What to Look for When Appointing a Fire Alarm Company in the UK
Your business’s fire alarm system is only as reliable as the company that installs and maintains it. In this guide, we’ll help you identify the key qualities, accreditations and services to look for when appointing a fire alarm company in the UK.
Choosing a fire alarm company to protect your business should be one of your most important business decisions. While cost is always going to affect who you partner with, it shouldn’t be your only consideration, as there’s a lot more to fire safety than just the initial expense. Bringing a professional and reliable fire safety contractor on board will ensure the safety of your staff and property, as well as your business compliance, for years to come.
Appointing a Fire Alarm Company in the UK
When exploring your options, key aspects to consider range from certification and qualifications to reviews and experience. Here’s what to look for when you’re on the hunt for a long-term fire safety partner:
Third-Party Accreditation
The first thing you need to find out is if the fire safety company is fully accredited. Third-party certification like BAFE should be advertised on the company’s website, and you can call them up to ask for evidence of this. They should be able to provide certificates, details of their engineers’ qualifications, as well as proof of their knowledge of the British Standards and fire safety regulations.
Another way of verifying their accreditation is to check directly with the official bodies, such as BAFE, NSI or SSAIB. In a nutshell, this third-party accreditation demonstrates that the company has been independently audited for competency and technical knowledge.
Comprehensive Service Capability
Next, check the services the fire alarm company offers. Are they able to handle everything from system design through to long-term maintenance? Do they work with a range of fire safety and security systems, meaning they have the potential to integrate your systems and become your single point of contact across your entire life safety provision?
If the answer is yes to all of the above, then you’re onto a winner.
Good Reviews
Never underestimate the power of reviews. And if you have a personal recommendation, that’s even better. The fire alarm company’s reputation will be well documented, so look for genuine customer testimonials and ask around. If their clients are happy, then that’s a great sign that they’ll make you happy too.
Proven Experience in Your Sector
It’s also really important to do some research into their past projects and current client partnerships. Fire safety companies should have a range of case studies published online, which can give you an idea of the experience they have in your sector and which types of systems they work with.
It can also be useful to find out how long they’ve been in business, because the longer they’ve been around, the more experience they’ll have had working with different kinds of businesses and life safety systems.
Transparent Pricing
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, make sure the fire alarm company is open and transparent in their service agreements and quotations. It’s never advised to go for the cheapest contractor you can find, as often this will mean lower service quality and more risk of your system breaching fire safety regulations. Instead, look for pricing that is fair and check there are no hidden costs.
The services you’ll receive should also be clearly laid out before any work commences, as well as details such as response times for faults, get-out clauses for long-term contracts, and if user training is provided after install.
Why Choose Midland Fire as Your Fire Alarm Company?
At Midland Fire, we tick all the boxes. We’re a BAFE-accredited fire safety contractor offering a range of fire safety, security and electrical contracting services. We’ve been protecting people and businesses since 1999, and in that time we’ve built up extensive experience working with businesses of all shapes and sizes.
At Midland Fire, we provide a free consultation, in which our fully qualified engineers will assess your site and advise you on the best solutions for your business. We will then go on to design and install your systems, providing you with ongoing maintenance and support once the systems are in place.
Whatever the type or size of your business, call us for fire risk assessments, fire safety systems, life safety systems and security services. Trust us to make sure your company is the safest it can possibly be at all times.
At Midland Fire WE PROTECT. Contact us today for your free consultation.
Your Burning Questions Answered
What is BAFE accreditation and why does it matter?
BAFE accreditation demonstrates that a fire safety company has been independently assessed for competency, compliance and quality management processes.
How do I check if a fire safety company is certified?
You can request proof of accreditation directly from the contractor or verify certifications through official bodies such as BAFE, NSI or SSAIB.
Is Midland Fire accredited to install and maintain fire alarms?
Yes, Midland Fire is approved as a Gent 24 System Integrator, we operate within ISO9001:2015 and we’re a member of BAFE, the FIA, the ECA (FSA) and CHAS.
Can any electrical contractor install a fire alarm system?
No, fire alarm systems should only be designed and installed by competent specialists with the correct certifications, knowledge and compliance experience.
What should be included in a fire alarm maintenance contract?
A maintenance contract should clearly outline inspection schedules, testing procedures, emergency response times, documentation, reporting and compliance responsibilities.
Do you provide maintenance contracts?
Yes, we provide planned preventative maintenance (PPM) contracts and ongoing repair services for fire safety, life safety and security systems. Depending on your business, we have a plan to suit.
What services does Midland Fire Security Services Ltd provide?
Midland Fire designs, installs, commissions and maintains fire alarms, fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, emergency voice call systems, disabled refuge setups and voice alarms. We also install security systems (CCTV, intruder alarms, access control, intercoms) and offer electrical contracting services. We carry out fire risk assessments and provide planned preventative maintenance too.
