Technical

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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 The application of Regulation 422.2.1 of BS 7671 56 What constitutes an escape route? 60 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.

For fi re detection and fi re alarm systems in non-domestic premises the appropriate British Standard is BS 5839-1: 2013 Fire detection and fi re alarm systems for buildings – Part 1: Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises, whilst for fi re detection and fi re alarm systems installed in domestic premises the appropriate standard is BS 5839-6: 2013 Fire detection and fi re alarm systems for buildings – Part 6: Code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fi re alarm systems in domestic premises.

The general requirements of BS 7671 apply to the installation of the wiring of the fi re detection and fi re 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.

Certifi cation

As part of its comprehensive portfolio of certifi cates, NICEIC has produced a series of BS 5839 compliant certifi cates intended to assist electrical contractors involved with the design, installation and maintenance of fi re detection and fi re alarm systems. These certifi cates 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 certifi cate are based upon the model certifi cates contained in BS 5839 (Part 1 or 6 as appropriate): 1. The fi re detection and alarm system design certifi cate 2. The fi re detection and alarm system installation certifi cate 3. The fi re detection and alarm system commissioning certifi cate 4. The fi re detection and alarm system acceptance certifi cate 5. The fi re detection and alarm system verifi cation certifi cate 6. The fi re detection and alarm system inspection and servicing report 7. The fi re detection and alarm system modifi cation certifi cate 8. The certifi cate of design, installation and commissioning of a fi re 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 fi re detection and fi re alarm system conform to the requirements of BS 7671 and thus the electrical installation associated with the fi re detection and fi re alarm system should be certifi ed using an appropriate Electrical Installation Certifi cate or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certifi cate.

Depending upon the nature and use of the building, the process from design to acceptance of a new fi re detection and fi re alarm system in non-domestic premises, as described in BS 5839-1, can include design, installation, commissioning, acceptance and verifi cation. Fig 1 provides a pictorial representation of the NICEIC certifi cates 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 certifi cates are colour-coded. Certifi cates for use by NICEIC Approved Contractors or Registered

Fig 1 Documentation involved in the certification of a new fire

detection and alarm system in non-domestic premises

Installers for the installation or a modifi cation of a fi re detection and fi re alarm system have red print and headers. Certifi cates for use by electrical contractors not enrolled or registered with NICEIC or for use by organisations carrying out activities other than electrical installation work (for example design or verifi cation) have green print and headers.

Both paper and electronic versions of the NICEIC certifi cate for certifying activities associated with fi re detection and fi re alarm systems can be purchased from the NICEIC online shop niceicdirect.com.

Details of a range of courses relating to fi re alarm and detection systems can be found by following the link to www.niceic.com/contractors/trainingcourses/fi re alarm and emergency lighting.

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