Skills for installers

SKILLS

The FESS ECS card explained

David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security reveals what you need to know about the BSIA Broadcast FESS ECS Card Scheme

In 2019, organisations, associations and employers from across the Fire, Emergency and Security Systems industry came together to agree a new structure for competence, qualifications and assessment under the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS). This included BSIA taking a leading role in shaping the future skills requirements for the sector and aligning the structure to the FESS Apprenticeship standard which is now in full operation.

From July 2021, when you need to renew your ECS card, this will need to be in line with this new structure and you may be refused access to sites without a valid ECS card for your role.

Dave Wilkinson, Director of Technical Services at the BSIA and Skills for Security’s Managing DIrector David Scott updated the sector on the latest changes to the ECS Scheme in the October BSIA Broadcast. They discussed how it impacts your business, what it will cost to bring company personnel up to speed with a FESS ECS competence and qualification card and how best to undertake training and assessment for your certification through leading industry training organisations such as Skills for Security.

These FESS ECS occupations will replace the existing Fire Detection & Alarm Systems and the Emergency & Security Systems cards and is already in force throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

ECS cards are split across the various FESS disciplines, so depending on your skillset and expertise, you can now apply directly for the most appropriate card: • Fire • Fire and Emergency Lighting • Security • Fire and Security

The card structure has changed to better reflect the type of role in each discipline and relevant level of competence. The different card options are, FESS Apprentice, FESS Labourer, FESS Systems Operative, FESS Systems Technician and FESS Technical Manager.

The FESS Apprentice ECS card is for new entrants into the sector that are enrolled on a recognised FESS apprentice scheme, which concludes with the competency-based FESS EndPoint assessment.

This pathway is one of two that allows you to achieve the ECS Gold Card once the candidate has successfully achieved the Level 3 FESS Apprenticeship criteria. To achieve the FESS ECS Apprentice card, the apprentice will need to complete the ECS H&S multiple-choice assessment and provide evidence of being enrolled on a registered apprenticeship. These cards are often applied for through the relevant training organisation, so speak to your training provider first.

The FESS Labourer ECS card is for people in a supportive role to assist other FESS industry qualified staff with the installation of cables and other unskilled work under supervision. These people wouldn't have responsibility for the full installation of systems.

The FESS Systems Operative ECS card is for those working in specialist roles throughout the sector, such as installer or maintainer but are not able to demonstrate competency at level 3 for the Gold ECS card. The Systems Operative card is recognisable through its white and blue stripe. Those that require this ECS Systems Operative Card will need to demonstrate their competence through the newly developed ECS FESS multiplechoice assessment or a recognised qualification.

Each assessment consists of 30 questions across a range of topics relevant to the chosen FESS occupation to be completed in 30 minutes. Each question will require the correct answer to From July 2021, when you need to renew your ECS card, this will need to be in line with new structures and you may be refused access to sites without a valid ECS card for your role

YOUR SKILLS QUESTIONS ANSWERED

As part of this column you can ask David questions directly about training and apprenticeships. We will aim, to publish the question and answer in the next column. If you want to participate in this, then email info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk Last month’s column was excellent, but how do you know an apprentice is on track throughout the programme? We skill scan and assess our apprentices on a quarterly basis. The results of which are uploaded to their online portal for the employer to check and feedback on. I have a trainee but want them to do a formal course but don't know where to start? info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk – the team there will give you all the info you need.

SKILLS

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be selected from a choice of four possible answers given. The pass mark is 24 (80%) correctly answered questions. A separate revision guide for each pathway is available on the ECS website for free download. The guides contain sample questions and candidates are strongly encouraged to study these and undertake relevant training with their employer or a recognised training provider before undertaking the assessment.

The FESS Systems Technician ECS gold card recognises the completion of the level 3 FESS apprenticeship standard mentioned previously, including the FESS endpoint assessment or the FESS Experienced Worker Assessment which launched in August 2021 for the Fire Pathway. The new FESS Experienced Worker Assessment has been developed by the FESS Employer group and NET (National Electrotechnical Training) and is for those working in the industry who desire a Gold card but do not hold any formal qualifications. The Experienced Worker programme will be delivered over a maximum period of one year and will include a number of portfolio entries, practical assessments and a Level 3 knowledge assessment.

Typically, the Systems Technician will work unsupervised in all areas of installation, maintenance and commissioning of their relevant FESS sector discipline.

FESS Technical Manager is for those that have met both the FESS Systems Technician ECS gold card and the ECS manager requirements can be recognised with the FESS Technical Manager ECS black card. This card gives the cardholder the benefits of both being recognised as having met the FESS industry benchmark level 3 technical standard and also an industry manager.

“The ECS card scheme is seen as an opportunity to further encourage our industry sector to highlight their knowledge and professionalism. I am pleased the BSIA has been a key player in this, and that it has recognition and alignment to the FESS Trailblazer apprenticeship. The broadcast we are holding will explain the scheme in detail, covering how it works, the transition timeline between old and new schemes, and importantly how it impacts on practitioners.” - Dave Wilkinson BSIA Technical Director

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APPLICATION

Fire detection equipment for mixed-use shopping mall

Fire detection solutions from Global Fire Equipment (GFE) have been installed in the KUMSmall Factory Shopping Mall, the mixed-use shopping mall in Europe.

Located in the city of Kayseri in Central Anatolia, Turkey, KUMSmall comprises a shopping mall, business centre, hotel and entertainment centre. The mall covers an area of more than 302,000 m² and boasts 400 stores, 6,000 car parking spaces and a range of restaurants and cafes.

Construction work on the mall was completed in 2019 under the leadership and control of construction company TOKI, while work on the hotel was still underway.

The design, installation and commissioning of the fire detection system for the mall was undertaken by GFE’s appointed distributor in Turkey, GFE Bina Kontrol Sistemleri, in partnership with Biges Safe Life Technology, GFE Bina's main distributor in the security sector. Dogu Project Security Systems was appointed by Biges to install the chosen fire detection system for the mall. All system commissioning and tests were carried out in cooperation with GFE Bina, Biges and Dogu.

The chosen fire detection system for KUMSmall comprises nine Juno-Net series addressable control panels, 2,300 ZEOS AS-SI addressable smoke detectors, 29 AS-SHI combined heat and smoke addressable detectors, as well as other addressable devices. The addressable detectors are designed to isolate short circuits on the addressable detection loop of a GFE panel.

The system is supported by GFE’s Odyssey Graphics Display and Alarm Management System which allows up to 64 JUNO NET fire alarm panels to be connected to a PC. Each panel can be displayed on the screen as though the operator was standing in front of it and each panel can be controlled from the computer. The system can also manage a number of fire scenarios, including escalators, elevators, automatic doors, ventilation system, smoke evacuation and parking jet fans. All of these scenarios were tested before commissioning. In the event of a fire, the emergency announcement system activates.

Biges Senior Sales Support Specialist, Ms. Asli Celikkaleli, comments: “The installation of the fire detection system at Kumsmall Factory ran smoothly and was completed within the specified time. One of the main challenges we faced was the wiring, which is used both inside and outside the stores. The large number of potential fire scenarios was also a challenge as many of the mall’s stores are located in open/outdoor areas of the shopping mall. A lot of consideration had to be given to the calculations and loop separations as the loops cover both the interior and exterior of the stores. We continue to check the system regularly and provide ongoing maintenance.”

“One of the main challenges we faced was the wiring, which is used both inside and outside the stores. The large number of potential fire scenarios was also a challenge”

Cloud-based access control managed by a single app

Property developers and residents at apartment development Live Oasis Deansgate, are benefitting from an a building automation system operable from one app, designed by GET Dynamic, in partnership with Comelit and Assa Abloy Global Solutions.

The new smart mobile-first solution, being debuted at Live Oasis in Manchester, enables property owners, YPP Lettings and Management Company, to more efficiently manage the 60apartment site via cloud-based technology.

Apartment owners can also control all aspects of their home including video entry calls, door opening and apartment automation, using the resident building app.

Live Oasis is designed for students and young professionals. With fully furnished studio, oneand two-bed apartments, it also features a concierge service together with on-site security, all available for residents through the working week and supported by 24-hour CCTV.

YPP Managing Director Omar Al-Nujaifi says: “Manchester is a vibrant, creative and innovative city, and our latest development offers apartments for a modern generation of residents who are not only looking for a stylish abode but somewhere that is technology rich, sustainable and a connected place to live.

“For this to occur, we worked with each company right from pre-project launch to achieve the desired, integrated result. GET Dynamic specified Comelit to provide fully-functional video door entry, without compromising on style or security, together with advanced access control and digital key functionality by Assa Abloy Global Solutions, all now operable from the main building app, ResiCentral.

The virtual door entry and access control was integrated into the ResiCentral platform with Assa Abloy Global Solutions technology for the building’s access control solutions from perimeter protection to individual apartments. This also includes the ability for residents to gain convenient access to their accommodations by using personal devices as a secure digital key.

Comelit was responsible for the IP door entry system operating from its VIP technology. The system specified comprised two module video VIP entrance panels, together with a multiuser gateway, to allow for visual and audio individual apartment access.

Speed gates control the flow at Tesco Mobile Head Office

Tesco Mobile Head Office in Slough was looking for a solution to manage access control because the front reception area of the building is shared access for all of the building occupants. Tesco needed to control the flow of staff and visitors entering and exiting their offices and allow staff and guests easy access beyond the reception area but prevent other people from accessing the area without authorisation. As an extra provision, a second level of security after the reception area was required to ensure only authorised personnel had access to the Tesco’s main office area.

The solution was to install BFT Automation pedestrian speed gates to manage the flow of people with One Tech undertaking the installation project.

For the main entrance BFT supplied PG300 pedestrian speed gates with a 900mm lane/600mm lane combination and for the two side entrances 900mm standalone lanes were supplied. The two-lane system was placed in the main reception area, whilst the two single-lane speed gates were located directly into the Tesco office at two different points, to provide an additional layer of security.

This was a custom installation project which required the speed gates to be positioned in the centre of the reception area. The cables were fitted under the flooring and raised walkways to reach from the edge of the room to the speed gates in the centre. A fitted glass linked the speed gates to the walls, cutting off other access points and making the speed gates the only entry and exit point. One Tech installed a standard width lane and a wider speed lane for improved access which also accommodates wheelchair users.

The PG300 gates were fitted with double height glass panels made with a safe transparent tempered glass. The pedestrian speed gates were additionally fitted with a swipe card system for access control, so that members of staff could enter or exit freely.

APPLICATION

Camera solution works wonders with fly-tipping incidents

An infamous fly-tipping hotspot in Kent had Dartford Borough council moving up to three tonnes of fly-tipped material each week, but three months after the installation of new technology designed to tackle the problem of waste crime, has resulted in this number being reduced to less than one tonne a week.

Bespoke cameras from new business venture, WasteWatch Cam, were deployed by Dartford Borough Council at the heavily fly-tipped community recycling centre off Birchwood golf course, earlier this year.

CCTV cameras were in place before, and were capturing around 50 incidents a week at the spot, but they did not always pick up on the vehicle’s registration plate making it tricky to identify the offender and provide evidence when issuing fines.

But six months after WasteWatch Cam has been installed, the number of incidents taking place at the hotspot dropped from around 50 a week, to just seven in the first month it was installed – with all of them captured, Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) issued, and all of them paid.

Three businesses - Business Insight 3, Kingdom Systems and Kingdom L A Support combined to create the system, which harnesses ANPR to not only detect the fly-tipping offences in real-time, but also see to it that the individual is held accountable.

The camera uses video analytics to detect cars that arrive on-site, people getting out of cars and even the objects they are discarding of – be it as small as a fast-food bag, or as large as a washing machine. The amount of light there is also doesn’t affect its capabilities, being able to identify these movements equally well from day to night.

This data is raised as an instant alert, with all the supporting details such as screenshots of number plates, faces and objects passed to the experienced in-house team at Local Authority Support who issue fines, warnings and – where that is not followed through – prosecution.

“Local authorities like Dartford Borough Council do not have the time or resources to be trawling through hours and hours of CCTV footage in the hopes to capture fly-tippers, only to find that the resolution is so poor that they can’t make out a number plate”, explains John Roberts, Head of Local Authority Support at WasteWatch.

“The only other alternative is for local authorities to manually search through the waste to find some form of address that could identify the culprit. Neither make sense – from a cost, time-management or effectiveness perspective.”

“But, with WasteWatch Cam in place, flytippers are correctly identified, alerts are raised and FPNs are issued – sometimes before the offender has even driven away from the area. And this is completely end-to-end, wasting no council or authority resources and is accurate every time. It’s also free to councils as long as a certain number of tickets are raised.”

Dartford Borough Council is now deploying WasteWatch Cam to a number of other locations around the county.

“Fly-tippers are correctly identified, alerts are raised and FPNs are issued –sometimes before the offender has even driven away from the area”