Competent Persons in other disciplines

[kurnal]

Thats right NT but the MD was fine when I walked him round and explained the issues. I  have had it the other way though in the past.

I dont mind when they have had a go themselves and not observed important and fundamental problems because the Politicians when drafting the Order and commissioning the Guidance were looking through rose tinted glasses. I think they took a view that nearly all buildings conformed to ADB etc and all that was needed was an audit of ignition sources and combustible materials.

My concern over the registration scheme is really about how it can be applied in a timely and cost effective manner. I fear it will more likely be a CRB, HIP  and CSA style farce that will be a costly paper exercise, achieve very little, cause a famine of support out there and cost a fortune. The Govt will recognise a lack of diversity amongst praticioners and then we will have HIP style courses to teach people to become registered assessors in 5 minutes driving us all down to a lowest common denominator meaning the fundamental big hazards will still be missed.  

I think that unless it is thought through very carefully and implemented in stages the industry will grind to a halt for some considerable time. The people who will benefit the most will probably be the the on line risk assessment companies who will work outside the scheme.  Many of these operators already have a huge profit margin compared to the consultants who actually walk the floor and advise the RP. We should ensure that this drift is  forseen.
   
If the register is to be implemented  properly- whether that is FRACS, IFE or IFSM standard- which ever is right, how can it be resourced- theres a huge bulge of existing practicioners who will all apply at the same time. Then nothing till it comes up for review.  

[smoke monkey]

I have been a fire alarm engineer for quite a few years now and am amazed at the variation in background and varying practical and technical ability and knowledge....and sometimes the lack of the aforementioned i have witnessed.

I have known some very good engineers who were time serviced,started as apprentices and learned on the job.Then i have met electricians..some who took to it like a duck to water and others who i sincerely wonder how they ever became electricians let alone so called fire alarm engineers.

What i am very surprised about is the fact that some people who are now fire alarm engineers have got into the industry with absolutely no electrical or electronic background or qualifications at all and they dont even know how an optical detector works and if you asked them how to read a resistor or explain how a diode works would not have a clue !

I firmly believe that ALL fire alarm engineers should have to have a set of minimum qualifications, core subjects and then have add ons, specialist subjects such as gas extinguishing systems, aspirating systems,beam detection etc
The core basics should be things like... Health and Safety,electronic servicing or electricians qualifications,basic maths and english.then you should have an exam to test your knowledge of conventional and addressable systems.