NAPIT - Experts & Thought Leaders

An update to the guidance issued by the Welsh Government about The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022, has been published to permit the use of an Electrical Installation Certificate in lieu of an Electrical Installation Condition Report, when relating to a wholly newly built dwelling. The Renting Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) (Wales) Regulations 2022 come into effect on 1st December 2022 for all new social and private rented tenancies and a year later for existing tenancies in Wales. The Regulations place new legal requirements on landlords in relation to electrical safety checks, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Electrical service installation Commenting on the update, Frank Bertie, Chief Technical Officer at NAPIT said: "It’s good to see the Welsh Government listening to feedback from the industry who called for an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) to be accepted to demonstrate the safety of an electrical installation in new build properties.” Frank Bertie adds, “An EIC is only provided where the electrical service installation on completion of the inspection and testing meets the electrical safety standard and therefore confirms the installation is compliant and safe. It’s vital that landlords are using registered, competent and qualified electrical installers and inspectors and testers to undertake electrical work in homes to provide confidence that work is being carried out to the latest standards."

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. 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 which has been installed by a competent organization. Fire alarm systems Dr Justin Maltby-Smith, BAFE Group Managing Director, states "It is imperative that both decision makers and the public understand that electricians cannot do everything regarding electrical systems by default. There are additional British Standards and guidance that outlines 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)." "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 in accordance with 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." Domestic fire alarm systems NAPIT are committed to enhancing standards within the industry" Frank Bertie, Chief Technical Officer for NAPIT, added “Whilst 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.” Frank Bertie adds, “NAPIT are committed to enhancing standards within the industry. As a UKAS accredited, Government authorized Certification Body, by providing a scheme which 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." Third-party certification Both BAFE and NAPIT congratulate CS Electrics on their achievement and on leading the way to raising the bar for domestic fire safety system provision. Christopher McTearnen, Owner of CS Electrics, said added "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.” BAFE and NAPIT highlighted disturbing failure rates and absence of domestic smoke alarms in their infographic published earlier this year.

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.”