BAFE Adopted Schemes
MP101 Manufacture of Portable Fire Extinguishers
This scheme covers organisations that manufacture potable fire extinguishers to BS EN 3 and have obtained the appropriate accreditation.
This accreditation covers the testing of extinguisher bodies and components to ensure the safe and effective operation over the operating pressure and temperature ranges of the individual products. The extinguishers are also tested against defined performance criteria on a series of fires over a range of conditions.
The success of all of these tests will determine the size and class of fire for which individual types of extinguishers may be recommended.
Unlike other EU countries, where with rare exception it is a legal requirement for portable fire extinguishers to be independently tested for both construction and performance requirements to EN 3, in the UK this is not mandatory.
That is why the BAFE mark on an extinguisher provides the end user with confidence that the product they are buying has been fully tested by a reputable organisation and passed both construction and performance requirement’s of EN3.
Some 20 manufacturers have their extinguishers listed with BAFE and this does represent hundreds of different types and models of extinguisher, providing customers with an excellent choice of quality products which enables them to meet a wide rang of fire protection needs.
Extinguishers can be placed in the market either direct by the manufacturer or via a network of distributors. For a list of BAFE approved distributors who employ registered fire extinguisher service technicians see scheme SP101/ST104.
