| The scheme is designed to help companies obtain BAFE accreditation |
The FIA's 'Route to Certification' scheme is being officially launched in 2010 following a successful trial in 2009.
Companies involved in the manufacture, supply or maintenance of portable fire extinguishers can receive assistance in securing membership of theFire Industry Association (FIA) and, in doing so, gain ISO 9001 registration and third party certification for their technicians.
This scheme is designed for those companies who want to pursue the quality route but are not sure of how to go about it.
As part of the FIA's commitment to raising standards in fire safety, all FIA members have to be registered to BS EN ISO 9001 (or equivalent). In addition, companies engaged in the contract maintenance of portable fire extinguishers must obtain approval under the BAFE SP101/ST104 scheme.
The scheme is designed to help companies obtain BAFE accreditation while also being a part of the FIA's fast growing membership. Companies taking up the scheme will receive:
- Full membership of the FIA for 12 months
- BAFEmembership once the company has full certification
- Professional help in developing a quality policy manual which relates to the company's business operations
- An UKAS accredited certification body who will fully audit the company to become a certified ISO 9001 registered company
- The main benefits of this scheme are that overall costs to the company are reduced - one fixed cost spread over 12 months - while also speeding up the completion process considerably compared with arranging it independently.
FIA Sales Manager, Michael Gregg, comments, "We know that some of our smaller member companies required assistance in meeting our membership criteria so we trialed the new scheme last year. Now that we have seen companies achieving success under the scheme, and often in less time than they and we had originally anticipated, we are rolling it out to all members and prospective members.
"We know from research that we have undertaken and from comments made by specifiers and end users that the FIA logo carries considerable weight when considering who to appoint for portable extinguisher services. Not surprisingly therefore, companies are seeking to join the FIA and it is up to us to ensure that we provide the means for them to able to do so while also raising the bar in terms of the general quality of portable extinguisher provision in the UK."