Alarm installation qualification

[Adam Jackson]

I keep being told that an NICEIC registered electrician is qualified to install a fire alarm but it doesn't seem right to me. A sparky is a technical job, but the design and installation of an electrical supply is very different to the installation of a fire alarm system, especially if the person doing the installation is determining the exact placement of detectors, etc.

Can anyone point me towards any BS references which cover that? Unless anyone can confirm for me an NICEIC electrician is classed as competent?

Ta

Adam.

[Graeme]

You need to go on a relevant course for Installation and testing for Fire alarm systems

i.e BFPSA units 1 and 4 for design,install and testing.

unit 5 if you have the maintenance contract or BAFE  SP203 courses.

BS5839-1 2002

all persons involved in the design,installation and maintenance of FD+a systems must be able to prove their competance.

[Adam Jackson]

Cheers, thanks for that Graeme, especially the BS reference.

By the way, its not me that wants to be able install - I'm a general health and safety person and am constantly being told by managers (trying to cut corners) that their electrician is competent to install a fire alarm. I've never felt happy about it and have always commented that no, an electrician is not good enough - it must be a fire alarm specialist, so its good to have the back-up references.

Ta

[Chris Houston]

There are two UKAS accredited schemes for approving those who install fire detection and fire alarm systems.

One is the Loss Prevention Council (BRE Certification) LPS 1014 scheme.

The other it the BAFE SP 203 scheme.

Currently there are not too many contractors signed up, so it might be harsh to expect it for all systems, currently.

[Graeme]

your Electrician may have the experience but still needs to be able to prove it on paper.

I have personally seen a lot of horrors from people who think it's a doddle.

[Adam Jackson]

Thanks chaps.

[David Rooney]

I keep being told that an NICEIC registered electrician is qualified to install a fire alarm but it doesn't seem right to me. A sparky is a technical job, but the design and installation of an electrical supply is very different to the installation of a fire alarm system, especially if the person doing the installation is determining the exact placement of detectors, etc.

Can anyone point me towards any BS references which cover that? Unless anyone can confirm for me an NICEIC electrician is classed as competent?

Ta

Adam.

(A quick late entry) if you are in the NICEIC it's quite simple to be listed as "appoved" to be able to install fire alarms, they claim it's to do with competency, but there is also a suspicion it might just be related to your monthly subscription..... allegedly !

We were in the NIC and the inspectors could do little more than measure distances between clips, and ask us to test complete commercial electrical installations that we hadn't done.... That's why we left and went BAFE.

There is still no single formal qualification that makes you a fire alarm engineer as far as I know. It still comes down to experience, the BFPSA courses and as many other bits of paper as you can muster....