The Better Business Bureau of North Alabama and the City of Florence Fire Marshall are teaming up to warn businesses in North Alabama to be alert to non-licensed companies who may solicit work to conduct inspections on fire extinguishers and chemical hood units. City of Florence Fire Marshall Jeff Perkins reports that a number of Shoals area businesses have contacted him after they were approached by a company to perform inspections on their commercial fire extinguishers and related equipment on multiple occasions in a short period of time.
The BBB has investigated state and local fire codes and finds that these codes only require that extinguishers be inspected on an annual basis. In addition, the BBB learned that the codes also require that the inspections be done by a licensed business.
Some businesses have reported the company contacting them initiated agreements for quarterly inspections and for fees that the business owners feel is higher than normal.
The BBB is attempting to contact the fire extinguisher inspection company in question by mail to determine if they have secured business licenses in the areas where they have contracts with business customers. To date, the BBB has been unable to verify that any business licenses have been secured under the namestyles provided to customers in the cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals or in Lauderdale County. The BBB has also been unable to secure a phone number for the company.
The BBB suggests the following to businesses:
· Verify that the company currently providing inspections of your fire equipment is properly licensed to do so.
· Be aware that an inspection from a non-licensed company could result in a fine from the local Fire Marshall.
· Keep in mind that a company must be licensed where your business is located, not necessarily where the inspection company itself is located.
· “Start with trust” and visit the BBB’s website at www.bbb.org or call your BBB at (800) 239-1642 to get a BBB Reliability Report on any unfamiliar company.
· If you have any additional questions regarding inspection of your fire equipment, you can contact your local Fire Marshall.