NSI outlines partnership with Nineteen Group for The Security Event 2022

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is once again an official Event Partner of The Security Event and NSI experts are preparing to share important standards updates with professional installers and integrators throughout the show, which takes place from 5-7 April at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Security Event brings together over 200 exhibitors, providing an ideal opportunity for the industry to connect in person and keep up-to-date with the very latest technologies, products, services and insights.

NSI CEO Richard Jenkins commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with The Security Event again in what promises to be a lively and informative three days where visitors can experience innovative technology, learn from educational content, share insights and network.”

The National Security Inspectorate is once again taking part in The Security Event at the NEC

Jenkins continued: “Significant changes are taking place within the UK’s security sector, from the digital All-IP migration through to revisions in visual alarm confirmation and the ever-evolving cyber security environment. Whether installers are looking to take their first steps into gaining third party certification or wish to meet our team for expert guidance on the current standards, all are invited to visit our stand.”

Further, Jenkins affirmed: “Buyers of security and fire safety services are also actively encouraged to come and learn more about the importance of choosing NSI approved companies and the reassurance provided by the ongoing audit programme to which they would then commit.”

The NSI team will be on Stand L20 in Hall 3.

Fire and Security Installer Theatre

The NSI has been heavily involved in formulating the conference programme for the Fire and Security Installer Theatre and, indeed, some of the organisation’s representatives will be delivering a series of engaging sessions.

‘BS 8418:2021 for Detector-Activated Surveillance Systems – The Game-Changer for Police Response’ (Matthew Holliday, director of approval schemes, NSI). Tuesday 5 April. 2.00 pm

This presentation will highlight key drivers behind the latest edition of BS 8418, the standard for monitored CCTV systems capable of summoning a police response

‘Cyber Security – Are Security Systems Affected?’ (Matthew Holliday, director of approval schemes, NSI). Wednesday 6 April. 11.15 am

This will be a thought-provoking session on the need for cyber security in the security and fire sectors, considering not only the installing/maintaining organisation, but also products and touch points with the customer.

‘Fire Risk Assessment and Evacuation Alert Systems – A Certification Body’s Perspective on Demonstrating Competence’ (John Davidson, approval schemes manager for systems, NSI). Thursday 7 April. Noon

Following the publication of Dame Judith’s Hackitt’s ‘Building a Safer Future’ report and the ongoing Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, there has been a hugely increased focus on the competency of contractors, and particularly so those contractors whose work could affect the fire integrity of – or life safety within – a given building. This session focuses on how third party certification can help to demonstrate competency.

*Find out more about The Security Event and its co-located events

**Register online for free tickets to attend The Security Event 2022 at https://rfg.circdata.com/publish/TSSES22/?source=TSENSI

ASFP to run free webinar on subject of passive fire protection

Passive fire protection plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants. It does this by limiting the spread of fire and smoke by containing it in a single compartment, protecting means of escape and also protecting the building structure.

On Friday 24 February at 11.00 am, Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) COO Niall Rowan presides over a free-to-attend webinar which aims to explain what you need to know when specify, installing, maintaining or inspecting passive fire protection.

The webinar will provide an introduction to passive fire protection and how it works before investigating a range of installation issues, in turn highlighting common mistakes through a useful Case Study.

Showing that passive fire protection works when correctly specified and installed, the webinar will detail how to ensure installer competency through third party certification.

The event is due to close with an overview of the latest ASFP initiative which aims to develop a construction strategy to encourage collaborative working across the whole design and build process, with the overall aim of improving the quality of installed fire protection within the built environment.

*For further information and to register for the webinar click here

Scottish Parliament debates fire risk assessment procedures ten years on from Rosepark Care Home tragedy

Ten years after the fatal fire at the Rosepark Care Home in Lanarkshire, Scotland, MSP Michael McMahon has tabled a Parliamentary Motion (debated in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 29 October) recommending that all fire risk assessors should be qualified and, preferably, third party certificated.

The fire at Rosepark on 31 January 2004 claimed the lives of 14 elderly residents after flames broke out in a cupboard and subsequently ripped through the building. In support of his Parliamentary Motion, McMahon pointed out that one key finding of the fatal accident enquiry into Rosepark was that the fire risk assessment had been inadequate and the person who carried it out wasn’t qualified to do so.

The MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill in Glasgow believes an awareness campaign would help Duty Holders responsible for care homes to understand the contents of the guidance and those at commercial premises to appreciate the requirements placed on them by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. McMahon’s Parliamentary Motion also highlights the contents of the Scottish Government’s Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Care Homes, published back in March this year.

McMahon acknowledges that there has been progress since the fatal Rosepark fire, but added: “Fire risk assessments in complex buildings such as care homes are challenging exercises. The Duty Holder has to rely heavily on the capabilities and competencies of the fire risk assessor. How can the Duty Holder be confident that the fire risk assessor is competent and the advice given is up to standard and up-to-date?”

The fire at Rosepark in January 2004 claimed the lives of 14 elderly residents after flames broke out in a cupboard and ripped through the building

According to the MSP, third party accreditation is the only way forward and McMahon is now urging the Scottish Government to take immediate action by:
*Launching an awareness campaign (including direct contact through leaflets and via the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service) demonstrating to businesses the need for fire risk assessments
*Embracing and advocating third party certification
*Consulting the industry and stakeholders to make third party certification mandatory before an assessor can offer fire risk assessment services

Acting decisively to prevent further fires

McMahon feels that much has been done since the Rosepark tragedy, but stresses that more needs to be achieved in the area of fire risk assessment. “We owe it to the memory of those who lost their lives in Rosepark ten years ago, and their friends and relatives, to act decisively and prevent further fires,” urged the MSP.

The Parliamentary Motion was supported by Margaret Mitchell MSP, who commented: “Ten years on from Rosepark, it’s appropriate to evaluate whether or not there are sufficient requirements placed on care homes to prevent such an accident from happening again.”

MSPs Kenneth Gibson and Siobhan McMahon have also supported the Motion, stating that more can be done and that there’s no room for complacency. They agree that third party certification is the best way forward.

Community safety minister Roseanna Cunningham responded by saying that much had already changed. The minister added that the Regulatory Review Group is currently looking at fire safety legislation and is due to report back early next year. Cunningham has promised to write and ask the group to look at fire risk assessment as part of that extensive review.

In a bid to remove potential fire hazards, commercial buildings and non-domestic premises in Scotland are already forced to carry out a fire safety risk assessment under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 in conjunction with the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. If the assessment is thought to have been carried out to an insufficient extent, the enforcing authority has the power to prosecute the Duty Holder.

UCL becomes first university to be third party certificated through NSI for life safety fire risk assessments

University College London (UCL) has broken new ground by becoming the first university to be third party certificated to carry out life safety fire risk assessments through the National Security Inspectorate (NSI).

UCL turned to the NSI – one of the first certification bodies to be licensed to deliver BAFE’s fire sector schemes – to take it through the process of becoming third party certificated to BAFE’s SP205-1 Scheme for Life Safety Fire Risk Assessment.

To ensure compliance with the BAFE Scheme requirements and to prove its competency, UCL was rigorously assessed by the NSI against the Scheme criteria and documented management system.

Indeed, UCL’s management system process was thoroughly audited, and the execution of fire risk assessments by the appointed UCL fire safety team duly witnessed by the Inspectorate.

Having successfully completed the certification process, dual BAFE registration and NSI approval for the Life Safety Fire Risk Assessment Silver Scheme was granted to UCL at the end of July.

Simon Cooke (UCL’s fire safety manager, left) and Keith Todd (UCL’s fire safety officer) proudly display the NSI Certificate of Approval

Commitment to regular internal audits

UCL’s campus houses over 250 buildings across London, including office premises, classrooms, research facilities, laboratories and student accommodation.

Those responsible for fire safety within the university are now able to prove that they have the necessary competencies to carry out their own risk assessments or sub-contract this work to a similarly competent organisation if they wish to do so.

To maintain its approval with the NSI, UCL has committed to carry out regular internal audits that will ensure its fire risk assessors continue to meet the necessary competency requirements. They will be regularly audited by the NSI to verify continued compliance with BAFE’s requirements.

Keith Todd, fire safety officer at UCL, commented: “We’re delighted to have successfully attained BAFE SP205 third party certification. In so doing, we’ve demonstrated that UCL is providing suitable and sufficient fire risk assessments. It also helps us to ensure that we continue to operate to the highest fire safety and fire management standards possible, and can demonstrate this to our relevant persons, our own organisation and the fire authorities responsible for enforcing legislation.”

Also speaking about UCL’s achievement, Richard Jenkins – the NSI’s CEO – stated: “I’m delighted that UCL chose the NSI to act as its third party certification body. Our certification process and auditing capability enjoys a reputation that’s second to none within the security and fire sectors. UCL clearly understands the value that NSI certification brings, demonstrating its competence and ongoing commitment to the safety of all on its premises.”

Richard Jenkins: CEO at the NSI

BAFE’s chief executive Stephen Adams explained: “There’s significant evidence across the UK to show that end users are recognising the value of competent providers of fire protection services. The BAFE scheme for Fire Risk Assessment is receiving rapidly growing recognition in the public and private sectors, as well as from the statutory bodies including the Fire and Rescue Services. The UCL team should be congratulated for its vision of excellence in achieving this certification.”

Fire risk assessments: the background

With the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales (and equivalent legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland), anyone responsible for premises that come within its scope is required by law to carry out a fire risk assessment.

The ‘Duty Holder’ or ‘Responsible Person’ for the building(s) must ensure that a fire risk assessment is completed such that, should a fire occur, the building is ‘safe enough’ for the escape of anyone who is lawfully allowed on the premises (or within the immediate vicinity of the building).

By choosing to use a third party certificated organisation to carry out fire risk assessments, the ‘Responsible Person’ can help to demonstrate that they carried out ‘due diligence’ when selecting their fire risk assessment provider.

As a sector-specific certification body accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, the NSI is well placed to provide effective third party certification to this discipline.