are then at risk should there be any serious issues which arise due to any of the equipment they supply or processes used.
Anybody can start a website and sell fire extinguishers but not everyone is a fire protection specialist. Getting it wrong has severe consequences not just financially but personally and professionally.
Can online fire extinguisher providers service my fire extinguishers?
In some cases we have found that online fire extinguisher providers do offer fire extinguisher servicing but it is hugely expensive. One provider we checked charges £75 plus VAT to attend a site then £10 Plus VAT per fire extinguisher serviced with fire blankets servicing at £75 plus VAT to attend a site then £6 Plus VAT per fire blanket. This is probably due to the fact that they use sub-contractors. In reality this is incredibly expensive compared to a proper fire extinguisher service provider who would attend and service your fire extinguishers for a fraction of the cost.
What is the true cost of buying a fire extinguisher online?
You will only find the true cost of buying fire extinguishers from a non-proven source such as the internet or catalogue when the equipment is needed in a real fire situation, are you certain it will operate when needed, just like the brakes on your car when something happens in front of you, and you need to stop fast!
An internet fire extinguisher provider may advertise for instance a 6ltr Water fire extinguisher for £29.00 but when the delivery cost £8.50, Attendance for a sub contractor call out £35.00 and commissioning charge of £6.99 is added this fire extinguisher will cost you £79.49 which is expensive and much more than originally advertised.
Should I buy my fire extinguishers online or from a fire extinguisher servicing company?
Our conclusion is that you are much better off financially and more importantly safer using a proper fire protection company to service and supply your fire extinguishers. Most fire protection companies have qualified & competent fire extinguisher technicians and surveyors to ensure you get the absolute best equipment in the correct areas which conform to all the relevant British Standards. They have the relevant insurances in place and can provide you with RAMS for all of their fire extinguisher installations and fire extinguisher servicing.
If cost is an issue then speak to your current fire extinguisher provider and seek to agree on costs which reflect the current market but also take into consideration the expertise you are receiving from a fire safety professional and associated business.
Anybody can start a website and sell fire extinguishers but not everyone is a fire protection specialist. Getting it wrong has severe consequences not just financially but personally and professionally.
If you would like to speak with our professional and friendly team about your fire extinguishers please call 01462 337037 or complete the form below.