At the Council meeting of 9th August 1916, the newly formed Association drafted this letter to Government Departments and others;:

‘This Association has been formed primarily to promote the study and improvement of the science of the extinction of fires in their incipient stages, by means of Portable Chemical Apparatus, thereby reducing to the minimum the risks of destructive fires in munition and other factories, warehouses, stores, docks, public and private buildings, and residences.’ and offering, free, ‘the expert services of the majority of the manufacturing interests in advising on the use of extinguishers, without obligation to buy from the businesses so represented’.