BSI puts fire safety first with new Kitemark™ scheme for Fire Alarm Installations

Sunday 15 May 2016

Dubai - MENA Herald: BSI, the world-leading business standards company and respected international certification body, has held an informative launch event for a new Kitemark™ scheme, developed to offer organisations involved with the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection, fire alarm, and/or fixed gaseous suppression systems, the opportunity to become third party certified.

The event, which took place last week, was led by Andy Packam, BSI Certification Manager, who has over 30 years’ electrical and fire safety experience. His presentation gave an overview of the scheme, its specific modular requirements and the certification process. The scheme covers the design, installation, commissioning/initial verification and maintenance/servicing of fire detection, fire alarm, and/or fixed gaseous suppression systems. Companies are able to select all the modules or only the modules covered in their scope of work. The scheme can take from 1 to 2 months for organizations to achieve certification, this will depend upon the client’s project availability and their preparedness.

In the second session Bob Wells, Global Head of Personal Safety for BSI, delivered an insightful session on product certification opportunities under the BSI banner. Over 70 fire and safety professionals signed up to attend the event.

As well as technical insight, the event was also designed to be a platform for peer networking with attendees ranging from director and general manager level to onsite installers, maintenance technicians and designers.

“This Fire Alarm Installer Scheme has been running in the UK for eight years and has been adapted by BSI to specifically suit the requirements of the Middle East market. Certification possibilities include NFPA 72 – National Fire Alarm and Signalling Code, NFPA 2001 – Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems, NFPA 12 – Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems, BS 5389-1 – Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings (non-domestic) and BS EN 15004-1 - Fixed fire fighting systems, Gas Extinguishing Systems, Design, Installation and Maintenance; implementing this scheme clearly demonstrates an organizations commitment to fire safety. Having competent and properly trained people in your team, or working with the right sub-contractor is especially vital when it comes to workplace and personal safety,” said Packam.
Formed in 1901, BSI was the world’s first National Standards Body and, over 100 years later is globally recognized as the champion of best practice. BSI is also responsible for originating many of the world’s most commonly used management systems standards and publishes over 2,800 standards annually.

BSI works with over 80,000 clients in 182 countries worldwide to help them adopt and cultivate the habits of best practice. Clients are trained and provided with practical guidance for implementation alongside a suite of compliance tools.

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