As a requirement of the FIRAS Schemes, certificated companies are required to employ, on a permanent or contract basis, competent Supervisors and Technicians (Operators) whose technical and practical competence is assessed by FIRAS Inspectors in the trade disciplines for which certification scope is held. A register of competent employees is maintained for each certificated company, which is regularly reviewed to ensure that the company maintains a competent workforce whose abilities remain current with the workscope the company provides.

Once certificated, all FIRAS Registered Installer Companies are subject to ongoing random inspection of their installation work on ongoing contracts along with an annual audit of their office systems by FIRAS Inspectors to ensure that compliance with FIRAS Scheme Requirements is maintained.

FIRAS are a voluntary, third party certification for installation contractors of both passive and active fire protection systems, operated by Warrington Certification, and accredited by UKAS to EN45011.

FIRAS certification started in 1994 and has been instrumental in improving standards of installation of fire protection products/systems to the benefit of the construction industry and the clients it serves.

Why choose a FIRAS certificated installation contractor?

FIRAS certificated contractors are required to undergo a 3 stage assessment process. Only when the applicant contractor has satisfied all of the following criteria is certification granted:

• Assessment of office management systems.

• Assessment of workmanship of site for all trade disciplines for which certification is sought.

• Competence assessment of supervisory and installation employees.

If the job is not installed to Firas standards by the sub contractor (MGN Fire Protection), then FIRAS cannot issue certification until the works are up to the above criteria.

FIRAS certification is awarded to the contracting company not the staff. Should a contractor wish to increase their scope of certification, a separate application must be made to attain the additional certification.

All FIRAS site inspectors have technical and practical knowledge and experience in fire protection.

FIRAS certificated contractors are subject to an annual audit of their offices and ongoing, random surveillance site inspections where competence and workmanship are assessed.

FIRAS inspectors conduct additional inspections of the work carried out by the certificated contractor on request to satisfy client’s needs.

We at present can offer penetration sealing services – techniques that will minimise the effect a fire has on the fabric of a building.

This must look at dividing a building into compartments that can be closed to stop the spread of fire – this is known as compartmentation. Confining a fire to its point of origin is the key objective of any fire safety measure..

Compartments with fire-separating elements, on the other hand, can confine a fire to its area of origin so it is essential to maintain integrity where services breach fire resting walls in such areas as:-

• multi-service openings through walls and floors

• blank service openings through walls and floors

• combustible pipes (plastics)

• cavity barriers

• construction joints

• any imperfection of fit to a fire-rated building element

Proprietary penetration seal/service opening fire protection systems include boards, batts, mortars, sealants, collars, wraps, pillows, curtains and linear joints. Penetration seal systems are available for up to 4 hours integrity and, in some cases, insulation against a cellulosic fire, in accordance with national and European standards. Products are also available to protect against hydrocarbon fires.

•Source FIRAS / EAPFP

The post We are FIRAS registered appeared first on Broadsword Group.

It has been hard work to complete, and we will still have to undertake rigorous random inspections. We can now enter the FIRAS Register of Certificated Installer Companies!

FIRAS is a third party certification scheme that verifies the competence of a contractor company to design fire protection systems. As a participant in the scheme the company has to employ appropriately skilled design, supervision and operational staff who have been assessed. FIRAS companies may issue a FIRAS endorsed certificate conformity verifying completion of works where upon an installation certificate may be issued.

Many customers know little about how fire threatens their staff or business or what their legal obligations are. Once Broadsword become certificated we can prove our competence and therefore differentiate from the competition. This means that we can generate new customers and business to companies who see fire risk as an important element of their construction.

FIRAS certified contractors are required to undergo a 3 stage assessment process. Once all the criteria are satisfied certification will be granted.

The 3 stages are as follows:

• Assessment of office management systems
• Assessment of workmanship of the site for all trade disciplines for which certification is sought.
• Competence assessment of supervisory and installation employees.

The post Broadsword FIRAS accreditation complete appeared first on Broadsword Group.

FIRAS is a third party certification scheme that verifies the competence of a contractor company to design fire protection systems. As a participant in the scheme the company has to employ appropriately skilled design, supervision and operational staff who have been assessed. FIRAS companies may issue a FIRAS endorsed certificate conformity verifying completion of works where upon an installation certificate may be issued.

Many customers know little about how fire threatens their staff or business or what their legal obligations are. Once Broadsword become certificated we can prove our competence and therefore differentiate from the competition. This means that we can generate new customers and business to companies who see fire risk as an important element of their construction.

FIRAS certified contractors are required to undergo a 3 stage assessment process. Once all the criteria are satisfied certification will be granted. The 3 stages are as follows:

Assessment of office management systems
Assessment of workmanship of the site for all trade disciplines for which certification is sought.
Competence assessment of supervisory and installation employees.

We are in the process of following these criteria so that we can become certified as soon as possible. We will keep you updated on our progress!

The post Broadsword to become FIRAS accredited appeared first on Broadsword Group.