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Most home fires are caused by kitchens, and more recently, by electronics such as e-bikes and e-scooters. Having a fire extinguisher at home becomes important because it gives you a first line of defense in the critical first moments of a fire.
Extinguishers like wet chemical or dry powder types are designed to handle such fires safely as you should never use water on oil or electrical fires. Here are the things to look out for when buying a fire extinguisher:
1. Types of fire extinguishers
You should choose the correct extinguisher type for the relevant potential fire risks.
- Water (Class A): Generally used for paper, wood, fabric, and not for electrical or oil fires.
- Foam (Class A and B): Generally used for flammable liquids, and not for electrical fires.
- Carbon Dioxide (Class B and Electrical): Generally used for electrical equipment, and not for paper fires.
- Dry Powder (Class A, B, C): Generally used for homes and vehicles, and not great for indoors as it leaves residue).
- Wet Chemical (Class F): Generally used for kitchen and oil fires, and not for general fires.
2. SCDF Approval / Certification
Look for extinguishers that are SCDF-approved or compliant with SS EN 3.
3. Size and Weight
The most common would be the 1kg or 2kg dry powder extinguisher that is suitable for home and office use. A 5kg carbon dioxide extinguisher would be suitable for electrical fires, and 9L of water or foam would be suitable for larger spaces such as schools or warehouses.
It is not only important to check the capacity but also the portability of the extinguisher as it may cause difficulties in usage during an actual emergency if it is too heavy.
4. Expiry Date
You should check the manufacturing date of the extinguisher and the expiry date. Most extinguishers have a shelf life of 5 years and should be replaced periodically.
5. Mounting & Usability
The extinguisher should come with wall brackets or stands for easy storage and access. It should also have clear instructions on how to operate, and easy to read pressure gauge for dry powder extinguishers.
Fire Armour ($39 - $95)
Established in 1979, Fire Armour offers a comprehensive range of fire extinguishers, including dry powder, foam and wet chemical extinguishers. For commercial uses, you may find a range of firefighting equipment such as fire hosereel, extinguisher cabinet, smoke detectors and stands available. More than just selling products, they also offer servicing and maintenance, as well as disposals of your fire extinguisher.
The store is located at Boon Lay and most reviews recommended them for their great customer service including willingness to entertain customers who came during lunch hour. It looks like the store offers more products that will fit B2B and industrial clients, but you may still visit to select a fire extinguisher that is suitable for your home or shop online from their website.
Address: 9 Fan Yoong Road, Singapore 629787
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 8am to 4.45pm, Saturday from 8am to 11.45pm
National City Corporation ($35 - $112)
With over 45 years in the industry, the National City Corporation provides a wide selection of Hercules brand fire extinguishers, including dry powder and carbon dioxide types, as well as home bundles. The home bundles include a 2kg powder fire extinguisher, a fire blanket and a smoke detector for $75, and $95 for the bundle that comes with a wifi smoke detector, which are pretty comprehensive and necessary for home fire safety.
Besides selling fire extinguishers, the shop offers maintenance and servicing of fire alarm systems, replacement of fire alarm batteries and replacement of smoke detectors, which may be more suitable if you are looking for your office or shop space. National City Corporation has also earned 5 stars google reviews for their professional customer service and non-pushy sales staff.
Address: 1 Tampines North Dr. 1, T-SPACE #04-26, Singapore 528559
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm
Firetronics Pte Ltd ($40 - $85)
Established in 1986, Firetronics is located at Woodlands and Jalan Besar, offering a wide range of fire safety equipment, including the reputable Falcon brand fire extinguishers. The selection includes dry powder, carbon dioxide, Halotron™ I, water, foam and automatic (sprinkler) types.
The unique Halotron™ I fire extinguishers are clean fire extinguishing agents applicable on a wide range of fires. Upon discharge, the Halotron™ I fire extinguisher attacks the three corners of the fire triangle and breaks the fire chain chemically, making re-ignition impossible. It also does not leave residue after application unlike dry powder types of extinguisher.
Although a few google reviews are complaints about the malfunction of the fire alarms, general feedback is that the service is good and the products are working well. If you are purchasing a fire extinguisher just for standby at home, the bad reviews should not be a big deterrence to your purchase.
Address: 14 Woodlands Walk, Singapore 738394 and 110 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208830
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm
Lingjack Engineering Pte Ltd ($29 - $1,688)
LingJack Engineering is a fire extinguisher supplier for the brand, Combat. The range of fire extinguishers offered include water mist, foam mist, dry powder, Halotron I, water and foam types that cater to the needs of the home and industrial users.
If you are looking for fire protection for your company, you can also sign up for free training on how to properly use and execute a fire extinguisher, and equip your staff with basic firefighting skills.
Reviews on Google mentioned about the ease in walking in and purchasing a ready stock and also the wide selection available at affordable prices.
Address: 1 Woodlands Ter, #03-01 Lingjack Industrial Building, Singapore 738471
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 8am to 5.30pm, Saturday from 8am to 12pm
Safety First (Fire) SG
On the first look at their website, Safety First (Fire) SG does not provide much background and information, but it is one of the shops that has the most Google reviews. Located at 22 Sin Ming Lane, the 4.9 star ratings shop offers dry powder, foam and carbon dioxide types of fire extinguishers that are suitable for your lifestyle at home and budget.
According to the reviews, the shop provides servicing of fire extinguishers and annual home fire extinguisher replacements. The customer service is said to be excellent as the staff are polite and detailed in their explanations. It is also very convenient as they have an option of door-to-door service so you don’t have to make a trip down to replace your expired fire extinguisher.
Price: Upon enquiry for quotation
Address: 22 Sin Ming Lane, Singapore 573969
Opening hours: Monday - Saturday from 2pm to 10pm
Fire Safety Singapore
Fire Safety Singapore is a HDB registered contractor that offers professional fire protection services and products. It is led by a team of experienced and certified fire safety engineers, utilizing advanced technology to deliver reliable, high-quality solutions.
Their services focus on fast fire detection, effective response, and strong protection against fire damage. To help clients make informed decisions, the company also offers personalized consulting to recommend suitable fire safety products based on individual needs and budgets.
Price: Upon enquiry for quotation
Address: Bartley Biz Centre, Block 15 Kaki Bukit Road 4, #01-44, Singapore 417808
Opening hours: Monday - Saturday from 8.30am to 6pm
Fireguard SG ($34 - $155)
Fireguard SG specialises in providing certified fire safety equipment and services for residential, commercial, and industrial needs. Their offerings include a wide range of fire extinguishers, fire safety equipment and related services.
At Fire Guard SG, you can purchase various types of fire extinguishers, including dry powder for Class A, B, and C fires, carbon dioxide and wet chemical extinguishers. All their extinguishers are SETSCO/SCDF approved, ensuring compliance with Singapore’s safety standards. Additionally, they provide accessories like brackets, cabinets, fire blankets, smoke detectors, and home fire safety kits, making them a one-stop solution for all your home fire safety needs.
Although it is not a physical shop for you to walk-in and make purchases, you may shop online and collect at the store upon confirmation of your order. There is also a WhatsApp line available so you can still seek professional advice before making the purchase.
Address: Jalan Boon Lay (full address provided upon payment)
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 10.30am to 4.30pm
King Fire
The most convenient location in the list, King Fire is based at Ang Mo Kio and has a wide range of fire defence systems and equipment that caters to a diverse range of industries. It is also a recognised company that holds a suite of certifications such as bizSAFE, ISO 45001, SETSCO and TÜV SÜD, making them qualified for product testing, inspection and safety management.
King Fire offers various types of extinguishers including water, foam, carbon dioxide, dry powder and wet chemicals, across different sizes and capacities to fit commercial and residential usage. For homes, they also provide fire detectors and alarms as well as kitchen hood fire suppression systems to succumb cooking fires.
The shop has earned more than 80 Google reviews with many customers leaving good comments about the innovative and interesting home fire protection solutions. If you are unsure about what is needed in your home, you may consider paying a visit to King Fire.
Price: Upon enquiry for quotation
Address: 5 Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park 2A, #05-13, AMK Tech II, Singapore 567760
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 9am to 6pm
Chubb Fire & Security
Part of the APi Group, formerly known as United Technologies Corporation, Chubb Fire & Security has been in the fire safety industry for more than 40 years. It has a long history including serving industries in residential, commercial, healthcare and government.
The fire extinguishers offered are SCDF-approved, with different types such as dry powder, carbon dioxide and foam which are suitable for homes, offices, factories, and marine applications. Chubb has also achieved international credibility with local SCDF compliance, ISO-certified service quality and is trusted by major corporations and organisations.
Price: Upon enquiry for quotation
Address: 28 Teban Gardens Crescent, Singapore 608926
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm
Tyco Fire & Security
Tyco Fire & Security is a MNC providing fire protection and life safety solutions. In Singapore, it is operating under the Johnson Controls group and delivers innovative, integrated fire safety systems for commercial, industrial, marine, and residential applications.
The fire extinguishers offered include dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water mist and specialty extinguishers that are SCDF-compliant for various hazards. If you are operating a home-based business that involves heavy cooking and kitchen work, you may wish to invest in Tyco’s fire protection as they specialise in high risk environments, even electrical rooms or labs. They are also a full-service provider that service from design to installation, testing, and servicing.
Price: Upon enquiry for quotation
Address: 31 International Business Park, #03-02, Singapore 609921
Opening hours: Monday - Friday from 8.30am to 6pm