Dry powder fire extinguishers are widely used basic fire-fighting equipment in engineering projects, homes, vehicles, and petrochemical enterprises. They are in high demand and relatively inexpensive, making them popular with users.
However, the quality of dry powder fire extinguishers manufactured in China varies greatly, causing many problems for buyers. For example, to control procurement costs, buyers may choose the lowest-priced manufacturer as their supplier, but after receiving the goods, frequent product problems arise, leading to complaints from end customers and the loss of a significant number of clients. If you are hesitant between price and product quality stability, read this article; you will surely find a satisfactory answer and a reliable Chinese supplier with a reasonable price.
First:
The most expensive raw material in dry powder fire extinguishers is the dry powder extinguishing agent, especially in 6kg/9kg and larger sizes. This is because the filling volume must reach 6kg/9kg or more, and the extinguishing agent accounts for over 60% of the total cost of the extinguisher.
To save costs, most fire extinguishers exported to Southeast Asia and Africa are currently filled with BC dry powder extinguishing agent. These types of fire extinguishers cannot extinguish Class A fires. For fires involving solid materials, they will be ineffective, potentially leading to large-scale fires and seriously endangering lives and property.
Therefore, importers must choose ABC dry powder fire extinguishers with a dry powder content of at least 30%, meaning the ammonium phosphate content should be at least 30%, ideally 40%, for optimal extinguishing performance. Upon receiving the goods, immediately spray the extinguishing agent from the extinguisher and have it tested at a local laboratory to ensure the ammonium phosphate content meets standards. The extinguishing agent should also not clump. If it does not meet standards, you can pursue the supplier’s commercial liability and demand compensation.
Second:
Don’t completely trust the ISO9001/EN3 certificates provided by manufacturers. Products from manufacturers with certificates may not necessarily meet the standards. Currently, fire extinguishers that meet ISO9001 and EN3 standards are expensive, and only some high-end projects can accept. 90% of the fire extinguishers exported from China worldwide are ordinary models without EN3 certificates. We hope you understand this point.
Third:
The pressure gauge pointer of a dry powder fire extinguisher should be in the middle position; the pressure should not be too high or too low. This is especially important in Middle Eastern and African countries, where high temperatures can easily cause fire extinguishers to overheat. Furthermore, fire extinguishers exported via container shipping are more prone to pressure abnormalities after 20-40 days at sea, posing a risk of explosion and significant threats to personal safety. It is crucial to find a Chinese supplier with the relevant technical control to ensure that the pressure remains within the normal range after sea transport and high/low temperature storage, without high pressure or low-temperature pressure loss, both of which affect the lifespan and normal use of the fire extinguisher.
Fourth:
The valve of a fire extinguisher is a general-purpose product with relatively stable quality. However, the quality of the internal suction tube and nozzle varies greatly. Always choose a nozzle made from shiny, brand-new plastic granules. These are resistant to high and low temperatures, are not easily broken, and will spring back immediately after bending, demonstrating strong toughness.
Fifth:
If you need a supplier to do OEM/ODM manufacturing for you, make sure your supplier guarantees that the printing is clear and uses screen printing technology with strong anti-counterfeiting capabilities as much as possible. Make sure the supplier confirms the printing effect with you by taking photos before formal production. Blurry fonts/colors will affect the image of your company’s brand.
Sixth:
Do not choose products priced far below market. Such fire extinguishers are likely to have significant quality problems. Since factory costs (water and electricity, labor, and raw materials) are similar, if the finished product price is far below market value, the product quality may have hidden defects. For example, cutting corners in any of the five points mentioned above will result in a lower price, and the fire extinguisher you buy will have a short lifespan and frequent problems.
Seventh:
Fire extinguishers are classified as Class 2.2 dangerous goods in international transport. LCL (Less than Container Load) shipping is difficult to operate; full container load (FCL) shipping is the best option. A dangerous goods transport assessment report from Chinese customs is also required. This necessitates that the supplier possess the above capabilities and qualifications, have a professional dangerous goods freight forwarder, and be able to purchase cargo insurance, track shipping routes, provide arrival reminders, prepare timely and complete PI/CI/CO/BL/PL documents, and provide professional and comprehensive after-sales service and technical support to ensure a smooth import process.
Finally, we hope you can find the most suitable, cost-effective product and Chinese fire extinguisher supplier. Bowei is an excellent choice, we have a rigorous quality control team and a professional dry powder fire extinguishing agent testing laboratory, while also possessing a technology development team that leads industry innovation in fire extinguishers. Among Chinese manufacturers, Bowei balances product quality and price, making it the best choice for the same product quality at the best price.