Fire Safety
Studying up on your fire safety
Written by BAFE Fire Safety Register
‘Second party’ referral involves someone else, for instance another customer or a membership body/trade association (without third party certification criteria for joining) who states that they are competent. UKAS Accredited Third Party Certification takes this to another level completely. This is when an independent Certification Body which is accredited by UKAS (the national accreditation body for the UK appointed by government) sends trained assessors to BAFE Fire Safety Register explains the importance of competence assess the provider. They confirm the provider when it comes to meeting your fire safety obligations – both in is working to the latest appropriate standards terms of your ‘responsible person’ and the suppliers you use and best practice for the specific service they deliver. They check and verify the required competencies and management systems to ensure that the provider can categorically do Fire safety provisions are paramount and “Third-party quality assurance can offer what they say – and are checked annually. a legal obligation in many buildings but comfort, both as a means of satisfying The Third Party Certification is earned for healthcare facilities this is of huge you that goods and services you have through rigorous assessment that must importance. These buildings contain purchased are fit for purpose, and as a be adhered to at all times to remain numerous types of people of all ages, from means of demonstrating that you have certificated. It is important to state here patients and staff to a multitude of visitors complied with the law.” (Fire safety risk that this certification does not cover all that do not know the building’s layout. assessment: educational premises). services, and the person responsible for In the fallout of the Grenfell Tower fire, fire safety and sourcing providers must this has highlighted several discussions What exactly is check their chosen providers certification including the subject of competence and the third party certification? covers the scope of work that is required. use of competent providers for all works, Third party certification offers independent This responsibility for sourcing including fire safety. This need for quality verification and evidence that a company or competent persons is noted assurance is covered in HM Government fire provider is competent, and working in national fire legislation, safety advice available online: “Third-party to the appropriate standards Third with England and Wales certification schemes for fire protection and best practice for the party legislation stating: products and related services are an effective services you require. “The responsible means of providing the fullest possible ‘First party’ referral is certifica tion person must, where assurances, offering a level of simply a self-endorsement, offers in depend necessary nominate quality, reliability and safety that telling the potential verifica ent competent persons non-certificated products may lack. customer (the person t i o evidenc n and to implement responsible for fire those measures safety) that they are compan e that a y or pro and ensure that competent, with no vid is comp the number of such evidence of this. etent er persons, their training and the equipment available to them are adequate, taking into account the size of, and the specific hazards involved in, the premises concerned” (The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Part 2, Article 13. (3) (b) It also notes that “a person is to be regarded as competent for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b) where he has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him properly to implement the measures referred to in that paragraph.” UKAS Accredited Third Party Certification will satisfy all the criteria required if it covers the scope of the work needed. It all begins with a fire risk assessment Whether it is a new or long-standing building, a quality fire risk assessment will highlight both everything you are doing correctly but also anything that may require attention to be compliant with UK fire safety legislation. Healthcare facilities may have multiple purposes for the same area, industrial kitchens, laboratories/workshops and other areas that should be addressed and reviewed regularly within your fire risk assessment. Third party certification is available for providers offering this service and having E
Volume 19.1 | HEALTH BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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