Fire Alarm Maintenance

[ElecTech]

Query... I am not in the Fire industry mainly security only... My question is, do you need the BAFE badge to maintain a fire alarm?

 

Presumably this is an insurance company that specifies the type of company it wants to maintain the system?

 

And is BAFE needed 100% for monitored fire systems...? If so what about "bells only" type?

 

We are NACOSS silver but hoping to get into the fire market, just doing the research and putting a few training courses together... I constantly come across "maintenance packages" but always refuse the fire...

 

 

 

 

[al-yeti]

You don't need anything

[ElecTech]

Not even a basic proof of competency? Surprising

 

Saying that, I don't know how you'd prove a competent person from the next...

Edited January 21, 2016 by ElecTech

[unimatrix1066]

totally unregulated , best to take on board an experienced engineer as like any trade its down to what u know

[Shaunb1905]

We're the other way round, a fire company going into security. As said above, you don't need BAFE. Only certain jobs you may lose out on if the insurance specify a BAFE company

[alarmcom]

Just posted a pic in another topic. It's obvious people will try anything. Earth wire taped to MICC and conductors sleeved and taped all with a pretty red gland.

[sparky999]

Yes as others have been saying but some customers do ask for LPCB1014 so you could lose one or two that way

[Pyroman]

There is no Formal competency requirements, but like every trade, even having the bit of paper is no substitute for experience.

The FIA do a single day design course, which is the usual "proof" that you know what you are doing, but the FIA make it very clear that it is just a learning curve. They also do an Install module and a Maintenance module, as well as others. 

There are 2 schemes, BAFE which is modular, (Design/Install/Maintain)and many of the Electrical and Security schemes have assessors who can take you through the process, the other scheme, mentioned by Sparky above, is LPS1014 which is more detailed and stringent.

At the end of the day what needs to be remembered is that your system is rarely checked, or called into question - but its only when something goes wrong that the magnifying glass comes out, the insurer almost always sends in a Fire Engineer to assess the damage and reduce their costs, and much more importantly (in my mind) the Fire Authority are likely to question any potential risk to life - it really is a case of do it right, prove that you have done it right, record that you have done it right and then you can sleep at night!

[ElecTech]

4 hours ago, Pyroman said:

There is no Formal competency requirements, but like every trade, even having the bit of paper is no substitute for experience.

The FIA do a single day design course, which is the usual "proof" that you know what you are doing, but the FIA make it very clear that it is just a learning curve. They also do an Install module and a Maintenance module, as well as others. 

There are 2 schemes, BAFE which is modular, (Design/Install/Maintain)and many of the Electrical and Security schemes have assessors who can take you through the process, the other scheme, mentioned by Sparky above, is LPS1014 which is more detailed and stringent.

At the end of the day what needs to be remembered is that your system is rarely checked, or called into question - but its only when something goes wrong that the magnifying glass comes out, the insurer almost always sends in a Fire Engineer to assess the damage and reduce their costs, and much more importantly (in my mind) the Fire Authority are likely to question any potential risk to life - it really is a case of do it right, prove that you have done it right, record that you have done it right and then you can sleep at night!

LOL... not sure if it was meant to sound like a long winded cliché?

[Pyroman]

19 hours ago, ElecTech said:

LOL... not sure if it was meant to sound like a long winded cliché?

You got me.

I normally summarise, because it is so long winded sometimes! Either way, I hope it answered your question!

Edited April 13, 2016 by Pyroman