presentation on firas sprinkler certification third party... · 2015. 10. 27. · firas...

Warrington Certification Ltd

Presentation On FIRAS Presentation On FIRAS Sprinkler CertificationSprinkler Certification

on behalf of

Welsh Health EstatesWelsh Health Estates

Ian Woodhouse & Ray Hammond

23rd September 2009


Warrington Certification Ltd.Warrington Certification Ltd.

• Company limited by guarantee

• Part of Warringtonfire division of Exova Group

• All services are UKAS accredited

• Provides certification services in fire protection in partnership with industry.


CERTIFIREScheme

(voluntary)

Certificationof Conformity(regulatory)

ProductCertification

ISO 9000Certification

ETAs(CPD)

MarineApprovals

(MED)

EuropeanApprovals

InspectionServices

FIRAS(passive)

FIRAS(active)

InstallerCertification

Warringtonfire Certification



Services

• Product certification– Regulatory (CE Marking)– Voluntary

• Installer certification– Voluntary

• Site inspection• Quality Management

systems to ISO 9001



CERTIFIRE CERTIFIRE Product CertificationProduct Certification

• Independent third party product conformity certification

• Quality mark (which CE Marking is not)• Technical requirements established with

industry through formal liaison panels• Voluntary.


Benefits of CERTIFIREBenefits of CERTIFIRE

• Independent evaluation of the product or system

• Assurance of ongoing, consistent quality• Designed to ensure products used correctly

and hence provide requisite life safety• Confidence for the specifier, client and

enforcer• Client gets what he pays for • Added value for the manufacturer.


FIRAS FIRAS Installer CertificationInstaller Certification

Independent third party scheme for the certification of installers of fire protection products and systems


• The FIRAS Scheme was initiated 14 years ago with the support of the GGF for installers of fire rated glazing systems.

• Has since developed with support of ASFP, BWF, DSMA (now the DHF), HVCA, FSA & BAFSA to provide certification of installers in;

Background to FIRAS SchemeBackground to FIRAS Scheme


- Structural Steel Protection & Compartmentation

- Timber Fire Doors

- Steel Fire Doors

- Duct work systems

- Residential & Domestic Sprinklers

- Commercial Sprinklers

- (in addition to installation of Fire Rated Glazing Systems)

Background to FIRAS SchemeBackground to FIRAS Scheme


FIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMESFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMESFor Contractors Installing

Commercial and Industrial Sprinkler Systems

or

Residential and Domestic Sprinkler Systems


Commercial and Industrial Sprinkler SystemsFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMEFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEME

• Technically equivalent alternative to LPS 1048 (same technical standards – BS EN 12845 including technical bulletins)

• Available to any bona fide Company

• Allows for certification of new companies with demonstrable experience in the fire sprinkler industry


Residential and Domestic Sprinkler SystemsFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMEFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEME

• Firas provided the first certification scheme in UK for this scope of work in 2004.

• Technically equivalent alternative to the recently launched LPS 1301 scheme (same technical standards – BS 9251)


BASIC CONCEPTS

FIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMEFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEME

There are 2 categories of Contractor:

APPROVED – entry level.

CERTIFICATED – working within a defined scope of activity.

Commercial and Industrial Sprinkler Systems


• PC- pre-calculated contracts WITHOUT water supply

• PCW – pre-calculated contracts WITH water supplies

• FHC – fully hydraulically calculated contracts WITH water supplies.

Defined Scope of Activity

FIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMEFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMECommercial and Industrial Sprinkler Systems


Comparison with the LPS 1048 SchemesFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEMEFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEME


Commercial and Industrial Sprinkler SystemsFIRAS CERTIFICATION SCHEME

Competence Requirements

Competence of Personnel can be demonstrated by either……….

• Formal training and qualification by examination

• Technical interview and competency assessment

To remain current with industry development, on going refresher training is undertaken (as may be appropriate)


Before Application The Contractor:

• Must have completed 4 Contracts within previous 12 month period (for defined scope applied for)

• Must directly employ minimum of one Qualified Designer


Approved Contractor Status


Before Application The Contractor:

• Must operate an in-house Quality System (Need not be ISO 9001:2008 certificated at time of application)

• Must be committed to achieving ISO 9001:2008 certification 12 months on from date of approval


Approved Contractor Status



Approved Contractor StatusSubject to successfully completing the assessment process the Contractor will be Approved subject to..

• ALL CONTRACTS for the NEXT 24 MONTHS PERIOD being verified, “over-stamped” and inspected by FIRAS.

• NO Certificate of Conformity will be able to be issued against a completed contract without FIRAS having first verified the design and the installation works.



Then Subject to………………

• Satisfactory assessed performance during the 24 month approved period

• Satisfactory completion of minimum number of contracts, (identified in scheme requirements)

• Successful certification of QMS to ISO 9001:2008• Having employed a second qualified designer and

appointed one as a authorised signatory for self checking of designs



Are awarded with

FULL CERTIFICATED STATUSFULL CERTIFICATED STATUSfor the defined scope

A certificated contractor will be allowed to issue a Certificate of Conformity for completed contracts without FIRAS having first verified the installation subject to on going surveillance visits……….



Certificated Contractors

• They submit for review their certification documentation issued by existing scheme provider for previous 2 year period

• Shall directly employ minimum of 2 qualified designers

• They hold current ISO 9001:2008 certification

Contractors who are currently certificated by an equivalent scheme, shall also be considered for direct entry into their appropriate scope providing…



Certificated ContractorsWhichever route a contractor has been awarded Certificated status, they shall be subject to on going surveillance in the form of………….

• A surveillance audit being carried out every 6 months as a minimum

• Continual assessment of design competency for the scope awarded



Certificated ContractorsIf a certificated contractor undertakes work out side of the scope awarded, the requirements for approval status are applied in full.

For example, a Certificated contractor to PCW status wishing to expand their scope to FHC will be allowed subject to the FHC contract undertaking full design verification, “over stamping” of drawings and site inspection, before a Certificate of Conformity can be raised.


All equipment used must be third party approved and listed to an appropriate standard recognised by FIRAS.For example……

LPCB, VdS, FM, UL, CNPP etc

Personnel must be trained in the correct use and installation of stated equipment.


Equipment


• Contractors shall demonstrate a capability to service and maintain systems for their defined scope

• Contractors shall offer this service to their clients

• Contractors shall provide 24 hour emergency service.


Maintenance


• All documentation is completed on-line through a secure link

• Website - www.warringtonfire.net

• Application – www.firas-database.co.uk

• Up to date Listing on website of “Approved and Certificated Installers” . A hard copy publication, (updated annually), is also available.


Documentation


• Installers are required to log all contracts on-line via a secure link. This information can only be accessed by that particular contractor or by authorised FIRAS personnel.

• The system automatically generates a URN for each and every entry on the contract log.

• The information given is used to automatically generate the contracts Certificate of Conformity.


Documentation


• A Certificate cannot be created without a URN.

• An Approved contractor cannot download or print a certificate until the contract has been fully assessed by FIRAS and released for issue.

• A certificated contractor can immediately down load and issue a certificate on practical completion for inclusion with a systems final documentation.


Documentation


The Scheme defines 2 types of “certificate”

Certificate of Conformityor an

Installation report


Certificates


Certificates of Conformity are only issued where any variations to the installation standard are minor and do not compromise the efficiency of the system

However…….

Any variations or minor non-compliances must be recorded on certificate.


Certificates


If there is a major non-compliance to the standard or a “hybrid system at client’s request” has been installed a Certificate of Conformity cannot be issued.

In these circumstances an Installation Report can be issued at the request of the client recording all variations against the installation standard.


Certificates


In support of both contractors and clients, the FIRAS certification scheme includes an unbiased complaints procedure where FIRAS will conduct a thorough investigation into the complaint to determine whether or not the complaint is valid or justified.

If found valid, corrective action to address the complaint will be initiated. If not, the complainant will be notified in writing of the decision.


Problems?



Hoping you found this presentation of interest.

Thank you for listening

presentation on firas sprinkler certification third party... · 2015. 10. 27. · firas...

Documents