While it is not currently required by law for passive fire protection products to be installed by contractors with third-party certification, this has been proven to be a good way to ensure compliant installations by qualified and competent individuals.
One of the main focusses of the Building Safety Act is ensuring compliance. The assigned Principal Contractor will have to declare to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) that all personnel working on the project are suitably compliant for the task they are undertaking.
What is meant by third-party certification?
Third-party accreditation is the process by which contractors can gain performance certification for their business. It provides reassurance that the company has been verified, is frequently audited, and is certified to carry out firestopping works in accordance with regulatory requirements and best practices.
Why is this important?
Approved Document B Volume 1, 2019, states:
In today’s industry, the importance of service penetration sealing is starting to be recognised, particularly the need for tested solutions and precision when installing products. Third-party accreditation provides clients with a sense of security, knowing that the company they choose can be trusted to complete the job.
This is because it physically demonstrates that the organisation has obtained the relevant training and knowledge and undergone rigorous audits to ensure they are qualified and competent to install the firestopping products.
As a result, third-party certification not only increases companies’ reputations but also establishes them as credible sources of information, making them stand out in the industry.
How does it work?
The certification body will visit the relevant company to assess its qualities against the requirements of the particular scheme. If the company meets the standards, it will be issued a certificate—known as an audit, which is carried out when the company is first certified. An audit will need to be carried out every six months to support the maintenance of the certification.
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) authorises the certification body in the UK. Because it is internationally recognised and appointed by the government to accredit certification bodies, only those certified by UKAS have proven credibility.
In conclusion
At Quelfire, we believe that relevant experience, references, specialist skills, and expertise can be strong guarantees for safe and compliant firestopping installations.
We encourage you to always look for contractors that are third-party certified, use high-quality (and third-party certified) products, and work alongside the product manufacturers to ensure all installations align with their test evidence and guidance.
However, it must be stressed that sole reliance on third-party certification for compliant installations is not advisable.
Installers of passive fire protection products are not typically fire engineers and, therefore, should only be installing products in the manner that meets the fire test evidence. Any deviation without approval could likely mean the install is not compliant.
Early engagement in firestopping will ensure the building is fully compliant, giving the installer a thorough and proven design to follow.
It will also provide the Principal Contractor and their team with a schedule to follow, which will ensure that all trades, that impact installation, are working in accordance with the design. Ultimately, allowing any grey areas to be rectified as early as possible which, in turn, will prevent costly remedial work.
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