IFSEC Insider is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
Andrew Sansom is a freelance editor, writer, and journalist with 14 years' experience in B2B publishing, both in print and online. He spent nine years - in two separate spells - at the Safety & Health Practitioner (SHP) magazine, including six years as deputy editor. He has also worked on a number of fire and security and public-sector IT magazines at UBM and Kable (part of The Guardian Media Group), respectively. Currently associate editor at healthcare and architectural magazine World Health Design, he is also one half of Sansom and Sansom Associates - but he is claiming the "and" as well.
With security and fire-safety functions increasingly interconnected, growing numbers of security installers are diversifying into the fire sphere.
The large number of fires instigated through arson – accounting for around 40% of total fires attended annually, according to the Government’s Fire Statistics Monitor – certainly highlights the strong correlation between the two disciplines.
Indeed, fire safety consultant Lawrence Webster Forrest suggests that, for managers with “responsibility for protecting a building’s occupants not only from fire but also from the threat of intrusion”, it is possible “to satisfy the requirements of fire safety and security by the incorporation of an integrated package of measures”.
With fire detection and alarm technologies increasingly monitored from the control room businesses understandably value the convenience of a unified solution, both in terms of installation and ongoing maintenance. The benefits to security installers of diversifying into fire are obvious.
Higher stakes
And while fire-safety brings with it myriad regulatory obligations, a security background does give installers a solid platform to diversify into fire detection at an entry level. But if the past decade has seen a steady stream of security engineers diversify into fire, then misgivings over the greater risk involved – lives being more at stake – have arguably prevented it from becoming a flood.
“The parity between security and fire is relatively obvious,” says Ian Gurling, training manager at the Fire Industry Association (FIA), which schools installers in the British Standards governing fire safety. “What I believe makes installers hesitant is the life-safety aspect and potential risk of litigation if something goes wrong. But with proper learning, the right tools for the job, and by developing experience, the security installer can become competent to work in fire, just as they already have in security.”
The enactment of the Regulatory Reform Order 2005, which shifted the burden of responsibility for fire-risk assessments onto building owners, heralded numerous prosecutions, some resulting in hefty fines. Suitable fire equipment must be installed and maintained by a ‘competent person’. Under the order, a person is regarded as competent where they possess sufficient training, and experience or knowledge, and other qualities that enable them to properly assist in undertaking preventive measures.
A passionate advocate of training and competence, (the FIA not only provides training on the requirements of relevant British and EU Standards but also support for businesses seeking to demonstrate competence through third-party certification), Gurling says security installers are right to be wary – complacency being a cardinal sin in fire prevention. But as long as security installers are prepared to undertake the necessary training, then they’re well placed to enter the fire installation market, prosper and stay out of trouble.
Transferrable skills
“Many of the physical skills are transferrable, but it is understanding the requirements of the British Standards, the technologies, and the principles of fire that make a difference,” says Gurling. “Without understanding how smoke performs, for example, it would be very easy to install a detector in the wrong place, or install an alarm system that gets drowned out by background noise and proves to be entirely ineffectual.”
He continues: “It is often felt that in protecting life, the requirements of system design, installation and commissioning, plus subsequent maintenance, make fire necessarily complicated – but this isn’t always the case. I won’t deny that fully engineered systems, with closely controlled evacuation strategies, can be confusing and complicated. Such systems, however, are the exception not the norm, and BS 5839 provides comprehensive guidance on designing, installing, commissioning and maintaining systems for varying levels of protection for most premises.”
Gurling concedes that the range of technology available represents a steep learning curve even for security installers. In the area of smoke detection alone, he lists point detectors, beam detectors and aspirating systems. Then there are heat detectors in point, beam and linear forms, video detection of smoke and/or flames, as well as detectors for carbon monoxide.
It doesn’t stop there, he adds. “There are alarm systems that include bells and sounders, just as you would expect from a security system, but we also have vibration alert systems designed to warn people who have hearing difficulties, flashing beacons, and voice alarm systems. Understanding how, where and when to use these technologies – whether in accordance with a design standard or fully engineered as part of a complex fire strategy for the building – is key.”
Although labyrinthine regulations might deter some security practitioners from venturing into the fire-prevention arena, there’s a significant crossover in terms of installation methods, suggests Gurling. “Methods of installation remain similar for both disciplines, and this is probably where diversification counts,” he explains. “The bulk of the work for the systems sector of the industry remains in the fields of installation and maintenance. As with any security system, the technician will need to know the specifics of the system components, which will be gained from the OEM.”
Ultimately, it is via this approach that security installers can reap future dividends, concludes Gurling: “Diversifying at this level of the industry leaves scope for future development and specialisation into the more technically demanding fields of system design and commissioning.”
Discover the latest developments in the rapidly-evolving video surveillance sector by downloading the 2023 Video Surveillance Report. Over 500 responses to our survey, which come from integrators to consultants and heads of security, inform our analysis of the latest trends including AI, the state of the video surveillance market, uptake of the cloud, and the wider economic and geopolitical events impacting the sector!
Download for FREE to discover top industry insight around the latest innovations in video surveillance systems.
More Custom, Higher Stakes: Should Security Installers Diversify into Fire?With security and fire-safety functions increasingly interconnected, growing numbers of security installers are diversifying into fire - but is it worth the hassle?
Andrew Sansom
IFSEC Insider | Security and Fire News and Resources
Related Topics
Firestopping training course launched by ASFP for installers
Two new Experienced Worker Assessment routes approved for fire and security industry
Amthal expands accredited fire and security training to consultant and specifier customers
