The Fire Industry Training Academy (FITA) is the benchmark provider for educating and training professionals within the fire industry.
The organisation supports those seeking to gain fire safety compliance – whether an individual, small company, SME, industrial space or large-scale public sector body. FIFA can advise on what the government expects in terms of ensuring buildings are fire safe.
@FITA_fire: “Training may seem like an expensive luxury, but is a lack of training a luxury you can afford?”
We are here to facilitate the rise of a new generation of fire safety technicians, giving confidence that tomorrow will be a safer place, “No Compromise”.
But their main role is to train individuals and to provide qualifications to ensure that competency has been achieved, i.e. that the individual giving out advice is a certified professional. Their training includes an interactive classroom experience. This is backed up with the latest equipment and what they refer to as a ‘blended approach to fire training in a modern environment.’ They offer a number of regulated and accredited courses covering a wide range of services.
There have, of course, been changes within the Fire Industry since the Grenfell Tragedy in London – the Fire Safety Act in 2021 being one such new introduction.
The BS5839-1:2017 is the British Standard for fire detection and alarm systems in the UK. You may not be aware that recommendations for all fire alarm installations in non-domestic buildings have changed. But are the staff in charge of fire safety within your building fully up to speed with the new legislation?
Just how competent do you feel your staff are with fire safety measures? One way to know for sure is to check their qualifications. Accepted certifications include aLevel 2/3 Ofqual certificate. Continual Professional Development (CPD) refresher training and the maintenance of individual skills are also important, as is membership in a recognised competency body such as the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) or similar.
Since July 2021, individuals working on fire alarm systems have an obligation to show their qualifications via the ECS Card scheme. There has also been talk of a “Gas Safe” approach to working on any fire safety systems within the fire industry. But this will require future lobbying of the government.
A new role introduced by the Building Safety Act is that of a Building Safety Manager (BSM). Under the Building Safety Bill, a building’s Principal Designer and Principal Contractor will, like the BSM, face regulation.
Changes to the Fire Bill mean there will undoubtedly be gaps in compliance for many businesses in South Wales. Legally, your fire training and fire compliance have to be up to the appropriate standard levels outlined by the fire safety act 2021. At FireRite, we have the knowledge, experience and skills to advise and help you with your fire warden training, including the certified installation of fire doors.
