# Insurance for fire protection and extinguisher service companies in Germany

> A powder extinguisher goes off during servicing in a server room, a serviced extinguisher fails in a workshop fire, a dozen pressure vessels ride in the van. Fire protection and extinguisher service companies in Germany work on equipment that others rely on when it matters. Here is what is compulsory, which insurance carries the typical losses and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-fire-protection-and-extinguisher-service.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Who pays if an extinguisher I serviced fails in a fire?

If a servicing error is proven, you are liable for the consequences, which can go far beyond the value of the extinguisher. Public liability carries this if servicing is an insured activity and the limit is high enough. Keep an inspection record for every service so you can prove your work.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Motor liability for every service vehicle, by law at least €7.5 million for injury, €1.3 million for property damage and €50,000 for pure financial loss
- **Service interval:** Under the technical rule for workplaces ASR A2.2, fire extinguishers in workplaces must be serviced every two years by a competent person (section 7.4.2)
- **Biggest risk:** An extinguisher you serviced fails in a fire, and the client or their property insurer seeks recourse from you
- **Basic cover from:** about €400 a year for public liability for a sole trader, a guide value from our quoting work
- **Often forgotten:** Advice, fire safety plans and inspection reports can cause pure financial loss that basic liability policies hardly cover

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Extinguisher fails:** In a fire a serviced unit does not work and the damage grows. The client's insurer checks your service records.
- **Powder in the server room:** An extinguisher discharges during servicing and powder spreads through equipment and ventilation.
- **Pressure vessels:** A container bursts during refilling or transport, and staff or others are injured.
- **Advice errors:** Too few extinguishers, the wrong agent, a patchy fire safety plan: the client claims the extra cost.
- **Many journeys:** Customers across the region every day, often with a full van and little time.
- **Theft:** Extinguishers, spare parts and tools disappear from vans or the store.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 3, Theft 3, Cyber 2, Downtime 2, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Car insurance** (Essential): Motor liability is compulsory for every vehicle. Tell the insurer about fittings and load. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Business liability** (Strongly advised): Not compulsory, but essential: with damage caused by work on site, worked items, extended product liability for units sold, and financial loss. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): For store, refilling station and spare units against fire, burglary and water. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Strongly advised): For disputes over service contracts, invoices and recourse claims. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Professional indemnity** (Depends on the business): If you act as fire safety officer or consultant and write reports and fire safety plans. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Accident insurance** (Depends on the business): Adds to statutory cover for accidents with pressure vessels and on the road. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-accident-insurance.php
- **Fleet insurance** (Depends on the business): From three service vehicles a fleet policy bundles them all. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-fleet-insurance.php

## What it costs: example prices

Insurers rarely publish rates for fire protection services. The premium depends on turnover, staff, sales of equipment, advice and the limit of indemnity.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Sole trader, servicing and sales, €3 million limit including financial loss | about €400 to €800 a year |
| Business liability | Service company with five technicians, €5 million limit | about €1,200 to €2,800 a year |
| Professional indemnity | Fire safety officer, €250,000 for financial loss | about €300 to €700 a year |
| Car insurance | Service van, business use, third party and partial cover | about €800 to €1,600 a year |
| Business contents | Store with refilling station and units worth €60,000 | about €300 to €700 a year |

For comparison: Public liability for a small fire protection company costs about as much a year as servicing thirty to forty extinguishers.

_All premiums are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax, as of October 2026. The motor liability minimums are set in the Compulsory Insurance Act, the service interval in ASR A2.2._

- [BAuA: ASR A2.2 Measures against fire](https://www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Regelwerk/ASR/pdf/ASR-A2-2.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=6)
- [Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, Annex: minimum sums insured](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/anlage.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Sole trader** (Servicing and selling extinguishers with one van): Car insurance, Business liability, Business contents. Together: about €1,500 to €3,000 a year
- **Service company** (Three to ten technicians, refilling station and service contracts): Fleet insurance, Business liability, Business contents, Business legal expenses, Accident insurance. Together: about €5,000 to €12,000 a year
- **With consulting** (Service company with fire safety officers and fire safety plans): Fleet insurance, Business liability, Professional indemnity, Business contents, Business legal expenses. Together: tailored, usually from about €7,000 a year

## The worst day in fire protection service

Six things fire protection technicians really go through, all on one day. Tap through and see who pays.

- 07:40: Changing lanes on the way to the first client, the van hits another car. (€3,400, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 09:20: A powder extinguisher discharges in a server room; equipment and ventilation must be cleaned. (€16,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:50: A client says your fire safety plan has gaps and has it redone by a consultancy. (€4,500, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 14:10: A valve bursts during refilling and a technician injures his hand. (€3,000, Paid by: Accident insurance)
- 16:30: A large client cancels the service contract and does not pay open invoices. (€2,200, Paid by: Business legal expenses)
- 02:15: Burglary at the store: spare extinguishers and tools are gone. (€6,800, Paid by: Business contents)

**Damage so far:** €35,900

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have servicing, sales and advice described separately as activities in your liability policy.
- Check whether financial loss from advice and inspection reports is included.
- Keep an inspection record for every service with date, unit and result.
- Cover sensitive equipment in server rooms and kitchens before you start.
- Secure pressure vessels in the van and tell your motor insurer about the load.
- Consider a fleet policy from three vehicles.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We read the small print:** For fire protection companies, what decides is whether work on site and financial loss are covered. As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares the wording of several insurers for you.
- **Vehicles, store and liability together:** Service vans, store, liability and your personal insurance all run through one contact.
- **Broker since 1989:** A family business, not tied to any insurer. Our service is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English.

## FAQ

### What insurance is compulsory for a fire protection company in Germany?

Motor liability for every vehicle. Public liability is not required by law, but commercial clients often ask for it.

### How often must extinguishers be serviced?

Under ASR A2.2 every two years by a competent person. If the manufacturer allows longer intervals, the employer may use them; shorter manufacturer intervals must be followed.

### What does public liability cost?

For sole traders about €400 to €800 a year, for companies with several technicians about €1,200 to €2,800, as guide values from our quoting work.

### Am I covered as a fire safety officer under public liability?

Not always. Advice can cause pure financial loss, which needs professional indemnity or extended financial loss cover.

### Who pays if an extinguisher discharges during servicing?

Public liability for damage to other people's property, if damage caused by work on site is included. Cleaning equipment after a powder discharge is often the expensive part.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-fire-protection-and-extinguisher-service.php#anfrage

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.