Fire & Safety
Playing with fi re E
A look at substandard fi re design schemes.
SP reveals some worrying evidence that not all fi re design schemes are up to the standard required to ensure the safety of buildings and their inhabitants. In the same way that diligence needs to be adhered to when procuring electrical products to ensure their compliance with the latest regulations, it is also essential that projects which require fire protection are also designed, installed and commissioned to the correct standard BS5839. We are all too aware of the issue with counterfeit products and products that are uncertified (and potentially unsafe) making their way onto the marketplace. Now, having reviewed completed fire system designs from various sources, it has come to our attention that not all designs are equal. We would like to offer wholesalers and installers some advice on the types of issues to be aware of, after finding substandard work as a result of potentially inexperienced and/or under qualified designers.
We have seen: •
• •
•
Fire system design drawings marked up with- out suffi cient AFD (Automatic Fire Detection) Coverage
Incorrect products specifi ed
Fire designs ‘completed’ and quoted within 30 minutes
Supporting technical documentation and proposals missing
The last two points are ones that are easily identifiable for the wholesaler and installer. Fire
designs ‘completed’ in minutes are unlikely to have had the enquiry documentation evaluated correctly. Fire designs should always come with additional technical documentation such as a ‘Fire System Proposal’. This will tell any ‘responsible person’ or installer how their fire alarm system should work and ultimately how it should be installed. If this is not provided as part of a design, how sure can we be that the design has been executed successfully? Those who install a poorly designed system and sign it off are also liable for any damages or death that may arise from any subsequent fires.
Expert guidance
Already providing wholesalers and contractors with free fire training programmes, ESP took the decision to further enhance its commitment to helping the sector with a dedicated design service which allows contractors access to a free of charge fire systems design facility.
Matt Tighe, ESP’s technical service manager and system designer, heads up this service. Matt has accrued vast experience in the industry, which includes 15 years in the fire protection sector, where his responsibilities included designing, installing, commissioning and project managing in all aspects of the fire and security industry – from care homes to nuclear power plants.
The service is available to any size of business, from local electricians to national contracting companies. The aim is to provide expertise in choosing the right products and solutions to create a scheme that meets all the requirements and objectives of the project in question, and to ensure that it is compliant with all the relevant regulations and standards. ESP has produced a handy, pocket-size guide to highlight the key points of the latest version of the BS5389 Part 1: 2017. This standard deals with the code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises. ESP’s guide is aimed at those designers and installers who need simple guidance to help with the selection, spacing and location of fire devices and can be downloaded
www.espuk.com, or accessed via the Scolmore Group app, under the ESP Catalogues section.
14 | electrical wholesalerAugust 2022
ewnews.co.uk
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