From 1 October the responsibility for fire safety at premises was passed to employers, building owners and contractors who exercise a degree of control over any premises.

These responsible persons have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone who uses their premises and those in the immediate vicinity.

Members have already received guidance on the requirements of the legislation – the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005 – and there are guides available for those preparing fire risk assessments, which can be downloaded on www.communities.gov.uk/ index.asp?id=1162101.

However, as clients become more conscious of their obligations they will look to employ specialists to carry out this work. In order to be featured on the ECA’s register as fire specialists, members must be certified under one of the following schemes:

  • BRE Certification’s LPS 1014 standard for fire detection and alarm system firms;
  • BAFE’s SP203 scheme for fire alarm detection and suppression schemes;
  • IET’s EAS for A3 work (fire alarm systems);
  • ECA’s technical assessment for A3 work (fire alarm systems).
The LPS 1014 scheme covers design, installation, commissioning and servicing, and is aimed at those carrying out large contracts. The SP203 scheme is split into four modules – system design, installation, commissioning and handover, and maintenance. Firms can be certified in one or more of the modules. The EAS A3 scheme is available for installation work only. And the ECA technical assessment for A3 work is available for design, installation, commissioning, handover and maintenance.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor