Aero Fire owner Mira Singh found to have failed to comply with court-enforceable undertakings

Business owner Mira Singh has been found in contempt of court after failing to comply with court enforceable undertakings related to the supply of fire safety equipment.

Singh is the director of Aero Fire (NZ) Sales & Service Limited.

Singh, his company and his wife were jointly fined $60,000 in 2020 for breaching the Fair Trading Act.

The charges related to false or misleading representations made regarding the installation, servicing and maintenance of fire extinguishers and the need for those services.

At the time, the company and the couple signed enforceable undertakings not to be knowingly involved, or offer services, in the supply of fire safety equipment.

However, in 2023 and 2024 investigators found evidence of Singh’s non-compliance.

The Commerce Commission has issued a safety advisory to former customers to have their equipment checked to ensure:

• The equipment has not expired and is in working order;
• It is correctly installed and has appropriate signage;
• It is of a size and type that is correct for the business.

“The possible safety risks resulting from Mr Singh’s conduct means it is crucial businesses who have had dealings with him check their equipment,” Rebecca McAtamney, Commerce Commission general manager, competition, fair trading and credit said.

McAtamney said Singh typically targeted small businesses in the Auckland and Waikato regions.

She said he would usually enter uninvited and inform staff that he was there to check their fire extinguishers. After inspection, staff were typically advised the fire extinguishers needed to be serviced or replaced.

However, the commission’s investigations identified issues with the equipment and services provided by Singh, including that the service or test may not comply with the relevant standard, a replacement extinguisher may not be “new” or compliant, or the wrong extinguisher type for the intended use is installed.