BAFE and NAPIT are pleased to announce the first-ever Third-Party Certification and BAFE Registration to the DS301 competency scheme, which has been achieved by CS Electrics based in County Durham.
This competency scheme covers design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance works performed on Grade D domestic fire detection and fire alarm systems.
domestic fire safety
The importance of domestic fire safety was highlighted in 2017 with the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, but this does not only apply to high-rise residential blocks.
Both BAFE and NAPIT strongly believe that all domestic properties should have, as a minimum, a Grade D fire detection and fire alarm system that has been installed by a competent organization.
British Standards and Guidance
Dr. Justin Maltby-Smith, BAFE Group Managing Director, states “Both decision-makers and the public must understand that electricians cannot do everything regarding electrical systems by default."
"There are additional British Standards and guidance that outline heightened competency requirements for particular electrical services, one of which is the safe practice of providing domestic fire alarm systems [i.e. BS 5839-6 Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises].”
fire safety dwelling regulations
“All four constituent countries of the UK have comparable fire safety dwelling regulations and guidance available, and we strongly believe that all dwellings should have systems in place by the relevant recommendations of BS 5839-6."
"This is especially pertinent to the housing sector which should have far greater scrutiny on this matter in the interest of life safety.”
BS 7671
Frank Bertie, Chief Technical Officer for NAPIT, added “While working to BS 7671 [Wiring Regulations] is vital, elevated skills and experience is unequivocally required to perform works for domestic fire safety systems."
"The importance of correctly designed, installed, and commissioned domestic fire detection and fire alarm works can often be overlooked."
Building Regulations
"NAPIT is committed to enhancing standards within the industry. As a UKAS-accredited, Government Certification Body, by providing a scheme that assesses the competence of installers and allows them to demonstrate they have been appropriately certificated to perform this scope of work, we anticipate this will assist in a safer domestic built environment and provide confidence to clients."
"This is of particular importance with regards to new builds where domestic fire alarm systems must be installed in line with the Building Regulations and relevant British Standards.”
BAFE DS301 scheme
Both BAFE and NAPIT congratulate CS Electrics on their achievement and on the way to raising the bar for domestic fire safety system provision. Christopher McTearnen, Owner of CS Electrics, said “I am extremely proud to be the first organization that has received this third-party certification to the BAFE DS301 scheme."
"This will go a long way in demonstrating we are competent to deliver these works and hope this becomes an industry standard to remove any people who claim to be competent without appropriate evidence of this. It’s so important that fire safety work is performed by the right providers to keep people safe.”
