The best fire safety company for your building is the one that can design, install, test and maintain the whole system, prove it with real projects and documents, and stay accountable after handover. A company that only sells equipment leaves the hardest parts, design and testing, to someone else.
Every company calls itself the best. These ten questions help you check the claim before you sign.
1. Do they design, or only supply?
A fire system is only as good as its design: detector spacing, hydrant coverage, pump sizing, escape routes. Ask who will produce the drawings and calculations, and whether they are done to BNBC 2020 and the relevant NFPA standards. If the answer is "the consultant will do it", ask who is responsible when the design and the equipment don't match.
2. Can they show real projects like yours?
Ask for two or three projects of a similar type and size: a garment factory, a high-rise, a warehouse. Ask what the problem was, what they installed and whether it passed inspection. If possible, speak to the client.
3. Is the equipment approved, and can they prove it?
Look for recognised approvals such as UL, FM, LPCB or Kitemark, depending on the product, and ask for the datasheets and certificates. Genuine, traceable equipment matters more than the brand name on the quotation.
4. Who installs it?
Ask whether installation is done by the company's own team or subcontracted, and who supervises the work on site. Badly installed approved equipment still fails.
5. Will they test and commission everything?
Testing is where faults appear. A good company tests every detector, call point, valve and pump, records the results and gives you the reports. Ask to see a sample commissioning report.
6. Do they support approval?
Ask whether they will prepare and submit the fire safety plan and attend inspections. See how fire safety plan approval works.
7. What happens after handover?
Fire systems need regular maintenance. Ask what a maintenance contract includes, how often they visit and how fast they respond to an emergency.
8. Can they cover electrical safety too?
About a third of fires in Bangladesh start with an electrical fault. A partner who can also design panels, test insulation and earthing and run thermographic scans closes a gap that fire-only contractors leave open.
9. Is the quotation clear?
A good quotation lists each system, the equipment and its approvals, quantities, installation, testing, documentation and warranty. Be careful with a low lump sum that hides what is excluded.
10. Are they reachable?
A real office, a working phone line and named engineers matter when something goes wrong at 2 a.m.
A quick comparison table
| Question | Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Own engineers, calculations provided | "Design is the consultant's job" |
| Equipment | Approvals and datasheets on request | Brand names only |
| Testing | Written commissioning reports | "We test it when we finish" |
| After-sales | Defined maintenance plans, 24/7 line | No maintenance offer |
| References | Similar projects, named clients | Only photos |
Where we stand
Power Tech Engineering designs, installs, tests and maintains fire, electrical and security systems for factories and buildings in Chattogram and Dhaka, with a 24/7 line. Hold us to the same ten questions: book a free site survey and ask them in person.