Promoting Quality in Fire Promoting Quality in Fire SafetySafety

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What is BAFE? BAFE is an independent non-profit

making organisation formed in 1984 and dedicated to improving and maintaining quality and standards within the fire protection industry.

Provides independent 3rd party approval by adopting “schemes” (standards) that companies adhere to when they become BAFE Registered

Based at Fire Service College in Moreton in Marsh

WHY BAFE?WHY BAFE?“Fire protection products and related services should be fit for their purpose and properly installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or the relevant British Standard.

Third-party certification schemes for fire protection products and related services are an effective means of providing the fullest possible assurances, offering a level of quality, reliability and safety that non-certificated products may lack. This does not mean goods and services that are not third-party approved are less reliable, but there is no obvious way in which this can be demonstrated.

Third-party quality assurance can offer great comfort to employers, both as a means of satisfying you that goods and services you have purchased are fit for purpose, and as a means of demonstrating that you have complied with the law.”

(HMG Guides to Fire Risk Assessment 2006. www.communities.gov.uk)

What is a BAFE Scheme?

All BAFE Schemes provide a set of rules for the application of

services and require the Registered Company to have a UKAS approved ISO

9001 quality certification or equivalent Quality Management

System.

- And then keep to the scheme rules

How many BAFE Companies are there?

In March 2013 we passed 1000! As at July 2013 there are 1054: 662 registered in the Fire Alarm scheme

323 registered in the Portable Fire Extinguisher scheme including the Registered Technicians’ Scheme (1100+)

69 in other schemes

You can search for a BAFE company in your area by clicking onto: www.bafe.org.uk

Who runs BAFE?Who runs BAFE?

BAFE Council includes: CFOACertification BodiesTrade AssociationsBREHSE

Board – Legal entity nominated by Council

BAFE Staff

BAFE SP 203 -1 Fire detection and

Alarm Systems Modular scheme in 4 parts

Design Installation Commissioning & Handover Maintenance

Based on BS 5839 requirements UKAS accredited Certification Bodies

BSI IEC NSI SSAIB ECA Certification

BAFE SP 203 -4Emergency Lighting

Systems Modular scheme in 4 parts

Design Installation Commissioning & Handover Maintenance

Based on BS 5261 requirements Competence requirements Certification carried out by UKAS

accredited Certification Bodies BSI NSI

SP203 REQUIREMENTSSP203 REQUIREMENTS

Effective Quality Management System

Equipment used to be TPC

Competency records of Technical

staff

•Enhanced for SP203-4

Adequate insurance

Annual surveillance audit

Based on achieving ISO9001

All Technicians independently

assessed

Requirements to BS5306

Ensures training and refresher

updates

Only Nationally recognised

scheme

SP101/ST104SP101/ST104Maintenance of Maintenance of

Portable Portable extinguishersextinguishers

SP 205SP 205Life Safety Fire Risk Life Safety Fire Risk

AssessmentAssessment Scheme certificates companies

Requires technical and quality competence

Working with Competency Council

Certification Bodies NSI SSAIB Certsure (ECA/NICEIC)

BAFE – the future

New schemes ?

Growing recognition by specifiers, designers, insurance, local authorities, Fire & Rescue

Continuing scheme improvements and standards development

Enhanced monitoring of registered company compliance

BENEFITS FOR CUSTOMERBENEFITS FOR CUSTOMER

Quality mark from independent 3rd

Party Assurance that you are

meeting your responsibilities

to staff and users

Access to other schemes

Independent measure of value and

competence

Promoting Quality in Fire Safety