Buying or sourcing your own extinguishers from the Internet looks a cheaper option and much more appealing on the surface but do you fully know all of the costs involved?
Firstly find out where the extinguishers are sourced from and what guarantees, spare parts and refills are available for the future. If the extinguisher does not conform to UK requirements a competent service technician will not be able to service it. Extinguisher servicing is required every 12 months to comply with manufacturer’s instructions.
New extinguishers need to be installed and commissioned – this is not optional! The manufacturer’s instructions will state that the unit must be installed and commissioned as per BS5306 parts 3 and 8. All competent companies will charge to install and commission the extinguisher(s).
The leaflet below explains fully the implications of buying from the internet and gives an example of the cost.
