A GUIDE TO CERTIFICATION WITH SSAIB FOR PROVIDERS OF FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS. Application pack requested by Company x Company submits application with fees in advance t Application reviewed and invoice for fees sent J Assessment date(s) agreed with Company | SSAIB carries out document review in office gee ee SSAIB carries out on-site assessment ¥ Assessment reviewed by SSAIB ‘Managers Y Certification awarded with listing in the register ¥ SSAIB issues welcome CDROM Ref $913 an 2006Page Lof 3 AN OVERVIEW OF THE BAFE/SSAIB CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR PROVIDERS OF FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS BAFE is an industry organisation that brings together all the major interest groups involved with active fire protection systems. A group of selected stakeholders working within BAFE have developed a third party certification scheme for companies involved in the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems. The scheme was written in a modular form to reflect the way that the fire detection and alarm industry works; here more than one company may be involved in the provision of a system. SSAIB offers third party certification to the requirements of the scheme (under licence from BAFE) and is accredited for the scheme by UKAS in accordance with EN 45011. ‘The objective of the scheme is to provide a means by which fire protection system users and regulatory authorities can be confident that companies involved with the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of such systems have the appropriate levels of competence and process control to effectively undertake their defined scope of work. ‘The new scheme is seen to provide BENEFITS to the following groups: © EMPLOYERS who have legal responsibilities to provide a workplace environment which has adequate fire protection measures. * BUILDING CONTROL who have a responsibility within the Building Regulations for fire precautions giving them confidence in the “ fitness for purpose” of the installed system. © THE FIRE SERVICE who will benefit in a similar way to Building Control in relation to their responsibilities. © CONTRACTORS involved with the design, installation, commissioning, handover and maintenance of systems. They will be able to demonstrate they have been assessed as having appropriate competence and underpinning business processes. * ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS who participate in the electrical installation industries, EIILC scheme, which has a Category A3 relating to fire alarm systems. By participating in the BAFE scheme, these companies can demonstrate that they mect the requirements of Category A3. Scheme modules ‘The modules of the scheme have been arranged to ensure that certificated companies have the appropriate level of competence, business process controls and adequate resources to undertake their scope of work. Module 1~system design The company offering system design shall achieve third party certification. There is an additional requirement that the person signing off each design on behalf of the company shall demonstrate their competence. Designers are, therefore, named individuals and they form an important part of the design module audit by the third party certification body. Ref 8310 Han 2006Page 2063 Further important aspects of the design module requirements are: © Evidence that designs are undertaken in accordance with an agreed specification and that where alarm systems interface with other building systems this requirement is taken into account. ‘© Design records shall be kept by the certificated company and on completion of the initial system design this completion shall be formally recorded and a certificate shall be issued to the client. © Continued design involvement shall be maintained. There is often the need to undertake design changes during the installation and commissioning of the system and it is important that there is design control over these changes. ‘Module 2~installation ‘The requirements for this module follow a similar format to those of the design module and require that the installer shall achieve third party certification. The company shall also demonstrate that it has staff with the appropriate levels of competence and that all work is undertaken in accordance with the specified requirements. As with the design module, there is a requirement for the company to keep comprehensive installation records and to provide formal evidence of completion of the work. Module 3~commissioning and handover This can be undertaken by either one or two companies who shall achieve third party certification and who shall demonstrate that they have the appropriate levels of competence. The system shall be commissioned and handed over in accordance with an agreed specification. The company shall keep comprehensive commissioning records and provide evidence to the client of the formal completion of the commissioning and handover process. Module 4~maintenance The company shall achieve third party certification and shall demonstrate an adequate level of competence. In addition it is necessary to be able to demonstrate adequate resources, including staff, to undertake the workload to which they are committed and have access to spare parts. The maintenance shall be undertaken in accordance with a contract specification and comprehensive records of the work they undertake shall be kept. It is important for the maintenance company to be involved with the resolution of unwanted fire alarm problems as the maintenance company is likely to be the only organisation with continuity of attendance at the site that permits them to effectively take on this role. Modular certification ‘An important aspect of the scheme is the modular certification that needs to take place at the end ‘of each phase of the project. The modular certificate is the formal evidence to the client stating that the module has been completed in accordance with the requirements. While it is called a modular certificate it does not necessarily have to be a certificate in the true sense of the word and may, for example, be a formal document such as a letter. There is one fundamental requirement, however, which is the provision if a unique module reference number that will be provided to the certificated company by the third party certification body. Ref 8310 Vian 2006Page 30f3 System certification Provided the design, installation, commissioning and handover has all been undertaken by a certificated company or certificated companies, it is possible to issue a BAFE Approval Certificate for the overall completed installation. This will include details of each of the modular cettificates, together with the final verification, and will demonstrate to the customer that the installed system meets the requirements of the scheme. ‘There are two ways the BAFE Approval Certificate can be issued: © By the contractor who is responsible for carrying out ALL modules. © By any one of the contractors where more than one contractor is involved in the provision of the system. On-going maintenance On-going certification of maintenance will be undertaken by a version of the modular certificate requiring the maintenance contractor to advise the client of the date when the next visit needs to bbe undertaken and of any remedial work needed to maintain the system in accordance with the original design specification. For further information contact SSAIB, 131 Bedford Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 6LA, Tel: 0191 296 3242. Ref: #310 han 2006