ESP’s Managing Director, Neil Baldwin, provides a detailed look at the area of commissioning, as outlined in the BS5839 standard documentation.

The process of commissioning involves thorough testing of the installed system to ensure that it operates correctly in accordance with the recommendations of this standard and with the purchasing specification. At completion of commissioning, it also needs to be confirmed that all relevant documentation has been handed over to the user. The organisation responsible for commissioning the system might, or might not, be the same organisation that designed and/or installed the system, but the responsibility for commissioning needs to be clearly defined prior to the start of the installation work.

It is not, in general, the responsibility of the commissioning engineer to verify conformity of the design, or of the installation work, to this part of BS 5839 (i.e., with Section 2 and Section 4 of the standard). In general, the responsibility of the commissioning engineer is to verify that the system operates correctly in the manner designed and that the installation workmanship is generally of an adequate standard. However, in practice, it might be difficult to ensure that the system complies in full with all recommendations of Section 2 until the time of commissioning. For example, commissioning might represent the first (and only) opportunity to determine whether the number and distribution of fire alarm sounders is sufficient to enable compliance with ‘clause 16.2’ in respect of sound pressure levels. Similarly, commissioning presents an opportunity to ensure that structural features of the building, of which the designer might have been unaware, do not compromise the effectiveness of the system as it was originally designed.

Verifying compliance

Accordingly, it is necessary for anyone responsible for commissioning a fire detection and fire alarm system to possess at least a basic knowledge of fire alarm design practices and of the recommendations of Section 2 and Section 4 of the standard. It is also necessary for the commissioning engineer to be provided with the specification for the system. In view of the importance now attached to the avoidance of false alarms, it is also essential that the commissioning engineer is able to verify compliance with, at least, the principles discussed in Section 3 of the standard.

Full fire protection package

As well as offering a comprehensive range of fire protection systems for the professional electrical contractor market, ESP provides its own commissioning service, which ensures that all installed ESP systems operate correctly and are fully compliant with the latest BS5839 regulations. This allows ESP to offer a full fire alarms systems package, with access to a free design service, a vast choice of products and solutions including the latest two-wire systems, the commissioning service, plus technical support from a team of qualified and experienced engineers.

There is much more to commissioning a fire protection system than simply turning it on and setting detector addresses. It involves going through a comprehensive step-by-step checklist to ensure full compliance with the correct British Standard and carrying out a range of tests to ensure reliable and trouble-free operation. ESP’s commissioning service ensures that a qualified engineer will confirm that the system has reached the relevant British Standard, and they will issue a certificate on completion of the project prior to system handover. Dedicated ESP commissioning engineers are located throughout the UK to provide access to this valuable service to a wide-reaching audience.

BAFE accreditation

Further endorsement of ESP’s credentials is the company’s BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) accreditation for its fire design service. BAFE is the independent registration body for Third Party Certified fire safety service providers across the UK, and ESP now appears on the National BAFE Fire Safety Register.

BAFE manages and maintains a Scheme called BAFE SP203-1 which covers Fire Detection and Alarm Systems. This Scheme exists to deliver quality, independent evidence that providers – like ESP – are competent to deliver fire system designs for its fire detection and alarm systems. ESP was only permitted to become BAFE Registered and appear on the national BAFE Fire Safety Register once the company had the appropriate/valid Third-Party Certification. ESP continues to meet the criteria of the relevant BAFE Scheme. This establishes robust evidence of competency requirements that demonstrates the provider’s commitment to quality. It also provides assurances to ESP’s customers that the company will deliver a fire system design that complies with all the relevant British Standards.

Comprehensive competency requirements

The BAFE Scheme is a set of comprehensive competency requirements that have been developed to incorporate the high quality standards and best working practice for services within the fire safety industry. It is a legal requirement for all non-domestic/commercial properties to be equipped with fire detectors and fire alarms. It is also part of these requirements to ensure they are designed, installed and maintained appropriately, and ready to activate in the event of a fire. At ESP we strongly recommend using an appropriate Third Party Certificated provider. This demonstrates that the person or team appointed to be responsible for fire safety in a building has acted with due diligence to source a competent provider for any design, install, commissioning and maintenance works.

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ESP reveals some worrying evidence that not all fire design schemes are up to the standard required to ensure the safety of buildings and their inhabitants.

In the same way that diligence needs to be adhered to when procuring electrical products to ensure their compliance with the latest regulations, it is also essential that projects which require fire protection are also designed, installed and commissioned to the correct standard BS5839.

Substandard

ESP is all too aware of the issue with counterfeit products and products that are uncertified (and potentially unsafe) making their way onto the marketplace. Now, having reviewed completed fire system designs from various sources, it has come to ESP’s attention that not all designs are equal. ESP would like to offer wholesalers and installers some advice on the types of issues to be aware of, after finding substandard work as a result of potentially inexperienced and/or under qualified designers.

ESP has seen:

• Fire system design drawings marked up without sufficient AFD (Automatic Fire Detection) Coverage
• Incorrect products specified
• Fire designs ‘completed’ and quoted within 30 minutes
• Supporting technical documentation and proposals missing

The last two points are ones that are easily identifiable for the wholesaler and installer. Fire designs ‘completed’ in minutes are unlikely to have had the enquiry documentation evaluated correctly. Fire designs should always come with additional technical documentation such as a ‘Fire System Proposal’. This will tell any ‘responsible person’ or installer how their fire alarm system should work and ultimately how it should be installed.

If this is not provided as part of a design, how sure can we be that the design has been executed successfully?

Those who install to a poorly designed system and sign it off, are also liable for any damages or death that may arise from any subsequent fires.

Expert guidance 

Already providing wholesalers and contractors with free fire training programmes, ESP took the decision to further enhance its commitment to helping the sector with a dedicated design service which allows contractors access to a free of charge fire systems design facility.

The service is available to any size of business, from local electricians to national contracting companies. The aim is to provide expertise in choosing the right products and solutions to create a scheme that meets all the requirements and objectives of the project in question, and to ensure that it is compliant with all the relevant regulations and standards.

From an initial enquiry to discuss the requirements, the next stage will be one of information and measurements gathering. For larger and more complex design schemes, a visit to site will be carried out for a detailed survey. With all the relevant information gathered, including drawings and specifications, a suitable design proposal for an appropriate fire system will be created and supplied to the client along with a quotation.

Two-way interaction between customer and the ESP design team throughout the process will be of paramount importance to ensure the design scheme meets all the necessary requirements.

Key points

ESP is welcoming enquiries from contractors, as well as wholesalers who supply to the professional electrical contractor market, and a dedicated email address has been set up for enquiries: design@espuk.com.

ESP has produced a handy, pocket-size guide to highlight the key points of the latest version of BS5389 Part 1: 2017. This standard deals with the code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises. ESP’s guide is aimed at those designers and installers who need simple guidance to help with the selection, spacing and location of fire devices.

The 24-page colour booklet is highly visual and very straightforward to follow. It covers the different categories of fire alarm and fire detection systems, plus the coverage and positioning for smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual call points, visual indication devices (VIDs) such as strobes, and visual alarm devices (VADs).

Details of ESP’s three fire alarm systems are also briefly explained – 2-Wire, Addressable and Conventional fire alarm systems – including the requisite cabling for each. A reminder of ESP’s free design and fire systems commissioning services is also featured.

The guide can be downloaded from the ESP website – www.espuk.com.

It can also be accessed via the Scolmore Group app, under the ESP Catalogues section here

The post Playing with fire – ESP’s guide to fire alarm systems design appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.