Certifying : FIRAS

FIRAS

Are you an architect who recognizes the benefits of specifying FIRAS certificated installers? Click here further information about the scheme and its benefits to the specifier.

Click here to go the the FIRAS certificated companies area.

About FIRAS certification

FIRAS certification started in 1994 and has been instrumental in improving standards of installation of fire protection products/systems to the benefit of the construction industry and the clients it serves.

FIRAS is voluntary, third party certification for installation contractors of both passive and active fire protection systems, operated by Warrington Certification, and accredited by UKAS to EN45011. UKAS accreditation

A comprehensive listing of companies which have FIRAS certification including the scope of their certification can viewed in the FIRAS Register

Why choose a FIRAS certificated installation contractor?

FIRAS certificated contractors are required to undergo a 3 stage assessment process. And, only when the applicant contractor has satisfied all of these criteria is certification granted:

Assessment of office management systems

Assessment of workmanship of site for all trade disciplines for which certification is sought

Competence assessment of supervisory and installation employees

FIRAS certification is awarded to the contracting company not the staff. Should a contractor wish to increase their scope of certification, a separate application must be made to attain the additional certification.

All FIRAS site inspectors and sprinkler engineers have technical and practical knowledge and experience in fire protection. Certification requirements have been developed with UK trade associations including:

ASFP - Association of Specialist Fire Protection - passive fire protection of building structural steel frame, penetration seals (fire stopping), cavity barriers - ASFP

BWF - British Woodworking Federation - timber fire doors - BWF

GGF - Glass & Glazing Federation - fire rated glazed screens - GGF

DHF - Door & Hardware Federation - steel fire doors and hardware - DHF

BAFSA - British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association - Residential and Domestic and Commercial and Industrial Sprinkler Systems - BAFSA

XACT - Residential & Domestic Sprinkler Design & Installation Training - XACT

Apply to join FIRAS

FIRAS certificated contractors are subject to an annual audit of their offices and ongoing, random surveillance site inspections where competence and workmanship are assessed.

Contractors certificated under the scheme for Installers of Residential and Domestic Sprinklers have system designs randomly checked to appropriate standards in addition site inspections.

FIRAS inspectors conduct additional inspections of the work carried out by the certificated contractor on request to satisfy clients needs.

FIRAS certificated contractors are required to log ‘contracts in hand’ on the FIRAS online database. A ‘Certificate of Conformity (Compliance)’ for the completed works is issued from the FIRAS online database.

Click here to get a hard copy of the Technical directory of Certificated Fire Products & Services.