When you are running a housing project or an education facility, there are certain regulations within the UK that must be followed. These fire safety regulations are imperative but not all organisations are aware of what their obligations are.
At BAC Fire and Security, we offer a full compliance check service as well as detailed advice on where you might be able to make improvements.
What Are The UK Standards For Fire Compliance?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
In 2005, the UK government altered the way that it governed fire safety, placing a lot of the responsibility onto business and organisation owners through the Regulatory Reform Order 2005. What this means for your housing project or school is that anyone who is responsible for the premises in any way should ensure that they take steps to reduce the risk of fire. In addition to this, the order states that these persons should also provide suitable safety steps to make sure that anyone in the building can safely escape in the event of a fire.
There are a simple set of rules that the order expects you to follow, and these replace all of the previous fire safety regulations that were in place pre-2005.
- A fire risk assessment must be carried out that helps to uncover any potential risks or dangers.
- Consider if there are any people more at risk in the event of a fire (for example, students in a school with physical or mental impairments. )
- Remove all risks of fire and ensure that fire precautions are in place.
- Ensure that flammable and explosive materials are correctly and safely stored.
- Create a fire plan that people can follow in the event of an emergency and ensure that all staff and visitors are aware of this plan.
- Regularly review your findings.
This order applies in many commercial areas including, but not limited to shops, offices, hotels, schools, sport’s centres and care homes.
Other Standards
While the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 is the standard that you should look to for guidance, there are other standards that are incredibly important. A full list of fire standards in the UK can be found here, but those that apply most to housing projects and school, are as follows:
- Fire safety relating to the design, management and safe use of buildings.
- Fire risk assessment for premises that are not used as housing.
- Fire risk assessment for housing projects.
- Standards relating to the design and installation of fire security systems in non-domestic premises. Similarly, there is a code of practice for domestic premises.
- Code of practise for the design and installation of fire alarm and security systems in buildings that contain flats.
- Fire risk management systems.
Why Choose BAC Fire As Your Fire Protection Partner?
A Local Company
There is a significant focus on supporting local businesses and we believe that it works both ways. Local businesses like BAC Fire and Security have much more of a connection with the local community and want to see it thrive. For this reason, we have committed to providing sponsorship of various school and sports programs for young people on an annual basis.
Since your housing or school project is based in the local area, you want to work with a team that knows that community and wants to help improve it. This is something that is at the top of our priority list.
Furthermore, supporting local businesses is known to be better for the environment as we are much more easily able to reduce our carbon footprint, especially when compared to some of the large global companies.
In addition to this, the more we are able to expand our business, the more we will be able to offer employment opportunities to local residents. We know it works both ways and since our reputation in the local community is currently excellent, we want to keep it that way.
Years Of Experience
From our humble beginnings to the present day, BAC has prided itself on continually learning new skills and gaining experience. Where we began as the Bristol Alarm Company gives us many fond memories, but we are proud to have come a very long way in that time. Now, with a management team that has more than 30 years combined experience, you can feel confident that we know what we are doing.
When working with us, you will spend a lot of time dealing with our qualified engineers and installers. Each member of this team has extensive knowledge and years of experience so that you can have the peace of mind that every check we do is fully backed by this and that we always strive to be the best.
But that’s not all. Over time, technological developments mean that the security industry is always changing and we are ready to adapt to this. Our learning and training never ends and each day allows us to gain new experience which we then apply to future jobs. Nothing we do is ever outdated, so you know you will always be receiving the most relevant service.
Qualified & Accredited By Industry Bodies
Many companies may advertise themselves as being compliant and trustworthy but at BAC Fire and Security, we want to demonstrate this with accreditations. As such, this is something that we take very seriously.
In order to be the best and achieve our accreditations with some of the largest industry bodies, we have had to prove ourselves time and again. We are happy to continue doing this so that your qualifications and accreditations continue to be relative.
BAC Fire and Security is fully accredited in the design, installation, repair and replacement of intruder alarm systems, CCTV and access control systems. This accreditation was given by the Security Systems and Alarms Inspections board so you can feel confident in its genuine nature. To prove ourselves, we have to demonstrate that our company follows all of the correct policies as well as doing everything reasonably possible in terms of security in the eyes of an insurer.
Additionally, BAC Fire and Security is fully BAFE certified in the design, installation, repair and replacement of fire alarm systems at the very best standards. As an independent assessment, the BAFE accreditation allows us to show that our company is fully compliant and in line with what is expected from an insurance company. Moreover, this is something that we need to prove on an ongoing basis with annual rechecks taking place to prove our commitment to quality and professionalism.
One of the accreditations that we are most proud of and that may mean a lot to our clients is that we have been fully approved by the Trading Standard Buy With Confidence Scheme. This is a program that was developed to avoid clients having to deal with rogue traders and in order to achieve this, we had to prove that our team is fully CRB checked and that we operate legally at all times. Furthermore, the check involved proving our ethical operation and our excellent approach to customer support from staff that are fully qualified in their field.
In addition to all of the previous accreditations we have detailed, BAC Fire and Security are proud to own a range of certifications for being environmentally friendly, providing quality work and in the area of health and safety. If you need a company that is reliable and has excellence at the heart of everything it does, our list of accreditations demonstrates that we are more than capable.
Professional
BAC Fire and Security is a family-run business, but we still aim to deliver a professional service at all times. But what does this mean to us?
At BAC, we believe that being professional means having extensive knowledge in our field and being able to answer your questions with relevant information and in a confident manner. All the while, we remain polite, courteous and approachable.
Each member of our team has excellent communication skills allowing them to deliver effective, clear, and friendly information to you at all times. We pride ourselves on being reliable and this is what we believe sets us apart from the rest. We guarantee that we will always put our clients first and deal with any problems as soon as possible. Where service is concerned, you can expect perfect timekeeping, polite staff and excellence and quality in all we do.
All staff Are Enhanced DBS/CRB Checked
As part of our fire compliance checks, our team members will need to enter your housing project or school setting and we know that there may be vulnerable people here, so you need to be able to trust us. To prove to our clients that our staff are trustworthy, honest, and safe, we check each team member through the Police National Computer.
You can have the confidence that anyone from our team who enters your premises will have undergone a DBS/CRB check which gives information on various aspects of their criminal history. Each check is done on an enhanced level and will show things such as previous convictions, both spent and unspent, jail time served and whether the individual has any restrictions on working with children or vulnerable people. In addition to this, the check will demonstrate if there are any issues that are directly related to that person’s area of work.
While there is no legal requirement for companies or organisations to have their staff undergo these kinds of checks, we believe that it is in the client’s best interests and for their safety. This is another level of client care that remains incredibly important to us.
Trusted & Reliable
As well as performing intense checks on every member of our team, BAC Fire and Security prides itself on having a highly trusted reputation that we want to continue to maintain. As such, we constantly strive to meet the expectations of our clients who, both past and present, have given some excellent reviews.
BAC Fire and Security are proud to display various testimonials from our previous and current clients who have referred to us as a ‘reliable firm who you know you can pick the phone up to and discuss your options’ and ‘the quality of the work done has always reassured us that we have made the right choice.’
In line with keeping our trusted and reliable reputation intact, we are always happy to provide support and answer your questions as well as providing a quality service that is unrivalled.
24 Hour Response
A fire or emergency could break out at any time so we know that our team must be on hand every minute of the day. This is why we are proud to offer a full 27/7/365 response service so that whenever you need us, we will be there.
Our phone lines and monitoring systems are always staffed so that you have peace of mind that your housing project or school is in safe hands. Furthermore, if you have problems with your system or simply need some friendly advice, our staff will always be on hand to provide this
We Offer A Full Design And Installation Service
You might decide to undergo a fire compliance check and nothing more. However, we find that many of our clients also benefit from using our design and installation services for a fire safety system that is second to none. A lot of organisations might decide to use separate companies to design and install their systems but here at BAC, we do it all. Not only does this save time and confusion, but it is also much more cost-effective.
Our aim is to provide a full and complete service that makes your life easier because we appreciate that you already have a lot to manage. From the moment you contact us to perform a fire compliance check, we aim to deliver a service that has everything you need. If necessary, we will design and install your fire safety system, giving you full details on how to make the most out of your new system.
Moreover, our service doesn’t end the moment that our engineers leave your premises. We offer a 24/7 service every day of the year for repairs, replacements and advice.
Experts In Our Field – Trust Us To Deliver A Quality Service
BAC Fire and Security has many years of experience over a vast number of projects, many of which have been in the housing and education sectors. For this reason, we believe that we are the best equipped to do the job and that our checks are not only compliant with guidelines but come with a generous level of experience.
We don’t work in this industry just to pay the bills; our team is highly qualified and trained because of their passion for fire safety and security. This is evident in everything we do and we aim to bring our professional and knowledgeable approach to every check we perform.
Continuity Of Service For Your Clients
We know that your visitors, students, and residents have put their trust in you to provide a safe environment for them to live, work, and learn. It is essential that they feel protected and secure and our fire compliance checks will provide this continuity of service and security to those using your facility.
Any advice that we give or any products that you go on to purchase from us are 100% reliable. Moreover, our continued support and fire system maintenance will give you and your patrons the confidence you need, which will further strengthen their trust in you.
Peace Of Mind
We believe that the day to day running of an organisation can be stressful enough in and of itself. This is why, at BAC Fire and Security, we want to take some of the pressure off you to allow you to worry about other pressing matters. You can have the peace of mind that our expert team will perform your check and have everything covered so that you don’t have to worry.
Our services are fully reliable so you can rest assured that your fire safety is in the best hands. Even in the event of a fire, you will have the peace of mind that the safety of your residents and visitors is paramount.
Who Is Responsible For Compliance Within Your Organisation?
According to the Regulatory Reform Order 2005, anyone who is responsible for the running of a building is also responsible for taking steps to reduce the risk of fire and to ensure the safety of occupants in the event that a fire should occur. This means that the managerial and executive teams in any school or housing project will have a responsibility, but the buck does not stop here.
Staff employed within a building or project will have a responsibility to ensure proper fire safety, and if there are dedicated health and safety personnel, they will also play an important role in reducing the risk of fire.
Moreover, any visitors or residents within the building will have a degree of responsibility for ensuring fire safety. For example, in a school situation, students will be expected to follow safety rules and codes of practice. While in a housing association setting, residents will be expected to take personal steps to reduce the risk of fire.
Who Measures Whether Your Comply With All Fire Compliance Standards?
The Health and Safety Executive is a government body that is directly responsible for safety within the workplace. The HSE is responsible for ensuring that work-related illness, death, and injuries are prevented as far as is reasonably possible. The body provides a specific Fire Safety In The Workplace service that covers everything from responsibility, fire safety checks, safety equipment and more.
Furthermore, your local fire and rescue team provide a service that gives both commercial and domestic residents advice and information on whether their building meets the required standards. In some cases, your local fire brigade will install smoke alarms and other safety equipment free of charge, but this largely applies to domestic properties.
Risks Associated With Non-Compliance
One of the most important things to consider when not complying with fire safety is that the risk of loss of life or injury is massively increased. The safety of your visitors and staff should be of the utmost importance and this is by far the biggest risk of ignoring or not complying with regulations.
However, non-compliance can also have a financial impact on your business since it is possible to incur a fine of up to £5000. Moreover, in serious cases, there is a risk of imprisonment for up to two years with attached unlimited fines.
What Can BAC Fire And Security Offer?
BAC Fire and Security is a versatile company that prides itself on providing everything you need to prevent fire and keep people safe in the event that one does break out. As well as completing a full fire compliance check, we also offer the following services:
- Installation of new Fire Protection Systems which can be designed in a way that suits your property. We cater for all grades of system and are always happy to discuss your requirements. All of our systems are fully compliant so you can feel confident in leaving everything to us.
- Our engineers will continue to maintain and monitor your fire alarm system after installation. You can benefit from an annual alarm maintenance and 24/7/365 emergency support by taking out one of our maintenance contracts. Furthermore, our continued alarm monitoring ensures that even when your property is unoccupied, there will always be an appropriate response to an emergency.
- Our team is fully trained to understand the UK regulations and are on hand to offer advice and guidance in all areas of fire protection and compliance. We are happy to answer any of your questions or concerns and will always provide you with up to date and reliable advice
What Does The Fire Compliance Check Cover?
At BAC Fire and Security, we want to make sure that no stone is left unturned and as such, when we complete our checks, we strive to ensure that every aspect of fire safety is covered.
In terms of fire risk management, we will provide a full assessment and check that you have covered everything in your own risk assessment systems.
We will look at the design, management and use of your building in relation to fire safety and assess any potential risks. These risk assessments can be carried out against housing premises or other types of property.
Your BAC specialists will also look at any existing fire detection and alarm systems to check that they are in line with the regulations. Fixed fire protection systems will be assessed to ensure that they are fully compliant.
Where a system is not yet installed, we will discuss what needs to be done to bring the property in line with the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 and other fire safety standards. These checks also cover evacuation alert systems to ensure that, in the event of a fire, persons inside the property will be suitably alerted to leave immediately.
In line with this, it is important for your property to have viable escape routes which include door release mechanisms that are fully functional; these along with fire extinguishers will be assessed.
Want to know more about our fire safety services?
BAC are fully accredited by BAFE for the Design, Installation, Monitoring and Maintenance of all grades of Fire Alarm System. Have a look at our other Case Studies and projects that can be found on our website, call our friendly team on 0117 958 38 38, or email your enquiry to service@bacsecurity.com
