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Andy Spence, Joint Managing Director, explains how Britannia Fire is leading the way with composite fire extinguishers

Britannia Fire recently made the decision to shift focus entirely to its composite P50 fire extinguisher range and investing over £1 million to expand production.

These long-lasting, PFAS-free extinguishers offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional metal models.

With regulatory changes on the horizon, demand for safer, easier-to-maintain extinguishers is growing.

In this interview, Andy Spence, Joint Managing Director at Britannia Fire, explains why the company has made these changes, how the industry is responding, what the future holds for fire safety and why the company decided to become the Platinum Partner for the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference 2025.

What led Britannia Fire to focus entirely on the composite P50 extinguisher range?

We had been manufacturing metal extinguishers from 1970 and established a solid reputation for quality, but our data showed that for every 1,000 P50 units we sold, we only sold one metal unit.

We found ourselves devoting a large section of our factory to making something that hardly moved.

Roger Carr, our founder, was understandably reluctant to give up a product range the company was built upon and has been fundamental for us for so long, but once the decision was made, we cleared out the metal production line and began pouring all our resources into the P50 line, which is what our customers actually wanted.

We felt it was time to concentrate on a model that is simpler to look after, resists corrosion and fits the shift towards longer-lasting extinguishers.

How do composite P50 extinguishers differ from traditional metal ones in terms of durability and maintenance?

The P50 is built with a composite cylinder that resists rust, so it keeps its integrity over many years without the same issues you get with steel.

Metal extinguishers can suffer from corrosion, especially in sites exposed to moisture or chemicals, which leads to costly servicing or replacements.

By contrast, the P50 needs only an annual visual check carried out by trained staff rather than a full discharge or internal examination.

This change in materials and design also means fewer seals and parts that degrade, which lowers the risk of leaks or other faults.

End users save time and money because they do not have to book service visits as often and do not need to replace corroded units.

Why do you believe the traditional annual servicing model is outdated for many users?

Servicing protocols were established when metal extinguishers were the norm and more prone to internal corrosion.

That justified opening them each year to test the lining, seals and pressure.

Modern technology fixes many of these issues before they start.

If the cylinder cannot rust, it does not need the same depth of inspection to remain safe and compliant.

We see this move away from constant servicing across various industries, where products are made stronger and need less intervention.

For end users, frequent servicing becomes a significant overhead, involving contractor fees, downtime for each unit and strict record-keeping.

By adopting composites, organisations can remove much of that hassle.

How does a multi-purpose composite extinguisher help people act more decisively in an emergency?

When there is a fire, especially a small one that has just started, people might panic about which extinguisher to pick up.

If there is a water model, a foam model and a CO₂ on the wall, it is easy to hesitate.

A multi-purpose composite like the P50 can cover most fire classes present in an office, warehouse or industrial setting.

If staff know there is only one extinguisher to think about, they are more likely to grab it straight away, aim it at the flames and put them out while they are still manageable.

This immediate response can prevent a minor bin fire from turning into a major incident, which obviously saves lives and property.

You have invested over £1 million in factory upgrades – why is it significant?

Previously, we had parallel production processes: one for traditional metal extinguishers and another for composite extinguishers.

The old metal line was more like a traditional workshop with rolling, degreasing, painting, and other steps that involved heavier machinery and a lot of space.

The composite line, by contrast, focuses on clean manufacturing processes, including filament winding.

With our new investment, we’ve added modern winding machines and reorganized the factory floor so that we can increase our P50 output by roughly 150%.

The environment is brighter, cleaner, and more efficient for our staff.

We’re reducing lead times, improving consistency, and creating a workplace that supports higher production volumes while maintaining quality standards.

A quicker turnaround makes it easier for clients to plan their fire safety upgrades or respond to last-minute needs.

We’ve also taken on new contracts, not just in the UK but in several European markets, so our existing capacity was being pushed to its limits.

Reducing lead times to four weeks helps us serve both new and long-standing customers without compromising on quality.

It also means that major clients who possibly manage hundreds or even thousands of units can streamline their project timelines.

They won’t be stuck waiting for months to receive equipment that’s crucial for compliance and on-site safety.

With PFAS-containing extinguishers expected to be banned, how is Britannia Fire preparing for this change?

We were one of the first UK-based manufacturers to eliminate PFAS from our extinguishers because we could see that regulators were likely to impose strict bans or limits.

By moving early, we avoided any scramble to reformulate foam agents or deal with leftover stock.

While the formal ban isn’t in place yet, it’s widely expected.

Being a UK manufacturer helps us adapt quickly because we’re not dependent on long supply chains from overseas.

We also have our own on-site fire test facility.

That lets us run tests on different foams, agents, and nozzles.

Whenever new regulations come in, we can adjust formulations and verify that they meet the required performance standards.

Having direct control over our manufacturing and testing speeds up our response to any regulatory change.

How are you disposing of old extinguishers responsibly, especially those with chemicals that might be restricted in future?

Responsible disposal has become a significant issue, especially with the shift away from PFAS and PFOA.

Last year, we set up a dedicated recycling centre at a separate site.

This facility handles returns of both composite P50 and metal models, allowing us to disassemble them and recycle or safely discard all components.

We know exactly where the extinguishers go and how they’re processed.

We keep full documentation for disposal, which provides transparency to our customers and helps us comply with waste management regulations.

Unfortunately, there have been cases in the past where old extinguishers ended up in the wrong places or were scrapped inappropriately.

By taking this in-house, we ensure everything is handled correctly from start to finish.

What savings and other advantages have large clients like Heathrow Airport and Anglian Water experienced with the P50 range?

A lot of people focus first on financial savings.

Heathrow saved over £1 million, while Anglian Water saved around £500,000 in total costs, but those figures only tell part of the story.

When you eliminate the need for annual servicing, you also reduce logistical complexities, like having service crews walking around the site or requiring security clearances and inductions.

There’s also a carbon footprint benefit.

If you don’t have vehicles and personnel traveling to each location every year, you cut down on emissions.

Anglian Water recently began its second 10-year period with our P50 range.

They’re replacing their original P50 units with new ones, giving them another full decade of service.

They’ve appreciated the reliability, the lower operational costs, and the reduced waste.

How do you see the fire safety industry evolving and what role will composite extinguishers play?

We talk frequently about quality.

Many manufacturers focus on cost reduction or mass production, but when it comes to protecting lives, buildings, and infrastructure, the lowest-priced option is not always the wisest choice.

A large business with valuable assets wants to make sure it’s well protected.

Composite extinguishers like the P50 align with that logic.

They’re tested to high standards, maintain consistent performance over their lifespan, and reduce the likelihood of a product failure when it matters most.

I believe we’ll see more companies moving toward composite solutions and away from traditional metal units that can corrode or require multiple services over a shorter lifespan.

What motivated Britannia Fire to become Platinum Partner for the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference 2025?

We exhibited at the IFSJ event in the Middle East last year and were impressed by the calibre of attendees.

Instead of casual browsers, we found serious decision-makers who understood what our product could offer.

We’ve done trade shows like Intersec for around 15 years, but those events often attract a wide mix of visitors and it can be hard to find potential buyers who are genuinely seeking specialised equipment.

At IFSJ Leaders, we had far more in-depth conversations with senior-level professionals who recognised the advantages of the P50 range.

The Platinum Partnership made sense because it gives us a prominent platform to reach the right audience in a market that values both high performance and low maintenance.

Our goals for the Middle East are straightforward.

We want to help major projects and businesses in that region improve their fire safety with an extinguisher solution that’s built to handle harsh conditions and reduce total cost of ownership.

The Middle East has plenty of large-scale facilities—airports, oil refineries, desalination plants, and more—where the reliability and resilience of our product can make a real difference.

This article was originally published in the March 2025 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal – to read your FREE digital copy, click here.