History of the
SAQCC (Fire)
The Department of Labour (DOL) regulated the fire
extinguisher servicing industry in 1996 by incorporating into
the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA Act85 of 1993),
through a notice in Government Gazette # 17468, the following
regulation.
- No user shall use, require or permit the use of hand held
fire extinguishers unless designed, constructed, filled, recharged,
reconditioned, modified, repaired, inspected or tested in accordance
with a safety standard incorporated into these regulations
in terms of section 44 of the Act.
- No person shall fill, recharge, recondition, modify, repair,
inspect or test any hand held fire extinguisher unless a holder
of a permit issued by the South African Bureau of Standards
in terms of SABS 1475.
This resulted in the following amendments to SABS 1475
Part 1. The production of reconditioned fire-fighting equipment.
Portable and wheeled (mobile) rechargeable fire extinguishers.
- SABS 1475 Part 1 1998 par 3.18.2 Registered Person - A person
who has acceptable qualifications , training and experience
with regard to fire extinguishers and is accountable for the
effective reconditioning of rechargeable portable fire extinguishers
in terms of this part of SABS 1475 (see clause 8 and table
3) and who has been approved and registered by SAQCC (Fire)
South African Qualifications and Certification Committee.
- SABS 1475 Part 1 1998 par 5.1.2 Extent of reconditioning – Reconditioning
of a fire extinguisher shall ensure that the extinguisher is
restored to full and effective operational readiness and complies
with the requirements of the original manufacturer.
- SABS 1475 Part 1 1998 par 8.2 Registration of registered
person – The registered person shall be registered and
approved by the SAQCC (Fire) and shall carry proof of such
registration.
This resulted in a meeting at the SABS on the 19th February
1998 and all SABS mark holders were invited. A working group
from the fire industry and other associated parties held a number
of meetings throughout the year, during which basic structures
for an interim constitution, training standards and registration
procedures were developed.
An SAQCC (Fire) Committee from representatives of DOL, SABS,
The Fire Fighting
Equipment Traders Association (FFETA), Industrial Fire Traders
Association (IFTA), SAESI and other interested parties from the
Fire Industry was then established.
An SAQCC (Fire) constitution was drafted and ratified (a copy
of which can be viewed by clicking
here) on 4th August 1999.
For further information, contact SAQCC-Fire on tel.
011 455-3157.
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