Help getting started

[Magoo]

A client of mine has got a number of guest houses in N.Wales that he's looking to have new fire alarms fitted.   I've only fitted  a few small systems to student accommodation in the past so in order to do his I feel I need to be up to spec.
So 4 Questions
1) Do you need to have specific qualifications ?(I am a fully qualified spark)
2) Can anyone suggest the best approach to training
3) Can anyone reccomend a good online overview of current systems & practices
4) Which manufacturer would you reccomend
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[John Dragon]

1) You ideally need to prove competence to design a fire alarm (BFPSA, FIA or similar),  and this will only become evident in the event of a fatality or similar. (most sparkies ignore/don't know this).
2) BFPSA courses (now FIA).
3) You need training and experience to do it properly.
4) There are quite a few good manufacturers, try to avoid going to the wholesaler and buying whatever he chooses to sell you (mostly you will get the cheapest stuff on offer). From a fire specialist's point of view, most sparkies don't care what rubbish they install as they rarely have to maintain it!
We are also based in North Wales, so if you need any help, let me know.

[Jim Creak]

First and foremost your client needs to outline to you what protection he is after, he is the responsible person in respect to fire safety arrangements and protection. Obviously the better detection the better the protection, theoretically.

I would recommend you invest in a copy of BS 5839, BS 5588 Part 12 and maybe PAS 79 so that when you ask your client the questions he is aware of the importance of the answers and the correct context in which you put his answers into the formal design stage.

[Mike]

Hi Magoo

email me - we can provide subsidised FIA training and advice on kit- standards-and assist with site visits surveys etc foc

[Graeme]

1) You ideally need to prove competence to design a fire alarm (BFPSA, FIA or similar),  and this will only become evident in the event of a fatality or similar. (most sparkies ignore/don't know this).
2) BFPSA courses (now FIA).
3) You need training and experience to do it properly.
4) There are quite a few good manufacturers, try to avoid going to the wholesaler and buying whatever he chooses to sell you (mostly you will get the cheapest stuff on offer). From a fire specialist's point of view, most sparkies don't care what rubbish they install as they rarely have to maintain it!
We are also based in North Wales, so if you need any help, let me know.

agree

most fire stuff from wholesalers is aimed at sparks and not guys who do it every day.

they will probably flog you a load of ionisation detectors .

glad that you are seeking out training as mentioned others still don't bother and they end up being slated at commissioning stage by proper engineers if used.

[Mike]

Hi

You may be correct about the majority of wholesalers but some have a specialist fire division with competent qualified guys on the road who generally know what they are doing and are more than willing to assist companies starting up, take them through training, help with designs and not push low quality kit. Sometimes the manufacturers are the ones with a limited portfolio of product and more willing to push what they have rather than advise on what is best for the job.