Thatched Property Fire Protection Confusion

[Minkeycat]

We've been in our thatched property for about 10 months now. We've just received a letter telling us that we should have our fire protection equipment serviced which will cost £75 to check that it works. It'll probably keep our insurance happy too. Can anyone tell me if it's worth it though because, for £75 we can replace all the fire extinguishers with new ones. These will presumably carry a guarantee as well. The existing fire extinguishers have needles on a dial showing the pressure and all of them are firmly in the green zone which is correct. What will the £75 inspection really provide us with other than a bill and, presumably a requirement to replace anything that's not up to scratch making it more expensive than it need be? We regularly press the test button on all the smoke detectors and I'm confident they're OK too as well as the fire blanket next to the cooker. The insurers sent round a surveyor when we moved in who told us that we should just replace the fire extinguishers because it's cheaper than getting them serviced. To be honest, he gave us a lot of "tips", all of which have turned out to be wrong. So we don't know what's best to do. The bottom line is that in the event of a fire, I want everything to work first go so what's the best thing to do? New or "serviced existing" items? I spoke to the local Fire and Rescue team this morning and they said that if we have a fire just get out, stay out and get the fire brigade out and they don't even recommend trying to tackle it ourselves.
What's the best course of action here?
Regards

 

[Flyfisher]

Frustrating isn't it? We're not thatched but our insurer (NFU) sent out a surveyor a couple of years ago to do a 'risk assessment' as part of their conditions of insurance, stating that any 'requirements' in his report would have to be addressed within three months otherwise they wouldn't insure the property. A bit worrying, but we had no choice and I had visions of having to change all the locks, fit window locks everywhere, have restrictions on our open fires and stoves etc etc. in the event, the survey report contained no 'requirements' and the only 'recommendation' was to consider fitting smoke alarms (which I was expecting to be a requirement and was planning to do anyway) and buying a fire extinguisher, though there was no advice about the type.

I subsequently had the local Fire Brigade visit and their only advice was where to fit smoke and heat alarms (far fewer than I was already planning) and that they should ideally be wire-linked (it's quite a large house). When. I asked about extinguishers they would not give any advice, explaining that their priority is saving lives not property and that we should be more concerned to have an exit plan in case of fire.

Our HETAS registered chimney sweep also now gives us a 'certificate of cleaning and inspection' after each visit and told us that in cases of chimney fires insurance companies will usually ask for such a certificate as evidence that the house owner has taken reasonable precautions against such events.

Nanny state? over- regulation? Micro-management of every conceivable risk? You decide.

It's hard to argue against the basic precautions but it's also easy to think that insurance companies are trying to reduce their risks at our expense more and more. I wouldn't mind if it resulted in cheaper premiums but I've seen no evidence of that and long for the good old days of a three-figure annual premium

As for your specific questions (apologies for my whining), what sort of fire extinguishers do you have? On the face of it, if £75 could replace them all with brand new ones then that would seem to make sense rather than servicing the existing ones, but from what I seen while shopping around, £75 doesn't buy very much. I'd expect the servicing cost to be mainly the call out time and therefore pretty much fixed regardless of extinguisher numbers (within reason).

As for the 'best course of action', I doubt anyone can give a definitive answer, only opinion, and it probably also depends on your living habits. For example, we have no gas for cooking, rarely fry anything (and never deep-fry) and have an induction hob that will only work when an appropriate pan is in place otherwise it turns itself off automatically. As such, I consider our kitchen to be a pretty low fire risk. Also, we have replaced our open fireplaces with stoves, which I consider to be far safer, and I try not to leave any tech devices on charge overnight (iPads, phones, etc). Others may think differently, and that's fine - the important thing is to take whatever measures you feel necessary so as to not worry all the time.

 

[Minkeycat]

Thanks FlyFisher.

I think I'll buy new ones. An online check shows to replace like for like, our 9kg Powder, 9kg Water and 2kg Powder extinguishers will cost £59.70 and will be delivered to my door tomorrow as opposed to £75 'checking cost'/service which I'll have to book with whoever can fit it in in the weeks to come. If I keep doing this I will save £150 over the next ten years but will also have 33 fire extinguishers at the end of it! I'm hoping the guarantee will prove sufficient for the insurers.

Kind regards

 

[Minkeycat]

Thanks FlyFisher.

I think I'll buy new ones. An online check shows to replace like for like, our 9kg Powder, 9kg Water and 2kg Powder extinguishers will cost £59.70 and will be delivered to my door tomorrow as opposed to £75 'checking cost'/service which I'll have to book with whoever can fit it in in the weeks to come. If I keep doing this I will save £150 over the next ten years but will also have 33 fire extinguishers at the end of it! I'm hoping the guarantee will prove sufficient for the insurers.

Kind regards

 

[Flyfisher]

Have you looked at 'water mist' extinguishers? I've no direct experience of them but from what I've read they are safe for all types of fire, including flammable liquids and electrical fires, and leave no residue, unlike powder extinguishers - all of which seems attractive to me. This is the type I keep meaning to buy but still haven't got around to it

There are some demo videos here: http://www.safelincs.co.uk/6-litre-water-mist-fire-extinguisher/

I've no connection to this site, it was just the first one I found when searching for 'water mist extinguishers'.

Your price of just under £60 seems very low for those three extinguishers. May I ask where you found them online?

 

[Minkeycat]

Hi FlyFisher

Thanks for that suggestion. I'll look into those.

My costs came from these chaps...https://www.fireprotectionshop.co.uk/ and was taken from the total having added like for like to my 'cart'. I too was pleasantly surprised at the cost but I'll look into adding to our current lot with the water mist type.

You have made me think more about what type of extinguishers we should have so I'll revisit all that. The current set were 'inherited' with the house. The lady who lived here before was almost 100 years old and I'd be amazed if she could wield a 9kg extinguisher in the event of a fire! In fact, that's reminded me, I want ones with more ergonomic handles because I moved one out of the way the other day and it was incredibly uncomfortable to lift as it dug into my hand! I don't want cuts and bruises too if we have a fire!

 

[steveb]

I have a suggestion that would save you £59.70 most years

Document that you have checked the extinguisher readings and expiry dates somewhere (an external email account so "fire proof") and do nothing

-edit- corrected amount before the pedants gets me

 

[Flyfisher]

Hi FlyFisher

Thanks for that suggestion. I'll look into those.

My costs came from these chaps...https://www.fireprotectionshop.co.uk/ and was taken from the total having added like for like to my 'cart'. I too was pleasantly surprised at the cost but I'll look into adding to our current lot with the water mist type.

You have made me think more about what type of extinguishers we should have so I'll revisit all that. The current set were 'inherited' with the house. The lady who lived here before was almost 100 years old and I'd be amazed if she could wield a 9kg extinguisher in the event of a fire! In fact, that's reminded me, I want ones with more ergonomic handles because I moved one out of the way the other day and it was incredibly uncomfortable to lift as it dug into my hand! I don't want cuts and bruises too if we have a fire!

Thanks for the link - some keen prices there, though interestingly no 'water mist' extinguishers.

You make a good point about the size and ergonomics. My feeling is that I'd want one as large as possible so that any fire (well, within reason) could be fully and properly extinguished but you're right that if it's too heavy to be easily used then it might be worse than useless, i.e. giving a false sense of security. There's also the issue of competence. I'm sure we all have an idea about how to use extinguishers but how many of us have ever used them in anger? Could we really get the best out of a smallish extinguisher in an emergency situation with no prior experience? I guess that's the point the Fire Brigade tend to make - concentrate on escape first and foremost!

Let's hope than none of us ever have to face such circumstances.

 

[88v8]

If the pressure readings are green, they're OK.
C02 extinguishers can be weighed to ensure they are still full.

The water mist extinguishers do look very good. I was/am going to order some, as the standard 2 gallon ones are too heavy.

If one wakes up in the night to find a fire well established in the roof, there's not much to be done**.
But if one is in at the start of a fire, an extinguisher could do the job.
I remember many years ago putting out what could have been a terminal fire, with a plant mister. I was under the floor, on my back some way under a crawl space 12" high, soldering some pipes and managed to set the floor boards alight. A few quick squirts put it out.

**My mother, pace wartime blitz experience, kept all essential household documents in an old leather briefcase beside the ottoman. In case of fire, grab briefcase. Not a bad idea. I would also grab our backup hard drive. And the thing on which I record all our internet accounts and passwords. Be pretty sunk without that. Should keep a copy in an outhouse, really.

Ivor