In the 50th year of BAFSA, Ali Perry talks skills, competency, and qualifications in the UK fire sprinkler industry
During the 29 years I spent in the fire service dedicating my career to reducing the impact of fire on our communities, I increasingly recognised sprinklers as a key and often missing part of the fire safety equation. Now as CEO of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), a post that I have held since February 2023, I feel privileged to be at the helm of an organisation that in 2024 celebrates 50 years of working to promote automatic fire sprinklers and other suppression systems.
Over the years, BAFSA has worked closely with the UK and devolved governments, fire and rescue services, building control departments, insurers, as well as developers, architects, and their clients and we are immensely proud of our achievements. These include, supporting MP Ann Jones’ successful campaign to change sprinkler legislation in Wales, managing and funding the Callow Mount project in Sheffield to demonstrate that is was possible and cost-effective to retrofit sprinklers in social housing, and working with the Scottish government to push for sprinklers in residential care settings, sheltered housing, schools, and retail settings and more lately in converted hotel buildings.
But our work focuses not just on raising awareness of the value of sprinklers. The competence of our members in the industry is hugely important to BAFSA and all our installer members require third-party certification as it is vital that these lifesaving systems are fitted to the highest standards and operate when required.
Since the introduction of The Building Safety Act in 2022, following the tragic failures in building safety that led to the Grenfell Tower Fire on the 14 June 2017, and the creation of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), there has been a real drive to improve the safety and standards of all buildings and improve the competence of the people responsible for overseeing, managing, and delivering works to higher-risk buildings. Then in August 2023, the BSR established the new Industry Competence Committee (ICC) to monitor and improve competence in the built environment. BAFSA fully supports this drive and one of the key ways we are doing this is through our Skills & Development Committee.
Competency and qualifications
The UK fire sprinkler sector has an ageing workforce with the majority of employees aged over 40 and more than 16% over 55. This means that the knowledge from experienced members of the industry may be lost without it being passed onto new, less experienced recruits. BAFSA therefore took full ownership of the responsibility to develop and nurture fire sprinkler installer competence through qualifications back in 2014. Since then it has developed a suite of accredited qualifications and career pathways for the industry to ensure that the workforce is fit for purpose and ready for the challenges ahead.
Today we have a qualification for installers, one for those inspecting and commissioning sprinkler systems, and we have training for those involved in commercial sprinkler design and the appropriate skill cards are in place. We have also developed a revised qualification that offers two separate units for installation – commercial and residential. This will come on stream in the new academic year in September.
Our ABBE Level 2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation, for example, provides existing fire sprinkler installers with the opportunity to evidence their skills required for installing automatic fire sprinkler systems. Assessment for this qualification is through a portfolio of evidence (set, marked, and quality assured by ABBE an approved assessment centre for the built environment), which demonstrates the learner’s knowledge, understanding, and performance in the workplace as indicated in the unit specifications.
The BAFSA Inspection & Commissioning For Commercial Fire Sprinkler Systems course (in accordance with LPC Rules inc. BS EN12845) requires a minimum of three years’ industry experience and relates to the inspection and commissioning of commercial fire sprinkler systems in relation to storage configurations, the commissioning of the system, and an understanding of the required ongoing maintenance of the system post installation.
We are also currently developing an online Level 1 qualification covering an Awareness of Fire Sprinkler Industry which will be made available to anyone who has an interest in fire sprinklers. The course will be available online via the BAFSA website and completion will be evidenced by a BAFSA certificate. A further more in-depth section of the Level 1 course is being developed for those with a greater interest in sprinklers. Completion of this element will lead to an accredited qualification – the ABBE Level 1 Awareness, Knowledge, and Principles.
BAFSA is also giving consideration to the development of refresher training for the installers renewing their skill card. When we consider refresher training we must build upon competence achieved previously and think of ongoing competence. Achieving a qualification is one thing, maintaining the skills, knowledge and expertise is another.
For further information on all the courses offered through the BAFSA training centre, visit: bafsa.org.uk or email qualifications@bafsa.org.uk
BAFSA Sprinkler Saves Review
BAFSA has just published its annual Sprinkler Saves Review. This comprehensive report documents all of the key sprinkler saves over the last 12 months, that have been reported to our sprinkler ambassador, Nick Coleshill who runs BAFSA’s Sprinkler Saves website.
The aim of the review is to demonstrate how and why sprinklers make a difference to people, property and the environment when it comes to fire safety.
These sprinkler saves, collated by BAFSA from primary fire data and by fire and rescue services (FRSs) around the UK, make this the only available report in the UK that demonstrates the difference automatic fire sprinklers make during a fire incident.
BAFSA is encouraging all FRSs to report any saves to the website to help build a body of evidence of the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers. To report a sprinkler activation, go to www.sprinklersaves.co.uk, and to download a copy of this free report, visit: www.bafsa.org.uk.
From my own experience it is a sad fact that in many fatal fires the fire service cannot arrive in time to make a lifesaving intervention, and it is also a fact that firefighting is still a dangerous profession and can result in injuries or fatalities to our firefighters.
While the reporting of statistical data and cost benefit analysis is important, real stories bring to life the positive impact on people’s lives that sprinklers have. Each save provides a tangible example of how sprinklers can reduce the impact of a fire on property, the environment, businesses, and people’s lives.
These saves include the story of a West Midlands mum, her partner, and son who were in their flat when a fire involving an e-bike developed in the hallway of the property. As smoke was beginning to develop, the family moved to the balcony of the property as they were unable to evacuate the property due to the location of the fire. However, the block was fitted with residential sprinklers and the one in the hallway operated, extinguishing the fire. Firefighters were able to access the property and lead the family to safety.
On the cover of the 2023–2024 review, we have highlighted two quotes from those involved in this fire which help to capture the true value of water based fire suppression.
In the words of the mother, “We couldn’t get out. We were on the tenth floor. It was too high. I can tell you for sure that the sprinklers saved our lives”, with the London Fire Brigade spokesperson saying, “Sprinklers are not a luxury – they save lives and also reduce risk to the firefighters who have to tackle fires”.
That’s what sprinklers do – they save lives and protect our firefighters.
Fire & Risk Management is the UK’s market leading fire safety journal, published 10 times a year, and is available exclusively to FPA members in digital and print format depending on your requirements. You can find out more about our membership scheme here.
Ali Perry is Chief Executive Officer at the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA)