Rank: Forum user
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Company i work for have carried out a Fire Risk Assessment for one of their Offices, and found that risks were effectively controlled. But when they tried to get their annual fire extinguisher certificate for this Office, the Company told them they have to follow BSI standards were 2 is needed per floor so could not grant the certificate. The Fire Risk Assessment highlights that there is one on the two floors (Office isnt that big), and is adequately controlled. Is this just a issue that the Company who provide the Certificates have a Policy they have to follow, or are trying to get us to buy another Fire Extinguisher?
thanks
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Rank: Super forum user
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What's a fire extinguisher certificate, and what sort of company provides it? I've never heard of this.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I'm surprised that any risk assessment that found a need for portable extinguishers in the first place would find that only one was acceptable in an office environment?
Assuming there is both paperwork and electrical items present the only readily available extinguishant that can safely be used on both is dry-powder and that isn't recommended for use indoors, certainly not in a small office.
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Rank: Super forum user
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When you get your fire extinguishers serviced, the provider should give you a fire fighting equipment certificate of inspection/advice note, to show that the service of equipment has been carried out
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Rank: Super forum user
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Is this the fire extinguisher maintenance company you are talking about? They aren't required to produce a "certificate". They are simply required to service the extinguisher(s) you do have and say that each is fit for use. Most companies do this with individual stickers on the extinguisher.
They may well be right that you need more extinguishers (I would usually recommend a minimum of one carbon dioxide and one foam even in an office) but trying to get you to buy one by saying they can't service the one you do have because you need more sounds like salesmanship to me. Review the provision and find a new maintenance company.
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Rank: Forum user
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spoke with my colleague who asked me about this, the company is a maintenance company but are advising for 2 new extinguishers to be brought in as the BSI Standards changed lastg year requiring two extinguishers.
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Rank: Super forum user
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What I expect from a fire extinguisher service visit is a service record, which sets out for each extinguisher whether it was OK, anything wrong with it, whether it has been refilled or or so on.
I wouldn't expect the service record to be withheld (which is apparently what has happened to the "certificate" in this case) because they thought I didn't have enough extinguishers, and I don't expect it to contain any reassurance that I have enough extinguishers.
Indeed I don't pay for the service until I've received the service record!
Certainly I'd expect the service engineer to tell me if he noticed that there was no extinguisher where he thought there ought to be one. But this wouldn't necessarily be part of the service record and this advice would be fed into the fire risk assessment, it wouldn't supersede it.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I have also not heard of a mandatory "Fire Extinguisher Certificate", although a quick web search comes up with formats for a Fire Extinguisher Servicing Record that is given the status of a certificate! http://firealarmengineer...m/attachment.php?aid=936Their job is to provide the record of servicing and not to decline providing such a record if you have fewer fire extinguishers that that recommended in "BS 5306-8:2012:-Fire extinguishing installations and equipment on premises. Selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers. Code of practice" I do not have the 2012 edition, but the 2000 edition also recommends in Clause 6.2, i.e Class A fires in carbonaceous solids that are generally present in all premises and occupancies, the basic scale of provision of extinguishers where these are the only primary first aid means of fire defence is that, on each storey, there should be at least two extinguishers sited in accordance with the provisions of clause 7. However, the calculation using BS 5306-8:2012 for number of a particular rating of fire extinguisers can be complex and it is the responsible person, with assistance from a competent person who has to decide whether they want to comply with BS 5306-8:2012 or not. BS are not mandatory. I would also advise that you check your fire insurance cover, as insurers may be stipulating compliance with specific British Standards who requirements may be grreater than what is required thro RRFSO.
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Rank: Super forum user
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It's down to the responsible person to compile their risk assessment which will determine how many (if any) extinguishers are required and most definitely NOT an extinguisher service engineer
Advice is useful, but this sort of sale 'blackmail' using a fictitious mandatory (not) certificate is a sale ploy. Even if they are right and you should really have additional extinguishers, I wouldn't use this lot as I hate those who prey on anxieties and/or use fear simply to sell
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