TV criticism angers supplier

A Wanganui fire extinguisher supplier said criticism of a TV consumer rights programme had overlooked some key points.

Ron Richdale, of Richdale Fire and Security, said the Fair Go programme (September 19) highlighted water foam extinguishers at the expense of dry powder extinguishers. He also described the programme as an advertisement for a fire-protection company that appeared to have the full backing of the Fire Protection Association (FPA).

He claimed the Firewatch representative on the show managed to "cleverly denigrate" dry powder extinguishers, which make up over 80 per cent of the extinguishers on the market.

But Colin Gibson, the Firewatch Wanganui agent, said while he agreed not all companies were operating in good faith or were members of the FPA, there were some other issues in the programme that Mr Richdale had overlooked.

"The main issue being dealt with was the rip-off merchants, which was highlighted by both Aerofires and Kiwifires activities.

"This point was illustrated by Fair Go getting Firewatch to check out the extinguishers, which had been sold by Aerofire as new," Mr Gibson said.

Two fire extinguishers were featured - a 2009 1kg dry powder extinguisher and a 2007 4.5kg dry powder extinguisher.

"The largest of these was installed in a confined upstairs kitchen that was only accessible via an old steep and narrow wooden stairway with no handrails. Visibility and easy breathing are potential issues if a dry powder was discharged in this area," he said.

He said the Firewatch representative failed to mention ABF foam spray extinguishers or compare them at the expense of ABE dry powder extinguishers.

Mr Gibson said it would be of concern to most companies if 80 per cent of the fire extinguishers sold or serviced by them were ABE dry powder "as most reputable fire equipment companies sell C02, wet chemical, water, aspirating foam, foam spray, ABE dry powder and BE dry powder extinguishers".

"No one type of fire extinguisher is suitable for use on all classes of fire, and that was made clear on the TV programme," he said.

Mr Richdale claimed Fair Go featured the show's reporter using the extinguisher and "waving it around her head and then saying that her eyes were irritated".

But Mr Gibson said the reporter was in fact outside and not in a small room when she discharged the dry powder extinguisher, but did not wave the extinguisher around her head.

He said anyone with concerns with fire equipment should contact the FPA.

"We agree with Mr Richdale that where fire extinguishers are installed, people should be trained in their use. We also think that it is important that people be given all the relevant information regarding the selection and placement of these products, as well as potential consequences of using these products," Mr Gibson said.

Mr Richdale said that after the show aired, his office fielded calls and emails from concerned customers worried that they had been sold "toxic and dangerous extinguishers".

He said the FPA had been investigating a scam that had been going on since 2009, involving one man going into a store and saying his extinguisher needed a service, taking that cylinder away and charging the store owner $140 a time.

This person had then been going into another store, telling the same story and taking their extinguisher and replacing it with the one he'd removed from the previous store.

The programme can be viewed at TVNZ On Demand.