New Kitemark scheme targets fire safety
01 June 2016
British Standards Institution (BSI), a global business standards company and international certification body, has launched a new Kitemark scheme for fire and gas installation in the Middle East in line with the growing focus on personal safety.
The new scheme has been developed to offer organisations involved in the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection, fire alarm, and/or fixed gaseous suppression systems, the opportunity to become third party certified.
A seminar on the scheme, its specific modular requirements and the certification process was held last month (May) and attended by more than 30 organisations and over 70 fire and safety professionals.
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.
The new Kitemark scheme covers the design, installation, commissioning/initial verification and maintenance/servicing of fire detection, fire alarm, and/or fixed gaseous suppression systems.
Commenting on the new scheme, Andy Packam, BSI certification manager who has more than 30 years’ electrical and fire safety experience, says: “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.”
He says 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 organisation’s commitment to fire safety. Having competent and properly trained people in your team, or working with the right subcontractor is especially vital when it comes to workplace and personal safety,” says Packam.
Companies are able to select all the modules or only the modules covered in their scope of work. The scheme can take from one to two months for organisations to achieve certification, this will depend upon the client’s project availability and preparedness.
Formed in 1901, BSI was the world’s first national standards body and a founding member of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). Now over 100 years later, it is globally recognised as the champion of best practice. The company 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. Renowned for its marks of excellence including the consumer recognised BSI Kitemark, BSI’s influence spans multiple sectors including automotive, built environment, food, healthcare and ICT.
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