As a service to other drivers who might have a fire extinguisher at the end of its two year validity, I list here some of the service companies which you might choose to use. For Motorsport UK regulations please see the end of this post. I asked for a quote for refilling and certifying two extinguishers, one 2.25 litres and one 4 litres, both mechanical. The price for one extinguisher service will be about half. Shipping is in addition.

My choice No.1:

£62.50 +VAT for two extinguishers
CAM Auto Developments
Unit 11b Tollgate Farm,
Tollgate Road,
Colney Heath,
St. Albans,, Hertfordshire AL4 0NY
sales@camauto.com
01727 827717
“If we are sending them back to you there would be a charge of £13 + VAT. We are on 3 working days at the moment”

My choice No.2:

£72.90 +VAT for two extinguishers after 10% club discount (750MC or CSCC)
Advantage Motorsport
Oulton Park
Tarporley, Cheshire CW6 9BW
sales@advantage-motorsport.co.uk
01829 238268

My choice No.3
£79 +VAT for two extinguishers
Merlin Motorsport
The Bridgestone Building
Castle Combe Circuit
Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 7EY
sales@merlinmotorsport.co.uk
01249 782101

Three major manufacturers replied but did not give me a specific price for what I had requested. They must be good manufacturers, but for servicing they seemed more interested in quoting the rules than giving a price. Reading these three emails I felt rather as if I were in the classroom.

4) Not retained by me as a possible supplier:
SPA Design, Fire Extinguishers
The Mill House, Packington Hayes
Packington
Nr Lichfield,, Staffordshire WS14 9PN
sales@spa-uk.co.uk
http://www.spa-uk.co.uk/contact/
01543 434580
No reply this year. Last year “It really depends on the model, it can vary from £34 to £98, is it a service or refill rearm, electrical or mechanical activation. Being a fire extinguisher with liquid extinguishant & stored pressure as a company we have to make sure the carrier is aware of goods being shipped, we are approved with certain carriers, for health and safety and insurance purposes.”

5) Not retained by me as a possible supplier:
FEV Fire Extinguisher Valve Co Ltd
Unit B3, Ford Airfield Industrial Estate
Ford, Nr Arundel
West Sussex BN18 0HY
https://www.f-e-v.co.uk/
01243 555566
“Do you have the serial numbers for both of these systems please? I would also need to know if they are electrical or mechanical systems to be able to confirm price for you. It is a particularly busy period for us in terms of services, we will of course aim to do these as soon as possible. We look to do 7-10 working day turnaround.”

6) Not retained by me as a possible supplier:
Lifeline Fire & Safety Systems Ltd
Falkland Close
Charter Avenue Industrial Estate,
Coventry, CV4 8AU
debbie@lifeline-fire.co.uk
024 7671 2999
“Attached is our 2020 Price list. We are currently looking around 2-3 weeks from receipt of payment during this busy period”. The price list has 6 pages and I could not readily see the price for my simple refill. 4 page safety bulletin also attached.

7) Dale in Kent is usually the cheapest but he does not communicate much. No reply. Shame.
Kent Fire Extinguisher Service & Sales
39 Hodgson Crescent
Snodland, Kent ME6 5NR
01634 751012
info@kentextinguisherservice.co.uk

Any opinions expressed here are Marcus Bicknell’s not the club’s.

Fire Extinguishers and the Blue Book:

At the end of January 2020 Motorsport UK has replied to our club’s request for clarification:

“The minimum capacities for Small, Medium and Large extinguishers referenced in K3.1.2 are detailed in Table 3 on Page 176. For Circuit Racing 3.1.2(a) applies which is a minimum capacity of 2.25 litres AFFF. These minimum capacities apply to non-homologated extinguishers. For FIA homologated plumbed-in extinguishers (mandatory from 2022) the minimum capacity is defined by each individual system’s FIA homologation.

Hope this helps.
Best Regards
Michael Duncan, Technical Manager, Motorsport UK https://www.motorsportuk.org/ “