Every office, shop, society and factory needs extinguishers, and every extinguisher needs refilling and testing on schedule. That makes a fire extinguisher refilling business steady and repeatable, if you keep the dates. This guide covers the practical steps. Approvals differ by state and city: check with your local fire authority before you start.
What a fire extinguisher refilling business sells
- Refilling (ABC powder, CO2, water, foam, clean agent)
- Pressure testing as due
- New extinguishers, brackets, signage
- Yearly AMC: inspections, refills and reports for a fixed fee
- Over time: fire alarm and hydrant maintenance, if you have the skills
Set up
- Approvals: confirm what your state and local fire authority require.
- Training: staff trained in refilling, testing and safe handling.
- Equipment: refilling and testing equipment, or a tie-up with an established refilling station at the start.
- Suppliers: reliable sources for powder, CO2, spare parts and new cylinders.
- Vehicle and tools for pickup and delivery.
Pricing
Make a price list per type and capacity for refills and tests, and an AMC price per cylinder per year that includes inspections and a set of refills. Work from your costs (material, labour, transport) and keep it simple to quote. Prices are yours to set; this guide does not suggest market rates.
First customers
- Shops and offices in one area, so one visit covers many.
- Housing societies and schools, via their managers.
- Builders and facility managers who handle many buildings.
Use the fire extinguisher AMC agreement format to turn one-time refills into yearly contracts.
Records make the business
Hundreds of cylinders with different due dates cannot live in your head. Keep each cylinder's serial, type and dates from day one with the inspection checklist and inspection tags. ServicePilot's fire safety template keeps equipment and dates per site, creates AMC visits and lists what is due next month.
