Ask the experts/Technical
Fully charged 42 Overview of fire alarm certificates available from NICEIC 45 Certification of electrical installations not exceeding 100A 48 The firefighter’s switch 51 Reducing earth resistance for rod-type electrodes
54 56 60
The application of Regulation 422.2.1 of BS 7671 What constitutes an escape route? Snags and solutions: now updated to Amendment No 3 of BS 7671 and where appropriate BS 5266 and BS 5839
Overview of the fire alarm certificates available from NICEIC It has long been recognised that one means of reducing the risks associated with fire is to install a suitable fire detection and fire alarm system. To ensure that items of fire safety equipment, including fire detection and fire alarm systems, are of an appropriate standard and that they function correctly, they should be selected, installed, commissioned and maintained in accordance with the recommendations of the appropriate British Standard.
F
or fire detection and fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises the appropriate British Standard is BS 5839-1: 2013 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises, whilst for fire detection and fire alarm systems installed in domestic premises the appropriate standard is BS 5839-6: 2013 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings – Part 6: Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire alarm systems in domestic premises. The general requirements of BS 7671 apply to the installation of the wiring of the fire detection and fire alarm systems, and the recommendations of BS 5839 may modify or amend these requirements. Indeed, for both domestic and non-domestic premises BS 5839 recommends that the electrical installation forming part of the alarm system should comply with BS 7671. Certification As part of its comprehensive portfolio of certificates, NICEIC has produced a series of BS 5839 compliant certificates intended to assist 42
electrical contractors involved with the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems. These certificates enable the contractor to demonstrate that they have complied with the recommendations contained in BS 5839 (Part 1 or 6 as appropriate). The following NICEIC certificate are based upon the model certificates contained in BS 5839 (Part 1 or 6 as appropriate): 1. The fire detection and alarm system design certificate 2. The fire detection and alarm system installation certificate 3. The fire detection and alarm system commissioning certificate 4. The fire detection and alarm system acceptance certificate 5. The fire detection and alarm system verification certificate 6. The fire detection and alarm system inspection and servicing report 7. The fire detection and alarm system modification certificate 8. The certificate of design, installation and commissioning of a fire detection and alarm system of Grade B, C, D, E or F in domestic premises. Parts 1 and 6 of BS 5839 both recommend that the installation practices and workmanship of the electrical installation associated with the fire detection and fire alarm system conform to the requirements of BS 7671 and thus the electrical installation associated with the fire detection and fire alarm system should be certified using an appropriate Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate. Depending upon the nature and use of the building, the process from design to acceptance of a new fire detection and fire alarm system in non-domestic premises, as described in BS 5839-1, can include design, installation, commissioning, acceptance and verification. Fig 1 provides a pictorial representation of the NICEIC certificates that can be used to certify compliance with the requirements of BS 5839-1 at each stage of the process. To indicate the status of the user, NICEIC certificates are colour-coded. Certificates for use by NICEIC Approved Contractors or Registered
Winter 2015-2016 Connections
42-61 technical pages.final.indd 42
18/01/2016 10:03
