We’re carrying out major refurbishment a number of our premises, which we have to keep open and available to the public at all times during the works. In the past, we’ve always given the job of altering the fire detection and alarm systems (major modifications, in some cases) to the same company that was maintaining them. This gave them the job of managing and interfacing the modified kit with the parts of the system that were being maintained ‘as is’; provided a ‘one-stop-shop’ in the case of faults, and their familiarity with the systems and premises helped maintain safety and reliability.
Now, one of our Project Managers has insisted that it is more cost-effective to engage one company to do the modification and interfacing works, whilst keeping overall maintenance of the system under our existing contractor (i.e. not the one doing the mod’s). This arrangement gives me the heebie-jeebies, but he is adamant that it goes ahead unless I can point to any British Standard or other Code of Practice that says that having a fire system under the management of more than one contractor at once is not recommended.
What’s the views – am I being too cautious, or are my fears well founded, in which case if some ‘guru’ can point me in the direction of guidance in this area, it would make my life considerably easier…!
