Eleven Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Fire Protection Equipment and How to Choose the Right Fire Protection Company for You

1. Ensure your equipment has the British Standards Kitemark: Anyone can manufacture or import extinguishers and sell them in the UK without complying with any standard.  If your equipment does not meet the rigorous standards set by the British Standards Institute, there is a reasonable chance it will not work when you most need it, in case of a fire.  You can buy cheap extinguishers, but many of them will not work effectively when you need to use them on a live fire.  

    

2. Avoid cheap prices: If you run a business you may be legally required to comply with the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.  You will need to choose the correct fire protection equipment and have it properly maintained.  This is not a time to save pennies, this is a time to save lives. 

    

3. Check how long your Fire Protection Company has been in existence:  There is no requirement in the UK for anyone setting up in the fire servicing business to join an accredited scheme.  One good measure of a reputable Fire Protection Company is the length of time they have been in existence.  You might want to look for companies that have been around for over 10 years.  You will also want the assurance of knowing that your equipment will be properly maintained under the new legislation.  You may be relying on the Fire Protection Company to maintain your equipment regularly.  They can't do that if they go out of business. 

    

4. Check that fire servicing engineers are accredited by an independent third party:  Just because someone sells fire protection equipment, does not mean they are qualified to give advice on it, install it or maintain it correctly.  Engineers need to be trained and accredited by an independent third party organisation to British Standard 5306 part 3, 2003.  They also need to attend ongoing refresher courses which many small independent companies cannot afford to do.    

    

5. Watch out for hidden charges:  Many of the industry cowboys use this trick to make their profits.  They will add on charges for refills and accessories such as headcap washers and tamper tags, to name just a few.  These should all be included in your maintenance and not turn up as hidden charges. 

    

6. Check they have a written guarantee:  Check that your supplier gives you a written guarantee.  An ideal guarantee would be for a minimum of five years.  If they can't provide a written guarantee, you may want to talk to a different supplier. 

    

7. Ask what level of insurance cover they have:  In the unfortunate case where you do have a fire disaster and there is an issue with the fire protection equipment you will want insurance.  It is very likely that in those circumstances, you will need to claim against the insurance of your Fire Protection Company.  Check that they have a minimum of £2m cover. 

    

8. Look for written client testimonials:  This can be a very useful insight for you.  If the company's clients are not saying positive things about them, that should be a cause for concern.  You can ask to see written testimonials to verify this.

    

9. Don't pay for unnecessary refurbishment of equipment:  Some suppliers will inform you that your equipment needs a major refurbishment.  Often all it needs is its extended service which involves discharging and recharging the main cylinder.  It would be similar to your mechanic advising you to change your car engine when all you car needed was a twelve month service. 

    

10. Avoid being oversold:  Many companies will try to oversell you on equipment, especially in medium to large installations.  Your best advice is to stick with a well established, reputable supplier.

     

11. Install in accordance with rigorous British Standards Institute only:  Ensure that any equipment you have installed is serviced and installed in accordance with the rigorous requirements of BS 5839 and BS 5266