Whether you’re a homeowner or a company director, it’s important to ensure you choose a qualified, verified and reputable professional to install and manage your fire detection and alarm systems. After all, it could be a matter of life or death…

Many people mistakenly think their regular electrician can carry out the work but fire systems necessitate a comprehensive understanding of what is required to meet stringent safety standards, especially in a work environment such as a factory, office building or workshop.

Investing in home fire safety is just as important. According to the government’s ‘Fire Kills’ campaign, you are around eight times more likely to die from a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your home. Someone is killed by fire every six days in the UK and cooking is the main cause, with faulty electrics close behind.

 

As a business owner, there are regulations that must be followed to keep your staff safe. Anyone responsible for a non-domestic premises, such as a landlord, guesthouse owner or building facilities manager, must:

• carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly
• tell staff or their representatives about risks that have been identified
• put in place, and maintain appropriate fire safety measures
• plan for an emergency
• provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training

Failure to comply with the requirements carries penalties including fines and imprisonment so it’s not worth taking a risk. But how do you find a qualified and verified professional who can carry out the work?

BAFE accreditation provides reassurance that a contractor’s work has been independently assessed and meets a rigorous set of conditions. The BAFE scheme has been established for more than 25 years and is recognised as the industry standard for fire protection.

Assessment by an engineer is followed by an audit by a technical expert before certification is awarded, ensuring the highest standards are maintained. BAFE accreditation covers design, installation, commissioning and handover plus maintenance of systems, whether in a home or a large commercial premises.

So how can you check if a contractor is BAFE registered? There’s a simple online tool on the BAFE website – just enter basic information such as the company name or location and one click will tell you if they’re verified.

Maidstone’s Absolute Protection Group is proud to be a BAFE-accredited contractor for fire detection and alarm systems. The firm was established in 2017 by David McKeown who was frustrated by the poor customer service he witnessed in the industry. After 15 years of experience, David was determined to set up a business offering exceptional quality at a fair price, and no job is too big or too small.

David has achieved BAFE certification for Absolute Protection Group, offering the ultimate standard in the fire protection industry. The company is also CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) accredited and all Absolute engineers are DBS checked and registered with the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office).

Absolute’s bespoke approach takes account of the customer’s individual budget and specific requirements. Whether it’s a small business or a large commercial premises, Absolute always provides the same careful attention to detail.

Services include:

• Fire safety plans
• Fire extinguishers
• Basic staff fire training
• Fire alarms
• Fire detection, suppression and air sampling systems
• Emergency lighting
• Fire maintenance packages
• Legal and regulatory fire compliance

Whatever your fire safety needs call 01622 437838 or email for more information.