Fire extinguishers service part of latest scam

POLOKWANE – The testing and servicing of fire extinguishers in the city has become a popular way for dishonest people to make an easy living.

Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala, said since the beginning of the year several people had fallen victim to this latest scam.

In some instances the fire extinguishers were removed from a premises and never returned.

According to Werner van Horsten, the manager of Limpopo Unity Fire, by law a person who was testing and servicing any fire equipment had to be registered with the South African Qualification Certification Committee (SAQCC).

Several business owners in the city complained of a company called TAP Fire that had serviced their extinguishers. It was later discovered that the company was not registered was not certified to service or even handle fire extinguishers.

All attempts to contact TAP Fire were unsuccessful as none of the numbers provided on their statements existed.

Willem Hatting, the manager of a business in the city, said his business had been targeted by these scamsters.

“My secretary had just started working for me when two men came in and told her the fire extinguishers in the office had to be serviced within the week as they were about to be discontinued, and my business would be fined. She allowed the men to take the extinguishers and they were never returned,” Hatting said.

Van Horsten told Review there had been several such incidents that he was aware of over the past two years. He said fly-by-night companies popped up, made their money and then disappeared.

“They give registered companies a bad name in the fire business and they also put people’s lives in danger should there be a fire,” he said, explaining that if a fire extinguisher was not serviced properly, it was possible that it would not work when a fire broke out.

He added that in cases of fire where fire extinguishers were not maintained or had been removed from the premises, insurance companies will not pay out.

Van Horsten said the process to find out if a specific company was registered was simple:

1. Go to www.saqccfire.co.za.

2. Click on the fire icon.

3. Type in the name of the company.

4. If the name appears, the company is registered with the SAQCC.

Each of the companies registered will also show a list of employees who are SAQCC-registered and according to SAQCC regulations not only the company but the person doing the servicing must be registered to work with fire equipment.

After the fire equipment has been serviced, the company will also place a new sticker on the extinguisher to show the date of the next service and these services should occur at least once a year.

Van Horsten further said any person who was registered should be able to show his registration if requested.

He said most fire equipment could be inspected and serviced on the premises and if not, replacement equipment would be left in the case of an emergency.

Phala said anyone with information of illegal fire companies could contact the nearest police station.