Month: February 2021

Diamond Systems’ Joint Managing Director, Angela Bennett was recently named as the UK Business Manager of the Year at the Women in Security awards, held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Professional Security Magazine presented the Women in Security Awards 2020, which was broadcast live on You Tube on February 10th.

This year there was a massive number of entries and ten judges from leading security sector bodies drew up a shortlist of 15 finalists, 3 in each category. The 15 finalists were invited to join in the virtual ceremony via a zoom call, during which the winners in each category were announced.

The event is the security profession’s dedicated awards to recognise and honour the accomplishments, value and contributions of women within the wider world of security. Angela was a finalist in the Business Manager category, which recognised outstanding leadership, developing and running a business

Roy Cooper, Managing Director of Professional Security Magazine congratulated Angela Bennett for her win in the Business Manager category, saying, “Angela’s nomination was clearly the best out of the large number of entries received. I would like to complement her on her achievement as great and fantastic business manager”.

Angela commented, “It was an honour to be involved in such a fantastic event which promotes and celebrates women in the security sector. Although the event had to be held virtually, it was a really great night, and even better that I was able to share the celebration with family at home”.

 

Fire and security systems are there to protect lives and assets, but all too often, maintenance of these systems is substandard, putting you and your business at risk.

If you are responsible for non-domestic premises, you will have engaged with an alarm maintenance provider. They will inspect your system at regular intervals, you will pay them an annual fee, and the relationship may continue for many years.

But are they telling you everything you need to know?

Here are 5 questions you should ask your alarm maintenance provider to keep yourself well-informed:

1. Is the company third party certified?
   This means that an independent expert, (the third party), has assessed the business and found that it has met certain standards. The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is the most widely recognised mark of approval in security and fire safety, and NSI Gold is the highest standard awarded. Alarm maintenance companies should be able to provide you with a copy of their certification. Make sure the certificate is relevant to the type of alarm system being maintained, as there are separate schemes for fire alarms and security systems.
2. Can you have a copy of the engineers’ maintenance report?
   If the maintenance company is third party certified, they should be providing you with this report as a matter of course. It may be electronic or hard copy, but either way, you need to get it as it will tell you what checks have been carried out on the system, and what the results were. In relation to fire alarms, the maintenance provider should carry out a 100% test of all the devices once per year, with intervening periodic inspections testing a portion of these. This should all be documented on the report. The report should be retained on file by you, as proof of servicing, and you should always satisfy yourself that you understand what has been noted on the report. It may include important recommendations, and highlight anything that needs remedial action.
3. Is the system still fit for purpose?
   Since the original system was installed, the building usage may have changed; it may have been extended, or repartitioned. All these factors impact on the system’s operability, whether it be a fire alarm, CCTV, or intruder alarm system. You should discuss any changes with the maintenance provider.
4. What is the age of the system and what is the manufacturers’ recommended life span?
   This is particulalry relevant for fire alarm systems, as typically fire alarms will need upgraded after 10 – 15 years, with detectors changed as a minimum.  If you are about to purchase a new alarm system, always check what the manufacturers recommended life span is so you can evaluate the total cost of ownership. It is worth checking that the system still complies with applicable legislation, for example the Equality Act.
5. Can you see evidence of the engineers’ competency?
   This is very important as it will ensure that the engineers working on your system are trained and are competent – imagine the potential risk of an inexperienced person working on your fire alarm in particular! The Fire Industry Association provides certificated training for engineers and is used extensively by professional maintenance companies.

Diamond Systems has over 30 years’ experience and are NSI Gold accredited for both fire and security alarm systems.

If you would like a quotation for alarm maintenance from Diamond Systems, please get in touch on 02890 207 207 or email sales@diamondsystems.co.uk.

As a business owner, it is important to be aware that COVID 19 does not detract from your responsibilities for fire safety in the workplace.

The stark reality is that the immediate risk to life from a fire greatly exceeds the risk from COVID-19.

Here are 5 simple fire safety tips to help you plan for a safe return to the workplace:

1. Review your existing fire safety procedures and documentation, including the key document for business owners -the fire risk assessment. If you don’t currently have a fire risk assessment, contact us about getting this vital fire safety document created, or an existing one brought up to date.
2. Consider if your existing fire safety procedures and documentation need amended in light of any changes made due to COVID-19. For example, have all designated fire wardens or fire marshals returned from furlough? Has there been any change to the layout of the premises to facilitate social distancing? Are newly erected screens or partitioning impacting on fire detection or warning device capabilities? Such changes should not be overlooked as they may be critical to your emergency plan and fire detection operational effectiveness.
3. After any amendments to your fire safety procedures and documentation have been made, it is essential to confirm that the changes can be implemented effectively. Do they present unintended consequences that will only become apparent when they are tested? For example, how will you ensure social distancing is maintained during a fire drill? Do one-way systems, safety screens and queuing systems impact on the escape routes and travel distances?
4. Ensure safety measures introduced to manage the risks related to COVID-19 do not unintentionally create security risks, which in turn can increase the risk of arson. For example, have you deactivated access control systems to limit touch points? You may want to consider contact free access control, to help protect your premises whilst taking account of COVID measures.
5. It is essential that you continue with all testing and maintenance regarding fire safety systems and equipment. If you have delayed inspections of fire extinguishers or maintenance of fire alarm systems, citing COVID-19 as your reason for doing so, this should be addressed urgently. The minimum servicing interval for fire detection and alarm systems is 6 months.

If you are responsible for fire safety within your business, we can assist you with your responsibilities, particularly within a changing workplace due to COVID 19.

Why not get in touch to register your interest in our free upcoming webinars on fire safety for business owners by emailing sales@diamondsystems.co.uk.