Plans Inspections (Building Regulations submissions)
It is a little known fact that compliance with the Building Regulations will not in itself ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This can be extremely frustrating but more importantly costly to you when you find out after a new build or major alterations that the local authority fire officer is asking for additional fire safety provisions.
Firesafe Solutions (UK) Ltd offer a unique ‘pre-project design and planning’ service where their qualified consultants will assess plans and designs to ensure that they not only comply with all the relevant legislation but that it has been done in the most cost effective way.
Of course you could rely on the local authority fire officer or building control officer to tell you this when your plans go for Building Regulations submission. But the simple truth is, they will not tell you about ‘over provision’ and in most cases fire officers comments will merely state ‘please note the premises is subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and a suitable fire risk assessment will be required'.
Once provided with the plans our consultants will assess them taking into account the proposed use and legislation and prepare a detailed written report. Frequently our consultants will report back to clients that their designs show an over provision of fire detection or signage so saving the client money.
Fire Alarm & Emergency Lighting installations
(plans inspections)
If you are responsible for programming a new installation of a fire alarm or emergency lighting system in your premises you will be investing a large sum of money. We frequently see that the responsibility for the design is left to the installer. Clearly, there could be a conflict of interest here and our existing clients have seen the cost savings of having us design the system for their installer.
The other issue we frequently come across is that installers will provide the client with a system which is rigidly in line with the British Standard. This is not how it should be used. The British Standards are “guidance” documents but many people are frightened to vary from them because they do not have the background fire safety knowledge to allow them to. This will result in an over provision of equipment.
Firesafe Solutions (UK) Ltd are professional fire consultants so we know when and where it is safe to move away from the British Standard. Employing Firesafe Solutions (UK) Ltd to review installation plans will guarantee you get the installation that is appropriate to your premises and the way they are being used.
