FRACS Technical Day 13 September MK Dons Stadium

[kurnal]

Heres a date for your diary- the next FRACS technical day will be on 13 September at the MK Dons Stadium. So far 3 speakers  are confirmed, 'fire safety management standards' 'Passive protection and life safety' plus 'building control and built in fire safety' .

They also hope to have speakers on web based training, one on the competence standard and one on strategies for dealing with the FRS, plus a couple more. It should prove to be a good day and like the last event, it is intended to focus the day on the requirements of the working fire risk assessor.

[ahmedh]

Is there a link for booking/costs?

ta

[kurnal]

Its early days yet ahmedh but I thought it worth giving advance notice- keep an eye on the FRACS website. More news when available.

[Eli]

Information should be out Monday, as they are just waiting for some speakers to confirm before they release some details; costs etc. Apparently the Dons are playing at home that evening and attendees can buy a dinner and match ticket package as an added extra.

“Come on you ……..?  Anyone know what colour they play in? 

[Eli]

Further information can be obtained from

http://www.warringtoncertification.com/fracs.html

It looks good value at £65 with some good topics too. I believe they are still waiting for a couple more speakers; which will make it a packed day.

[kurnal]

I wish all CPD providers would take a look over their shoulder at what their peers are doing in order to give us punters good value and benefit though. For example the FIA put on Nialls presentation twice last year and I believe the IFSM and others have also covered it. Even though it is excellent many of us tour most CPD days and we would benefit from further development, taking passive safety to a higher level. Similarly the FIA are putting on two full day sessions (free of charge) on water mist in October which I have signed up for. So a short session on the FRACS day is unlikely to be attractive to those who plan to attend the full day FIA events.
Its not the cost of attending the event that bothers me, its the consequences of taking person days out of work, that means we need full value from each event. Last years FRACS day was great though.

Heres a few ideas that I think would be relevant but not currently covered:

The new FM Global data sheets on sprinkler systems- nobody seems to have got to the bottom of these or offering any training updates.
A few more ideas
Lightning protection - essentials
Equality Act
Use of lifts in a strategy for evacuation of buildings
BS 5266 part 10
Environmental implications - fire safety training and discharge of extinguishers
Emergency Voice Communication systems
Voice alarms
Overview of fire engineering modelling applications- zone models, CFD and current developments
Recent legal cases- fire alarm engineers and prosecutions- trends and case histories with details, how to stay out of jail
Oxygen reduction systems and gaseous suppression systems.
New developments in fire detection and their applications- VSD, OSID.

Theres a few for starters.

You know it strikes me that although there is now a competency standard for fire risk assessors, and CPD days are great for giving a summary overview of current issues theres  a dearth of development training available to help us to develop real competence in the developing technologies, take the FM Global sprinkler documents issued this year as an example. A formal course on the changes would be of real benefit but nobody seems to be offering this. I ring red book companies with questions and nobody seems to know there either.
 

[Eli]

Kurnal you make some good points about CPD days covering similar topics. I think that there is always going to be some doubling up, it’s inevitable. So I guess it’s down to the attendees to make a choice and see what they could potentially get out of the day. It may be worth checking with WCL and see what other speakers are on the way.

I know that the FRACS day content is dictated by the certificated guys, they are asked what they want and then WCL source the speakers. The only other criterion is industry standards and guidance which have been released since the last CPD day. They open the day up to others as the topics should be of interest. The Equalities act was covered in the last event I believe. I also think that the web based training presenter has capabilities for risk assessor training and will be speaking about that too. I know he has some very advanced training modules and I am sure he will want suggestions from those attending for others.

Hope this helps Kurnal

[kurnal]

FRACS Technical Day 2011 MK Dons Stadium Milton Keynes
13th September 2011 (9 am to 4 pm)
Heres the final content for the day, looks very worthwhile. further info and bookings here: http://www.warringtoncertification.com/fracs.html
9 am to 9 30 am    Delegate registration  Tea and Coffee
9 30 am to 9 35 am Welcome and Introduction; Simon Ince
Manager of personnel certification schemes, Warrington Certification Ltd

9 35 am to 9 50 am Chairman’s Address: Chris Hughes
Manager of Warrington Certification Ltd
‘Fire Safety in the UK, a certification body perspective’
            
9 50 am to 10 20 am Andrew Walker:
Prosecutions and Enforcement Policy Manager
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
‘The new regulators guidance document; implications for enforcement of the Fire Safety Order’.

10.20 am to 10 50 am Jacob Rickett;   Solicitor, Browne Jacobson LLP
‘The first successful prosecution of a fire risk assessor using article 5(3); legal implications for the fire risk profession’

10 50 am to 11 15 am    Ian Woodhouse:Certification Process Manager
Warrington Certification Limited
‘Water mist systems’, test evidence and suitability for application; third party approval developments.

11 15 am to 11 30 am Break Tea and Coffee

11 30 am to 12 05 pm Niall Rowan Technical Officer
Association for Specialist Fire Protection
‘Structural fire protection and compartment wall penetrations’ practical guidance on inspection.

12 05 pm to 12 35 pm Paud Moriarty    Local Authority Building Control, Birmingham
‘Building control and fire safety systems’;
Regulation 38 information.

12 35 pm to 1 15 pm Lunch


1 15 pm to 1 45 pm Ben Bradford
Director BB7 Fire Safety Engineering
PAS 7 – Strategic Fire Risk Management
‘Guidance and a recommended methodology for assessment and audit of organisational Fire Risk Management systems, systems requirements and the implementation of strategy’.

            
1 45 pm to 2 25 pm David Ware
Managing Director   Fire Risk Consultancy Ltd
‘Online training – The Way Forward’; advanced CPD training for fire risk assessors and practical solutions to cut backs in staff training budgets’

2. 25 pm to 2 40 pm Break    Tea and Coffee

2 40 pm to 3 20 pm John Pagan General Manager, Fire Engineering (Europe)
Exova Warringtonfire
‘Smoke extraction systems’; code compliance or engineered solutions, practical issues for assessors to consider.

3 20 pm to 3 50 pm  Phil Martin Technical Manager Fire Industry Association,
‘Fire detection and alarm categories and specification’

3 50 pm to 4 pm    Summary and Close; Chris Hughes

[Eli]

The day should be a good one with some excellent topics including a first look at the proposed new PAS 7 and a detailed legal examination of the prosecution and imprisonment of the fire risk assessor in Nottingham. 

Sadly the evening Football match has been cancelled!

[Golden]

Anybody else going? Its my first training day since leaving the fire service - do the same 'rules' apply?

        

[John]

I will be there