Why is Fire Stopping Accreditation Important?
Why is third party accreditation so important when it comes to fire safety? In short, it is the only way to gain peace of mind when sourcing fire surveys or installation of passive fire protection systems. It proves that the company or provider you are using has been independently verified and that they are therefore competent to understand and undertake the works your building requires. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the importance of fire stopping accreditation.
What Is Third Party Accreditation?
Third party accreditation is a quality control process that contractors opt to undertake in order to achieve performance certification for their business. Accreditation in the passive fire protection industry can be provided by multiple assessment bodies, of which IFC is one of the most common. Ultimately, it provides independent reassurance to demonstrate competence in the installation of fire stopping products and associated surveys.
Why is it important?
Third party accreditation means that the contractor has gone through a process to prove that their staff has the relevant training, knowledge, and experience to undertake your project. In short, accreditation is a way for contractors to show that they offer fire protection services that meet the industry standards. Whilst there are no legal requirements to utilise these companies for your project, a third party accredited contractor is the best way to ensure your building is in safe hands and that they are sufficiently qualified and competent.
To this end, under guidance for ‘responsible persons’ with duties surrounding fire safety legislation, the Home Office advises preference be given to traders with third party certification.
“Third-party certification schemes for fire protection products and related services are an effective means of providing the fullest possible assurances, offering a level of quality, reliability and safety that non-certificated products may lack.”
What are the benefits?
Passive fire protection installation is a vital aspect of fire safety, focusing on the installation of materials and systems to slow the spread of fire within a building. Third party accreditation adds an extra layer of assurance by having an independent party verify that the company providing the fire stopping works meets specific industry standards and compliance requirements. In short, you can rest assured that you are being provided with the best possible service.
There are multiple benefits when it comes to choosing a provider with third party fire stopping accreditation. These include:
- Complete peace of mind
- Specialist installation or survey
- The highest level of service
- Cost savings as work is done correctly first time
- Fully certified solutions
- Golden thread based approaches
How does it work?
The UK fire stopping accreditation process involves stringent audits and assessments of all aspects of a business. It also involves annual reviews, including ad hoc inspections of site installation teams to ensure requirements are being met. To achieve initial qualification, contractors must undergo:
- Assessment of office management.
- Assessment of workmanship on live project sites.
- Competence assessment of supervisory and installation employees.
Who provides it?
Third party fire stopping accreditors are organisations that independently assess and certify the competency of individuals and companies involved in keeping your buildings safe. Some notable third party accreditors include:
IFC Accreditation
IFC accreditation is an independent UKAS accredited assessment body and provider of customer focused certification in support of fire safety and security. They are an independent third party that assesses and certifies the competency of companies and individuals involved in the installation of fire protection products and systems based on industry standards and best practices. Through accreditation, contractors demonstrate capability, traceability and quality.
ISO 9001:2015
ISO 9001:2015 provides a framework for organisations to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a quality management system (QMS). They certify compliance for the provision of consultancy, survey, installation, and remediation of internal and external passive fire protection within public, commercial, domestic, and other sectors within the UK.
CHAS
CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is a UK-wide accreditation scheme that aims to improve health and safety standards across various industries. CHAS assesses the health and safety competence of contractors, helping clients to identify and engage with companies that meet specific standards.
Adaston are proud to say that we are third party certified by all of the above. Our commitment to being a fully third party accredited company ensures that we continually adhere to stringent assessment criteria and that all of our projects are delivered to industry leading quality standards. We value working alongside them to ensure a collaborative and expert approach to fire protection. You can view a complete list of our accreditations and professional memberships on our website.
Why Fire Stopping Should be Installed by Third Party Accredited Contractors
Independent third party certification is available for companies providing all manner of fire safety services such as surveying, installation, and maintenance of fire doors and fire stopping products. It is strongly recommend that you use accredited contractors for all works concerning passive fire protection, including:
This is due to the fact that without an accreditation, no safeguards are in place to ensure the quality of the contractor. Therefore, a fully third party accredited and qualified contractor such as Adaston is the only way to guarantee quality installations and consultancy at industry leading standards.
If you require any of the services discussed in this article, consider Adaston – a third party accredited fire stopping contractor that you can rely on.
Written by
Nic Bohanna 
Nic is the Key Client Manager at Adaston with a degree from the prestigious Durham University. With a background in management in the service industry, he now ensures all our passive fire protection services run smoothly.When he’s not at work, you’ll find him pursuing his favourite activities of hill walking, a game of golf, or enjoying a nice cold pint.
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