Fire Detection and Alarm systems as per Irish Standard 3218:1989
RECIwww.reci.ie ECSSAwww.ecssa.ie
The RECI Newsletter May 2008 may be downloaded here.
Kilkenny Fire Authority brought to the attention of RECI and ECSSA a recurring anomaly that they are experiencing too frequently from electrical contractors who may be members of these organisations.
Under Section 18(4) of the Fire Service Act, 1981 as amended Kilkenny Fire Authority wrote to RECI and ECSSA under the guise of "Advise", future correspondence under the above headings would be formally given as a "written warning" under Section 18(5).
Kilkenny Fire Authority is of the view that there is a low standard of knowledge of the above engineering code which is the prescribed code under the Irish Building Regulations and under Technical Guidance Document - Part B - Fire Safety - Section 1.4.14.
Some model forms as per Appendix C of IS 3218: 1989 submitted to Kilkenny Fire Authority state that the premises is compliant with IS 3218:1989 and is an L1 system - Our inspecting fire officers found these premises not to be compliant on various counts.
What is most worrying and of grave concern is lack of accountability and the disregard for the important of these Life Safety Systems by some electrical contractors who may be members of your organisation.
Taking serious note of the large number of occupants with different ambulatory levels within some of these buildings. It is of grave concern to Kilkenny Fire Authority that the early warning mechanism - the Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (FDaAS) is designed, installed, certified, and maintained on a continuing basis to the highest possible levels it should be at all material times.
Kilkenny Fire Authority have brought to the special attention of both RECI and ECSSA a registration scheme as operated by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) for the registration of commissioners and certifiers of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems. http://www.nsai.ie/index.cfm/area/page/information/firealarmcert
Kilkenny Fire Authority is of the view that membership of this scheme would be preferable and may be more suited to be the designers, commissioners and certifiers of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems in these high risk premises i.e. Purpose Group 2a type premises i.e. hospitals, nursing homes, boarding schools.
If adequate improvement is not observed by over the next months Kilkenny Fire Authority warned they would consider issuing an Fire Service Order stating that they may only accept certificate of compliant from designers, commissioners and certifiers of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems in these high risk premises who are accredited by this National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) scheme or equivalent approved schemes.
Kilkenny Fire Authority regard these active engineering systems [a] Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and [b] Emergency Lighting Systems as 'Life Safety Systems' and would suggest that the members of both RECI and ECSSA give these critical 'Life Safety Systems' equal respect.
top