ASFP warn on installer self-certification schemes

Association for Specialist Fire Protection warns member companies who have been asked for monies in conjunction with installer self-certification schemes.

Some of its member companies have recently been approached and asked for monies in conjunction with installer self-certification schemes, reports the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).

There has also been press and internet publicity concerning such installation schemes, in particular with regard to the application of passive fire protection systems such as pipe collars, penetrations seals and intumescent coatings for steel, says the Association.

Under a self certification scheme, an installer (or one of his personnel) issues a 'Certificate of Conformity' (CoC) that states that the work has been carried out in the appropriate manner.

But such CoCs are worthless, says the ASFP, because they do not carry any independent verification of the work.

Government backed self certification schemes do exist for other industries, but currently there are no such schemes for passive fire protection in the UK, reports the Association.

If you are offered the services of one, or invited to join one, you should ask if it has the 'endorsement' of Government - for England and Wales, which would come from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

If the scheme does not have this endorsement you should ask why not, since Building Control or the Approved Inspector on a job is likely to ask you this question and will want to know why the scheme hasn't been placed before Government for scrutiny.

So, in the event of no endorsement from Government, the ASFP recommends that you keep your money in your wallet and not to waste it on such schemes.

The ASFP believes that all passive fire protection work should be carried out by third party accredited installers.

The Association considers this to be best practise and that the construction industry should be striving to ensure the highest level of fire safety of the UK's buildings.

All ASFP installer members are third party accredited, or are currently working towards, third party accreditation.

Third party accreditation schemes involve a combination of site inspections, quality management system audits, plus the assessment of the competence of the workforce.

Such schemes ensure that passive fire protection installations have been conducted by knowledgeable contractors to the appropriate standards.

These schemes offer a meaningful certificate of conformity that is backed by a third party (the scheme organiser) and this will give confidence to the client that the passive fire protection in his or her building has been installed properly.

Given the increased responsibilities of the 'Responsible Person' under the recently introduced Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, it would seem sensible, says the ASFP, for clients to insist upon the use of third party accredited installers for the passive fire protection in their buildings.

For more information contact the ASFP.

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