BAFE and NAPIT join forces on new domestic fire detection and fire alarm competency scheme

Following an extensive development process across a two-year period, the new BAFE Scheme has been organised in conjunction with NAPIT (one of the leading Government-approved and United Kingdom Accreditation Service-accredited membership scheme operators in the building services sector) to assess the competency of organisations who provide design, installation, commissioning and maintenance services for BS 5839-6 Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises.

BAFE DS301 (for the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Grade D Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Domestic Premises) supports appropriate British Standards and best working practice, most notably the latest iteration of BS 5839-6 (the Code of Practice for the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Domestic Premises).

Acknowledging progress made in terms of both organisational and individual competency following the Grenfell Tower fire, the BAFE DS301 Scheme will also focus scrutiny on two key personnel roles required for an organisation to become third party certificated/BAFE registered for Grade D systems. These are the principal duty holder (ie the person appointed by the organisation to have responsibility for the maintenance of the overall standard and safety of the fire detection and fire alarm system-centric work) and the qualified supervisor (a competent person who meets the requirements of the BAFE DS301 Scheme and, on a day-to-day basis, has specific responsibility for the safety, technical standard and quality of the fire detection and fire alarm system work).

A key requirement for the qualified supervisor will be to ensure that all operatives undertaking fire detection and fire alarm work for the organisation are competent to do so.

Crucial roles

Chris Auger, director of Schemes for BAFE, commented: “The roles of principal duty holder and qualified supervisor for the BAFE DS301 Scheme are crucial when it comes to upholding the quality and competency of those delivering these services. Dame Judith Hackitt and subsequent Working Groups have raised the topic of both organisational and individual responsibility which has been incorporated into the competency criteria for the BAFE DS301 Scheme as a direct result. There will be a transparent chain of responsibility for such systems, thereby aiding the desired ‘golden thread’ of key information.”

Auger concluded: “We’re delighted to officially announce the BAFE DS301 Scheme with NAPIT being the first licensed certification body. NAPIT will be delivering assessment for those registered within this scope for the electrotechnical sector.”

Justin Maltby-Smith, technical schemes development manager at NAPIT, responded: “NAPIT is delighted to have developed the new DS301 Scheme in conjunction with BAFE. The DS301 Scheme will help to raise standards within the domestic electrical sector for those organisations who carry out design, installation, commissioning and maintenance work on BS 5839-6 Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems.”

Maltby-Smith added: “BS 5839-6 was fully revised in 2019 and amended in 2020. It’s extremely important that work on Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems is performed in compliance with and to the current British Standard. Achieving third party certification demonstrates an organisation’s commitment and competence to perform quality and compliant work to keep people safe in their homes.”

*The BAFE DS301 Scheme is now available for application/assessment via NAPIT. Register your interest with NAPIT here www.napit.org.uk/schemes/BAFE-DS301-Domestic-Fire-Alarm-Scheme.aspx

**The BAFE DS301 Scheme document is available to view on the BAFE Website at www.bafe.org.uk/become-bafe-registered/bafe-ds301-assessment-and-registration-process