Month: June 2025

We’re delighted to share the fantastic news that our fourth year apprentice, Chris Bradford, has successfully completed his EAL Level 3 NVQ in Providing Electronic Fire and Security Systems with South Eastern Regional College (SERC).

Since joining Diamond Systems in 2021, Chris has shown impressive dedication and a strong desire to learn and grow. Chris was the first ever apprentice to go through our Diamond Development Plan, a 90 day onboarding programme that gives our new apprentices a flying start.

Over the course of his qualification, Chris has demonstrated his ability to:

• Install and commission fire detection and alarm systems
• Communicate effectively with customers
• Follow health and safety best practices
• Conduct maintenance, fault-finding, and technical audits in real-world settings

Chris completed practical modules at a range of client sites, showing real commitment to mastering each element of his training — from cable installation and system handovers to method statements and sound level testing.

Chris’ achievement has been further reinforced by a glowing report from his SERC (South Eastern Regional College) lecturer:

“Your understanding of the operational requirements for the site, your ability to communicate effectively with the project manager and myself, demonstrated your knowledge of the system and awareness of health and safety hazards. You are a credit to yourself and Diamond, and you have made great progress over the year.“

The achievement is a significant milestone in Chris’s professional development, and we are incredibly proud to have supported him on this journey. His contribution to the team continues to grow, and we’re excited to see what he’ll do next as a fully qualified member of our engineering team.

Well done, Chris – you’ve earned it!

We were delighted to exhibit at the All Ireland Sustainability Summit in Belfast – a fantastic day packed with inspiring conversations, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to building a more sustainable future for businesses across the island of Ireland.

At the Diamond Systems stand, we showcased our eco-friendly, low-maintenance P50 Fire Extinguishers from Britannia Fire Ltd. These extinguishers are a powerful alternative to traditional models – requiring no annual servicing from a third party and lasting up to 20 years. It’s a simple switch with a significant environmental impact.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello. We hope you left with fresh ideas on how fire and security systems can help drive your sustainability agenda, rather than hold it back.

If you missed us on the day – or didn’t get a chance to take our quick quiz – you can still find out how sustainable your fire and security systems are by taking our scorecard here:
👉 Click to take the quiz

---

Five Quick Sustainability Wins for Smarter Fire & Security

For businesses serious about reducing their environmental impact without compromising on safety, here are five easy wins we shared at the event:

🔥 Use one trusted fire and security partner
Fewer contractors = fewer site visits = lower emissions.

💻 Choose a provider with remote servicing capabilities
Embrace digital diagnostics to reduce travel and carbon output.

🧯 Ditch PFAS foam extinguishers in favour of P50s
No toxic chemicals. No annual engineer servicing. Just smart.

📱 Expect software like Uptick for real-time access to reports
Digital records eliminate paper waste and reduce admin overhead.

🚨 Cut false alarms and unnecessary callouts
Upgrading to intelligent detectors and using BAFE-approved companies reduces false alarms and NIFRS attendance.

Each of these actions might seem small, but together, they create meaningful impact – for your carbon footprint, your compliance, and your bottom line.

---

And the Winner Is…

Congratulations to Sara Allen from Magheramore Estate, winner of our event prize draw! Sara takes home a Home Safety Pack including a fire blanket, carbon monoxide detector, and first aid kit. 👏👏👏

---

If you’re ready to make your fire and security setup more sustainable, we’d love to help. From high-quality systems to expert advice and ongoing support, Diamond Systems is proud to lead the way in combining innovation, compliance and environmental responsibility.

Let’s protect people, property, and the planet — together. 🌍

On the morning of 17th June 2025, we welcomed fire alarm designers, specifiers, engineers, and end users from across Northern Ireland to our Breakfast Briefing on the newly updated BS 5839-1:2025 standard and changes to NI Building Regulations Technical Booklet E. The beautiful T3 Conference Centre in Lisburn was our venue, unique in that the room hire rate is donated entirely to charity.

With significant fire safety updates now in force, including revised competency requirements and updated detection guidance for sleeping risks, staying informed is essential for anyone involved in fire detection and alarm system design, installation or maintenance.

---

Industry Insight Straight from the Experts

We were delighted to host Will Lloyd from the Fire Industry Association (FIA), who made the journey to Belfast to deliver an in-depth and engaging presentation on the changes to BS 5839-1 – the British Standard for fire detection and alarm systems in non-domestic buildings.

Some of the topics Will covered included:

• 🔧 Revised competency definitions
• 📋 Variations and zone plans
• 📶 Alarm transmission and class change systems
• 🛏️ Detection changes for L2 sleeping risks
• 🚧 Obstructions (e.g. ductwork)
• 🔍 Accessibility for maintenance
• 🔥 Use of heat detectors and cable requirements
• 🧰 Pink sleeving (Will’s personal highlight!)
• 🚨 Transparent covers on manual call points
• 🧪 Battery calculations
• 🔐 Cybersecurity considerations
• 🔁 Service intervals and system integrity

Fun fact: BS 5839 has been around for 45 years and has only undergone 11 revisions – making this latest version one of the most comprehensive to date.

---

Updates to Northern Ireland Building Regulations

Our own Angela Bennett MSc, FCA, Joint Managing Director of Diamond Systems, also provided a clear and concise overview of recent changes to Technical Booklet E, the fire safety guidance within the Northern Ireland Building Regulations.

One of the key updates is the requirement at project handover to provide comprehensive Fire Safety Information to the occupier – and to notify the relevant local council that this has been done. This is a significant change for developers and building control officers alike, reinforcing the importance of clear fire safety communication from project start to finish.

---

Staying Compliant, Connected – and Well-Fed!

With a packed room of local engineering consultants and fire safety professionals, it was fantastic to see so many engaged attendees taking proactive steps to stay up to date with legislation and standards.

Events like these help ensure our industry remains informed, compliant, and connected – and they’re a great opportunity to earn CPD hours while enjoying a coffee and a scone!

---

Want to Stay in the Loop?

If you’d like to be notified about future Diamond Systems briefings, CPD sessions, or training events, get in touch with our team or follow us on LinkedIn for updates.

Until then, if you’re working on fire alarm designs, make sure you’re working from the 2025 version – and if you need support interpreting the changes or reviewing your specifications, we’re happy to help.