Fire alarm and detection systems
should ‘always reference local laws and regulations’ for the UK’s constituent nations, with cladding to ‘be replaced first’.
BS 7273
Moving on to the next relevant standard, Mr Lawrance noted this refers to interfaces with ancillary systems equipment (ASE), which was ‘thought important to relate’ to the subject as it discusses linkages with other systems, including: • smoke control systems •
lifts/other lifting appliances
• gas valves •
• BS 8629
fire resisting shutters and active fire curtain barrier assemblies
electricity supplies
• ventilation systems •
• paging systems
These require various connection needs and requirements, and fire detection is commonly provided in flat blocks, for example, for the purpose of operating smoke control systems. This interconnectivity also gives installers ‘detailed’ information on how systems should be connected, and where a detection system ‘does not incorporate the means to manually test’ a smoke control system or equipment, test facilities ‘should be provided to stimulate operation’ of fire detectors. The purpose of such facilities is to
‘enable routine testing’ of interfaces. Testing frequencies include weekly for smoke control systems supporting means of escape other than flat blocks, and monthly for all other interfaces. Inspections and servicing should occur every six months by a competent person with ‘adequate access to spares’, while six monthly ‘generally visual’ inspections and 12 monthly tests of switch mechanisms for every manual control should take place – the latter seeing a frangible element removed, a test key inserted, or the unit operated as it would be in a fire. Again, this standard features good
certificate models for installation, commissioning and servicing.
lighting intelligent signage and wayfinding
This standard, Mr Lawrance pointed out, referenced alert systems for fire and rescue service (FRS) use, and is generally applicable when a stay put strategy is used in a building. It refers to the piece of equipment often sitting in a lobby or an accessible location for the FRS, which gives control over various floors and the ability to evacuate or sound alarms for those floors or even individual flats. FRSs will decide to use such an
evacuation alert system ‘only’ after considering the ‘tenability’ of escape routes, particularly stairways for use by flat occupants. The domestic technical handbook for this standard was amended in 2019, and advocates provision of such systems for compliance with the mandatory building standard 2.14.
Third party approval
Finally, Mr Lawrance reflected on the two third party approval schemes, LPS 1014 and BAFE SP203. These are the ‘two main’ schemes for third party accreditation, offering advantages including proof of competence for landlords, consultants and insurers; ‘guaranteed quality’; differentiation from the rest of the market; openings for new business; and protection of existing business. LPS 1014 requires members to
have an ISO 9001 quality system in place alongside the capability to design, install, commission and
service fire detection and alarm systems. Just to apply, a minimum of two years of experience in designing, installing, commissioning and maintaining fire alarms is required, alongside auditing of the fire detection and alarm systems process.
Eight completed sites must be supplied for audit and must be ‘quite substantial’, requiring at least two networked control panels and 200 detectors. Should any major or minor non compliances be found, they must be actioned within 30 days and photos or documented evidence should be provided. At the end of the process, applications are approved, delayed or denied, with six monthly audits of sites and offices required if approved for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems. The BAFE SP203 scheme meanwhile is modular. Companies are able to choose to be accredited separately for design, installation, commissioning and service and, while a quality assurance scheme should be in place, it does ‘not necessarily’ need to be ISO 9001. Three quarters of the scheme’s members have three of these four elements. Mr Lawrance also made reference
to the BAFE Fire Detection and Alarm Systems SP201 (LPS 1014) scheme. which actually allows for accreditation of those companies to LPS 1014, permitting them to display a BAFE certificate without a full audit, although the reverse ‘does not apply’
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