BAFE Inspection and 5839 pt1 2008 ???

[David Rooney]

Had our bi-annual BAFE inspection today and passed with flying colours, one thing we got pulled on was that we didn't install a call point on the exit from an external boiler room (about 4 sq m) off of a church that posed no threat to life or affected anyones means of escape. The room had a detector/sounder.

System was to L2 and we were told this should have been noted as a variation... ok begrudgingly accepted.

Inspector also mentioned a 2008 draft that is soon to be published. I only had a quick look but could only see lots of new references to European standards, no real technical changes.

Are there any meaningful changes that anyone knows of, and why is it not issued as an amendment instead of making us all buy a complete new copy for silly money... or have i got it all wrong??

[Allen Higginson]

http://view.bsi-global-email.com/?j=fe8d10757d61077d7c&m=fef91270746c03&ls=fdf01579776c077971137571
Got this through from BSI if it shines any light on it.
Allen

[Benzerari]

Also is the batteries calculation required for each service visit, to get SP203 service BAFE certification, while taking into account NOT the max or min current load in quiscent and alarm as per the guide...etc, but the actual current load Iq and Ia, when mains disconnected?

[David Rooney]

Also is the batteries calculation required for each service visit, to get SP203 service BAFE certification, while taking into account NOT the max or min current load in quiscent and alarm as per the guide...etc, but the actual current load Iq and Ia, when mains disconnected?

You don't issue BAFE service certificates... only an initial Cetificate of Conformity. In theory if a non BAFE firm takes over the certificate is invalidated.

The company taking over would doo all the checks recommended in the code for the initial inspection by a new service company.

In short, no you don't need to do standby checks each service visit... however we do it for our own records in case someone else has added any equipment (does happen where a floor or part of a building is sub-let) or to identify if something is failing and drawing more current than it should....

[nearlythere]

Had our bi-annual BAFE inspection today and passed with flying colours, one thing we got pulled on was that we didn't install a call point on the exit from an external boiler room (about 4 sq m) off of a church that posed no threat to life or affected anyones means of escape. The room had a detector/sounder.

System was to L2 and we were told this should have been noted as a variation... ok begrudgingly accepted.

Inspector also mentioned a 2008 draft that is soon to be published. I only had a quick look but could only see lots of new references to European standards, no real technical changes.

Are there any meaningful changes that anyone knows of, and why is it not issued as an amendment instead of making us all buy a complete new copy for silly money... or have i got it all wrong??

A 4 sq M boiler room not connected to the main building other than pipework and containing a detector. Sounds more like a tick box audit. Is it free?

[David Rooney]

A 4 sq M boiler room not connected to the main building other than pipework and containing a detector. Sounds more like a tick box audit. Is it free?

What colour are the clouds on your planet......? !!!!

[Allen Higginson]

Aren't I glad I don't have to worry about this!

[nearlythere]

Aren't I glad I don't have to worry about this!

What, you mean the colour of the clouds?

[Allen Higginson]

Aren't I glad I don't have to worry about this!

What, you mean the colour of the clouds?

Nah,the SP203 thing.

[Chris Houston]

I thought it was quite simple.  A call point is needed at each exit point.  How far would someone in the boiler room upon discovering have had to walk to the nearest call point to raise the alarm?

[David Rooney]

Quite right... call point technically should be by each exit to air... hence by not installing the mcp we should have listed it as a variation from the regs.

I suppose the distance from the boiler room to the nearest point is no more than 20m.

But in this risk based world is it

a/ reasonable to expect a fire to break out when the room is occupied, justifying the installation of a call point
b/ reasonable to think mr boiler service man will go find the nearest call point in the church if he did discover a fire.....?
c/ as its an outside bolier room of concrete construction, is it really necessary to evacuate the church in terms of life safety in the first place ??!!

no idea..............!!!

[Chris Houston]

Forgive me for being devil's advokate, but I'd guess:

a - it seems unlikely, but that isn't how things work. We don't put them only where we expect a fire to start when someone is there.  Following that logic most places wounldn't get a call point.
b - guess he probably would, it is most probable that he would not be injured and able and willing to make the effort.  Again, how far to do we take it?  Who knows. Perhaps that is why we need standards.
c - If there is a fire in the building, ABSOLUTELY!  What else would we do, leave them in a burning building?

[Allen Higginson]

Forgive me for being devil's advokate, but I'd guess:

a - it seems unlikely, but that isn't how things work. We don't put them only where we expect a fire to start when someone is there.  Following that logic most places wounldn't get a call point.
b - guess he probably would, it is most probable that he would not be injured and able and willing to make the effort.  Again, how far to do we take it?  Who knows. Perhaps that is why we need standards.
c - If there is a fire in the building, ABSOLUTELY!  What else would we do, leave them in a burning building?

Morning Chris

a - fair enough
b - he's liable to try to put it out himself as he was the one working on it.
c - the boilerhouse isn't in the building and you could have the scenario that the congreagation evacuate and muster by going past the risk/fire.

[Chris Houston]

OK, must admit now I'm a bit confused, thought the boiler room was attached but separated by a concrete wall.  If it is detached and some distance away, then I will reconsider my points.  If it is attached, then an evacuation must surely be undertaken.

[David Rooney]

OK, must admit now I'm a bit confused, thought the boiler room was attached but separated by a concrete wall.  If it is detached and some distance away, then I will reconsider my points.  If it is attached, then an evacuation must surely be undertaken.

I'd think of the boiler room as a semi detached bunker.

I suppose the evacuation should be undertaken - after all if the detector in their went off it would evacuate the lot......

It just seems overkill to install the call point when as you say the guy could run off and find another one......