Used fire extinguishers for sale in Ho Chi Minh City

In addition to selling brand new fire extinguishers, a shop in District 11 of the southern city are also offering the used fire safety devices, which have been repaired by its staff, according to the shopkeeper.

She added that the old extinguishers were bought at prices ranging from VND50,000 (US$2.23) to VND100,000 ($4.46).

At a store in District 12, a refurbished fire extinguisher is offered at VND300,000 ($13.39) while the cost of a new one is VND450,000 ($20).

“The old fire safety devices are not branded with the inspection stamps but only with the warranty of the store. Buyers who want the product quality certified with the correct inspection stamps must purchase a brand new extinguisher,” according to the store owner.

The used products are given a new coat of paint and refilled with firefighting gas or powder, before being labeled with the product brands and warranty stamps, the owner added.

A shop owner in Binh Thanh District said that they only collected the used fire extinguishers that contain carbon dioxide gas or powder, while those of a smaller size commonly equipped in cars are not bought for renewal due to the risk of spontaneous explosion.

According to the new regulations, fire safety equipment for cars must be inspected and certified with stamps issued by the Ministry of Public Security, said Senior Lieutenant Colonel Huynh Ngoc Quang, head of the Fire Prevention Bureau under the city’s Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Department.

He recommended that people purchase fire extinguishers at centers with a legitimate business permit to ensure quality and safety.

The Ministry of Public Security on January 6 implemented Circular 57 requiring cars with four seats or more to be equipped with fire prevention and firefighting tools, namely fire extinguishers.

As per the new regulations, owners of vehicles who fail to present the tools or show any outdated product when pulled over by police will be fined between VND300,000 ($13.39) and VND500,000 ($22.25), depending on each case.

Competent authorities have recently decided that owners of automobiles will not be fined if they do not carry fire extinguishers in their cars and said that they are considering many factors before further enforcement.

There have been several cases across Vietnam in which car extinguishers spontaneously exploded.

Experts have stated that refurbished fire safety devices without proper inspection by competent authorities are more likely to explode.