Roger Chamberlain the BFC General Secretary replies to Alan Palmers email. (see previous news article below 13/10/08)
Click here to view Rogers email
Alan Palmer replies to Roger Chamberlains email (see news article below 12/10/08)
Click here to view Alans email
Alan Palmer MD and fire training instructor for F.I.R.E says “This course is aimed for small businesses that have insufficient Fire Wardens to justify an in-house course or where productivity is affected by losing so many people at one time”. One organisation that has recently benefited from this course is a large Royal Mail sorting office that needed to train one Warden at a time to avoid affecting shift workers and incurring extra overtime costs. To reserve a place and for more information go to www.firecontingency.co.uk/training.
Alan Palmer MD for F.I.R.E says “This course has been developed for people within organisations tasked with managing fire safety. The delegates usually compose a mix of experienced and people new to the role, but everyone benefits from sharing experiences and they walk away with the knowledge and confidence to fulfil their legal responsibilities”.
The course has been piloted in Uckfield, East Sussex and demand required a second session to be quickly scheduled. To reserve a place and for more information go to www.firecontingency.co.uk/training.
Alan Palmer MD and fire training instructor for F.I.R.E says; “This is outrageous as it is rumoured that the reason is because our course does not comply in some way to the requirements of BS5306 part 3:2003 and we heard nothing from the BFC before this announcement. The course is accepted by BAFE and was good enough when we ran BFC training from 2000 to 2007, so what has changed? This is obviously of concern to us but will alarm many BFC members employing the estimated 150 Technicians that F.I.R.E have trained in the last 2-3 years and who’s businesses will, according to Graham now fail the BFC audit that he oversees”.
Alan wrote to Roger Chamberlain the BFC General Secretary last Thursday (2nd October) for an explanation, to date he has not received a reply. Out of courtesy BFC members were emailed with a copy of his letter so that they are aware of the situation. FIA, IFEDA and BAFE have also been copied in for information as this dictate from Graham may also affect them.To view the letter sent to the BFC click here.To view the email circulated to BFC members click here.
Have you been meaning to train teachers and staff in Fire Awareness, Evacuation and Safe Use of Fire Extinguishers, but just can’t seem to find the time to fit it into hectic school life?
There is a solution; we provide punchy, fast paced and entertaining fire training in your own school, at a time to suit you.Click here for more information
Originally introduced in 2000 BS5306 - 3 and last revised in 2003, this second review of BS5306-3 introduces some significant amendments affecting all commercial users of fire extinguishers. Curiously BS5306 – 8 the ‘Selection and installation of portable fire extinguishers’ also dates back to 2000 and even with its blatant errors has avoided being updated. The amendments will soon be released for public comment under the revised title of 5306 - 8 Selection and positioning of portable fire extinguishers – a subtle name change perhaps indicating the difficulty for a committee to agree how to install an extinguisher?
A significant proposed amendment to BS5306 – 3 includes a more stringent technicians examination with a pass mark raised from 75% to 85%. This pass mark will also apply to a new formal examination at the end of the 3 year Technicians one day Refresher course. Both examinations will be overseen by a National Examination Board, this is expected to be BAFE with a role reversal for FETA (now FIA) becoming a technician training course provider – a logical and long overdue move.
To safeguard purchasers of new fire equipment through the internet and catalogues a new service activity has been introduced - that of ‘commissioning’. This takes effect upon removal from the box of new or refurbished extinguishers and attempts to overcome the problems associated with extinguishers arriving damaged in transit or unlabeled from the supplier and also ensures that the extinguisher is appropriate to the fire risks encountered.
It is also proposed that plastic headcaps should be removed and destroyed during extended servicing i.e. at 5 year test discharge and refilling. Over painted plastic headcaps and those covered with film or colourings or suffering UV degradation will also need to be condemned.
The role of the employers Responsible Person and their relationship with the extinguisher servicing technician is made clearer. There is also now a requirement that a certificate of inspection is to be issued in all cases by the Competent person (servicing provider).Visit http://www.bafe.org.uk/fire_protection/revision_of_standards.html for more information and to leave your comments.
