The current edition of the BAFE DS301 Domestic Fire Alarm Scheme document details the minimum requirements necessary to determine the competence of you or your employees to carry out the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises in compliance with the current version of BS 5839-6.
This BAFE DS301 Scheme has been developed to permit organisations involved in the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic properties to become third party certificated and registered in recognition of their competence to undertake their scope of work. By so doing, the Certificates of Compliance (CoC) issued by Certificated Organisations, on completion of their work, will give the Client and end-user confidence that the work has been correctly undertaken and provide evidence of competence.
The BAFE DS301 Scheme recognises the importance of providing compliant fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises while at the same time minimising false alarms.
The BAFE DS301 Scheme is modular and allows organisations to be certificated for one or a combination of modules that cover the following work activities:
- Design
- Installation
- Commissioning
- Maintenance
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Scheme Details
Geographical Scope: United Kingdom
Approval: Carried out under NAPIT’s ISO 9001 Quality System
Scheme Requirements
The following general conditions must be met:
Relevant Standards - You or your employees must hold, or have access to, the technical standards for the approved scope. The BAFE DS301 Scheme document can be accessed on the BAFE website (www.bafe.org.uk), BS 5839-6 Code of Practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises (current edition) and BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations (current edition) which is available to purchase at https://www.napitdirect.co.uk/.
Legal Requirements - All electrical work must be carried out safely under the Electricity at Work Regulations. A copy of HSR25 is available as a free download from the HSE website (www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsr25.htm). In England and Wales domestic work must comply with the Building Regulations; In Scotland, the Building (Scotland) Regulations and their associated Technical Handbooks; In Northern Ireland, the Building Regulations, and their associated Technical Booklets. These documents are available as a free download from the NAPIT website.
Qualifications - You or your employees must have qualifications (or equivalent) in fire detection and fire alarms systems in domestic premises in accordance with the current version of BS 5839-6 and the Level 3 Award in Requirements for Electrical Installations in accordance with the current version of BS 7671. NAPIT has produced guides to electrical and fire qualifications.
Insurance - £2 million public and products liability insurance covering all the work activities being undertaken or within the scope of the application and have at least £250,000 professional indemnity insurance (depending on modules/work activities – please check with your insurer) with a scope of cover that reflects the work carried out and building type involved. Employers liability insurance cover is also required dependent on organisation size.
Instruments - You or your employees must have access to sufficient test instruments and equipment to carry out tests relevant to your scope of work as well as an in-date calibration certificate for equipment, where applicable.
Inspection - You must make available suitable work to demonstrate you or your employees’ ability to comply with BS 5839-6, the Electricity at Work Regulations, BS 7671 and the Building Regulations. You must also make available the items listed in the BAFE DS301 Scheme document, along with any other items specified by NAPIT.
Document Management System - You must operate a suitable documented management system.
Certification - Suitable certificates must be provided to customers in line with the current version of the BAFE DS301 Scheme document, BS 5839-6 and BS 7671.
BAFE Notification - All work that falls within the scope of your BAFE certification shall be notified within 21 days of completion in order for NAPIT to issue a BAFE Certificate of Compliance or Module Certificate and to notify BAFE.
Website Listing - Once successfully registered, you will be added to the NAPIT and BAFE online search facilities. Note: It is a requirement for organisations wishing to register for the BAFE DS301 Scheme for installation work to hold current registration with a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) for electrical installation work in dwellings or equivalent for Scotland and Northern Ireland.