BAFE And NAPIT Announce Domestic Fire Detection And Fire Alarm Competency Scheme - BAFE DS301 Scheme

Following an extensive development process over two years in the making, the BAFE Fire Safety Register and NAPIT are proud to announce a new Scheme to assess the competency of organizations, who provide design, installation, commissioning and maintenance services for BS 5839-6 Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises.

BAFE DS301 Scheme

BAFE DS301 (For the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Grade D Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Domestic Premises) supports appropriate British Standards and best working practice, most notably the latest iteration of BS 5839-6 (Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises).

The BAFE DS301 Scheme will also focus scrutiny on two key personnel roles

Acknowledging progress of recognizing both organizational and individual competency, following the Grenfell Tower fire, the BAFE DS301 Scheme will also focus scrutiny on two key personnel roles required for an organization to become Third Party Certificated/BAFE Registered for Grade D systems.

Principal Duty Holder and Qualified Supervisor roles

These are a Principal Duty Holder (the person appointed by the organization to have responsibility for the maintenance of the overall standard and safety of the fire detection and fire alarm system work) and a Qualified Supervisor (a Competent Person who meets the requirements of the BAFE DS301 Scheme and with specific responsibility on a day-to-day basis for the safety, technical standard and quality of the fire detection and fire alarm system work).

A key requirement for the Qualified Supervisor will be to ensure that all operatives undertaking fire detection and fire alarm work for the organization are competent.

Upholding quality and competency of Service Providers

Chris Auger, the Director of Schemes at BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment), comments “The roles of Principal Duty Holder and Qualified Supervisor for the BAFE DS301 Scheme is a crucial element to upholding quality and competency of those delivering these services.”

He adds, “Dame Judith Hackitt and subsequent Working Groups have raised the topic of both organizational and individual responsibility, which has been incorporated into the BAFE DS301 Scheme organization competency criteria, as a direct result. With this, there will be a transparent chain of responsibility for such systems aiding the desired ‘golden thread’ of key information. It was a core component in the development of the Scheme.”

BAFE DS301 Scheme with NAPIT

We are delighted to officially announce the BAFE DS301 Scheme with NAPIT, as the first Licensed Certification Body"

Chris Auger continues, “We are delighted to officially announce the BAFE DS301 Scheme with NAPIT, as the first Licensed Certification Body, who will be delivering assessment for those registered within this scope for the electro technical sector.”

Justin Maltby-Smith, NAPIT Technical Scheme Development Manager, said “NAPIT are delighted to be leading the way with the development of the new DS301 Scheme with BAFE. The DS301 Scheme will help to raise standards within the domestic electrical sector for organizations, which carry out design, installation, commissioning and maintenance work on BS 5839-6 Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems.”

BS 5839-6 Scheme fully revised in 2019 and amended in 2020

Justin Maltby-Smith adds, “BS 5839-6 was fully revised in 2019 and amended in 2020, and it is extremely important that work on Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems is performed, in compliance with and to the current British Standard. Achieving this Third Party Certification will demonstrate an organization’s commitment and competence to perform quality and compliant work to keep people safe in their homes.”

The BAFE DS301 Scheme (For the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Grade D Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Domestic Premises) is now available for application/assessment via NAPIT.