Selecting an independent consultant in a specialist field.

[Tom Sutton]

Let’s say a company develops a self-contained water spray fire suppression system and has no experience in fire safety but requires an independent consultant to assist them in the development. The candidate would have to have practical knowledge either in installation or supervision of an installation, understand the legislation, standards and certification associated with this product but how do you go about finding this expert person or company.

If you should Google for one, most would be employed by firms in that field and they are the last person you would want to share your trade secrets with. If you search for fire consultants you would have to check each one to see if they had the necessary expertise in the field you require.

In America they have a website called Expert Consulting and Expert Witness Services which give you the CV’s of a number of experts in the field you are researching which would assist you in selecting a suitable candidate but there doesn’t appear to be a similar website for the UK.  

If this situation did arise what could you do?

[Mr. P]

Ask a friendly Bld Control if they have any contacts...

[Tom W]

I would join the FIA (Fire Industry Association) or ASFP and ask their advice

[kurnal]

It would be a hard choice between phone a friend or ask the audience.

The website quoted would only be of interest if backed up by some kind of accreditation. Being every bit the cynic people always say I am I would guess that as its in the USA its more than likely to be run as a business directory than a list of accredited pservice providers.

[Mr. P]

Why not start our own accreditation system here on this site? We wouldn't have to move far from the bar. Joking aside, how does someone suddenly decide they are the ones who say if someone is accredited or not?

[Tom Sutton]

Thanks for your comments and I would even accept a business directory if it gave some indication of likely candidates but ones like Red Book online don’t seem to work for specialists. Trade associations’ only give lists of members and I think Kurnal's suggestion is the only one that might work

[John Webb]

There are a number of independent consultants including university departments (Leeds, Greenwich and Imperial for example?) People like Warrington and my former work colleagues at BRE are also possibilities.

I am sure there is a web-site somewhere dealing with fire research efforts across the UK and that could provide information on the capabilities of various institutions. Possibly DCLG?

[boroboy]

Actually there is an expert witness service in the UK.  I was asked to sign up for it a few years ago but declined as there was a fee involved.  I have previously seen it mentioned in various fire journals.  Suggest you google it.
Boroboy

[wee brian]

http://www.criminalbar.com/158/

[Tom Sutton]

Thanks guys I found a fire consultant website that met all the criteria I required.

[kurnal]

Care to share it with us TW?

[Tom Sutton]

By all means http://www.intfire.com/

[kurnal]

Thanks TW. They are a company rather than a register of course.

I expect that had you been selecting a company selecting on the basis of good looks you would have come to us?

[wee brian]

I'd talk to more than one before you commit.

IFC are one of the bigger hitters in the products & systems end of things, you could try BRE and Warrington too.  They all have certifaction arms and all that kind of stuff.

[Tom Sutton]

The enquiry was from an engineering company who had made a one off, self contained, water mist fire suppression system which had turned out a success and they were considering manufacturing it. Because they had no experience of the fire safety industry they were looking for an independent fire consultant who specialised in fire suppression systems and had practical experience in all aspects to advise them.

I searched on the internet for likely candidates and hoped for a directory of some kind, which incidentally was available in the states but eventually had to go through likely candidates one by one. I also opened this thread and eventually found IFC by searching for "independent fire consultant fire suspension systems” and they were the best option.

Finally, based on previous submissions on this thread and the internet search I suggested IFC, BRE and Warrington Fire. I also made it clear caveat emptor applies but I believe this was unnecessary for an experience business, a case of teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.