The Vital Role Of Accreditation And Certification In The Fire Industry

The fire engineering industry is an important element in ensuring the safety and security of people, property, and assets. It plays a vital role in preventing and/ or limiting the impact of fire. 

Like many industries the fire engineering industry is not immune to regulation. It is crucial to ensure that fire protection systems and solutions have the correct and relevant accreditation and certification so that they meet industry standards, are safe to use and are effective in fighting off and preventing fires.

Fire protection systems that are accredited and certified also give customers peace of mind when making informed decisions on which fire suppression, detection and extinguishing systems to install to protect their business, assets and people. 

What is accreditation and certification?

Accreditation is when a product or service undergoes third party evaluation by an independent body, to determine if the product or service complies with industry requirements for safety and quality.

A certified product or service has been designed and developed in accordance to the different regulations and standards issued by a certification body.

Fire Risks to assets and companies

Any contractor can position themselves as accredited and certified without the backing of proper documentation. This makes it vital for customers to ensure that they are putting their trust in a reputable institution who can provide the necessary documentation to back their claim.

This can help businesses avoid risks such as:

• Installing a system that is non-operational
• Trusting contractors who lack required safety training
• Improperly designed and installed systems
• Damage to equipment during discharge
• System rendered ineffective in extinguishing or suppressing a fire 

Key reasons to install accredited and certified systems from a reputable contractor 

• Safety

It is important for systems to be accredited and certified to create assurance that they perform as intended. Fire systems that are accredited and certified have undergone thorough testing and evaluation to guarantee that they meet industry standards for safety and reliability.

• Compliance 

It is a requirement by many authorities that a fire suppression or extinguishing system meets the applicable accreditation and certification standards. This provides certainty that these systems and solutions comply with the regulations and specifications. It also ensures that customers are using systems that meet legal requirements. 

• Quality 

To ensure that a fire protection product is of satisfactory quality it must be designed, inspected and maintained in accordance with the appropriate regulations and standards. Customers who invest in a quality, accredited and certified system are assured that they are choosing systems that are efficient and effective for the long run.

• Credibility

When a product has been accredited and certified it provides credibility not only to product, but to the seller as well. Accreditation and certification, shows that a product that has undergone evaluation and verification and has therefore received third party approval giving end-users confidence in the product that they are using.

• Insurance

Installing certified fire protection systems is a requirement by some insurance companies. This ensures that the customer is compliant with stipulated regulations and may save the end-user money by potentially reducing the cost on insurance premiums.

Verifying that a product or service has received third party approval and is accredited and certified, is essential in the fire engineering industry.

It ensures that products are of acceptable quality, safe and compliant and also verifies the credibility of the seller and / or manufacturer.  Additionally, product accreditation and certification, provide confidence to clients that the products they are trusting meet industry standards.  

Alien Systems and Technologies is ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Reach out to us – we have the expertise, experience and accreditations needed to ensure that your fire suppression system is installed, commissioned, and maintained to the highest standards, giving you peace of mind and value for money.