Graham Ferris

IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association, is delighted to announce the introduction of a new course, Understanding a Fire Risk Assessment. The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires that the Responsible Person in a business must have a fire risk assessment in place. British Standard 5306 parts 3 and 8 stipulate that a fire extinguisher servicing technician must confirm the presence of, and check the contents of, a company’s fire risk assessment. This course has been driven by demand from servicing technicians looking to increase their skill set, and gain a deeper understanding of fire risk assessments, to enable them to undertake their role competently. CPD-accredited, fire safety training courses Understanding a Fire Risk Assessment course has CPD accreditation from The CPD Certification Service Understanding a Fire Risk Assessment course has CPD accreditation from The CPD Certification Service. This course is an addition to IFEDA’s comprehensive, CPD-accredited, fire safety industry training courses. The Understanding a Fire Risk Assessment course has been specifically developed to provide servicing technicians with the skills to know what to look for, and importantly, identify any gaps in a company’s fire risk assessment. The course also covers key elements of what must be covered in a fire risk assessment, and provides an awareness of current fire safety legislation. Fire risk assessment Graham Ferris, General Manager at IFEDA, commented, “IFEDA has received many enquiries to introduce a course which would explain the process of a fire risk assessment and the resulting contents. Something that would also provide servicing technicians with an insight is on how to identify any concerns within a fire risk assessment. “ Graham adds, “The introduction of this new course meets these needs, and I’m pleased that we have been able to introduce this course in response to demand. With CPD accreditation, this course complements the existing IFEDA courses, and continues to meet IFEDA’s aim of raising quality standards within the fire protection industry.” Fire maintenance technician course The course is suitable for fire maintenance technicians, owners and managers of fire protection companies, fire safety offices, landlords, and those designated as the responsible person in their place of work.

IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association is celebrating 30 years of raising standards within the fire protection industry. The association was formed on a desire to bring fire extinguisher technician training to the independent fire trade beyond the confines of the manufacturing companies. Credit for the association should go to Mr Dave Hulse and his company National Fire Training. Through his good offices and at the direction of the founding committee members, IFEDA quickly added what was to become one enduring principle, which is the stated aim of raising quality standards within the fire protection industry through third-party accreditation, initially being BS5750 and lately ISO 9001. Fire Protection Service IFEDA members are fire protection service companies, and membership works on the democratic principle of one member, one vote To this day IFEDA requires that its members should achieve third-party accreditation as a means of continued membership. This ensures that the quality standards and workings of member companies and their technicians are independently assessed via UKAS approved schemes such as BAFE SP101 and BAFE SP203 etc. IFEDA itself, whilst being the first fire industry trade association to require members to achieve third-party accreditation, was also the first association within the fire trade to achieve ISO 9001 for its services to members and training courses. IFEDA members are fire protection service companies, and membership works on the democratic principle of one member, one vote. From humble beginnings, IFEDA board members now sit on various industry committees including British Standards workings groups for fire alarms, fire extinguishers and fire safety signage. Cost-Prohibitive In addition they also sit on various BAFE scheme committees including fire extinguisher technicians, fire alarms, kitchen suppression and the dry/wet riser scheme. This ensures that IFEDA members’ voices and points of view are represented across the industry. Graham Ferris, General Manager at IFEDA commented: “There are simply too many people who have made massive and telling contributions to this association over the past 30 years to try and name and pay tribute to their efforts and input, to do so would risk offending an omission who was equally deserving. However, special mention should be made with regards to my immediate predecessor Mr Ray Griffin and our long-time Chairman and now Executive President Mr Colin Payne. Both, in the early 2000’s, were at the inception of major changes in IFEDA not least in making the, then cost-prohibitive, attainment of ISO 9001 available to all the membership, irrespective of their company size.” Authentic Trade Association 2019 marks an important milestone in this fast paced and ever-changing industry" Mike Tobin, Chairman of IFEDA remarked: “2019 marks an important milestone in this fast paced and ever-changing industry. I am honoured to be part of the IFEDA journey which has been built from the heart. With sustainable foundations that are built with human spirit, and a drive to continually improve the relevant industry standards. We believe IFEDA is possibly the most authentic trade association within the fire safety sector. Our aim going forward is to direct our operations to assisting members in a fast-moving market, backed with applications to assist in the day to day engineering of systems and services.” IFEDA continues to raise standards within the fire protection industry, and achieves this by running training courses across a number of disciplines, including: fire alarms, fire extinguishers, dry risers, hose reels, train the trainer, and fire safety signage. All of IFEDA’s training courses have Continuing Professional Development status from the Construction CPD Certification Scheme.

IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association, welcomes Mike Tobin as the new Chairman of the association. Mr Tobin was voted in at the recent IFEDA AGM. Mr Tobin has worked in the fire protection industry for 27 years, and is Managing Director of Security and Fire Experts Ltd (SAFE). With a background in fire detection and alarm systems, he has evolved SAFE, which now provides fire extinguishers, security, and electrical installations to clients worldwide. This recent growth ensures Mr Tobin is up-to-date with fire safety systems and legislation. Having been an active member of IFEDA for 6 years, it was a natural progression for him to be voted in as Chairman of IFEDA. Aim to bring change in IFEDA IFEDA has the clear aim of promoting quality standards within the fire protection industry"Mike Tobin said: “I am deeply honored by the vote of confidence to represent IFEDA as chairman. I am also profoundly grateful to my predecessor, Colin Payne, whom over the years has shown an overwhelming commitment to the industry and our association. I feel there is a need for a change not only in IFEDA but across the industry, and I hope that with the support of the members and the association as a whole, we can work together to have a huge and positive input into this change for the good of all. Rest assured that I will work tirelessly to represent IFEDA and will ensure that I keep the best interests of our association as the main focus.” Promoting quality standards   Graham Ferris, General Manager at IFEDA commented: “We are pleased to welcome Mike to the role of Chairman. With his experienced background in the fire protection industry, Mike will help drive the association forward. “IFEDA has the clear aim of promoting quality standards within the fire protection industry, and with Mike as Chairman, we will continue to achieve this by offering industry approved training courses, and ensuring members work to achieve quality management systems.”