Rank: New forum user 
|
Hi all
Reputable (allegedly) fire safety company has came to one of our offices to service extinguishers. They have condemned a large number due to the thread showing at the top of the extinguisher. The contractor has advised the office manager that new regulations which were passed at the beginning of the year state that all threads need to be inside of the extinguisher and not visible.
Thoughts please - Is this correct or someone that should be on BBC rogue traders?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
I think the lack of responses so far is telling you something!
Ask the company to be more specific in terms of what legislation was passed at the start of the year. Regs are only passed twice a year (April & October) so it's unlikely something was passed in January - unless that was the date of them coming into force. Personally I'm not aware of any new reg which states that requirement.
It's more likely guidance they're referring to. Ask them. If they can't be more specific then you have your answer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Alex is right, check them out and challenge them. There is a serious lack of business about at the moment and some rather dubious companies are know to tell porkies to get more business. At a cost of around £80 to £100 a time several new fire extinuishers can work out at a very high cost say about £1000,. I'm sure your boss would be happier to pay nothing for nothing than a £1000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
The best companies can have dodgy employees. Challenge the company.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: New forum user
|
More giving you the heads up on this one. I checked through the BS standards.
I think we'll get another contractor. Not the first time I've had a fire maintenance company trying it on via extinguishers, hose reels, frequency of maintenance, accessories required etc. You expect better though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Just a thought, but are they BAFE accredited/ approved? BAFE approved companies have fairly strict auditing guidelines that they are supposed to follow.
I went through this earlier in the year, and since switching from non-accredited to accredited, I've seen a world of difference.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
I recall some excellent advice on here a while back (Shaun McKeever I think) who suggested that - where possible- engage a servicing contract company separately to the supply company as this removes the incentive to condemn extinguishers.
To be fair, this is more likely to be possible and advantageous when dealing with many extinguishers. The estate I deal with has about 5000 extinguishers, and as a result of this advice, we are currently changing our procurement system to this model
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
I think you would need to be a bit more specific on what thread is showing on what extinguishers. certainly on water foam and powder there should be no thread showing as the head of the extinguisher should be fully would into the extinguisher as they normally have an O ring to create the seal. there certainly should be no reason why suddenly thread is showing than it was before the service.
It sounds suspicious to me i would challenge the comment/ need as said if they are a member of BAFE then contact them with your concerns they are supposed to carry out inspections on service engineers works so contacting them they should be willing to come out an have a look.
It's worth checking the prices a company will charge for supplying new extinguishers before agreeing to any service agreement remember the wholesale price of extinguisher is around £20-£30, fair enough the company has to add something to the price for installing etc but i have heard stories of companies paying £150+
Red
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
News to me, which would be strange as one of my responsibilities is commissioning, maintaining and decommissioning all first aid fire appliances on site. As Phil states the threads on the Water/foam do not normally show and if they did this is a maintenance issue that does not require the strapping of them (basically discharge, refill, replace headcap, reseal, pressurise). CO2, yes the threads do sometimes show depending on the type of extinguisher (10kg's normally do have thread showing) but have recieved no directive for removing these.
I would also be suspicious, especially in water ones as these can easily be made to show thread without releasing the pressure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Sorry
Scrapping not strapping!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.