New Fire alarm installation

[Reacher]

Hi Guys,
Wondered if anyone in the know can advise:
We recently had a whole new Fire Alarm installation including Call points, auto smoke detectors & new panel. This was finished in February, to date l have received NO Certificate, no site plans and no documentation. Does this take a while to follow, as l have chased the contractor various times to no avail.
I would be grateful for any advice.

[Keyolder]

Are the newly installed call points and smoke detectors numbered? I edited an existing floor plan of our school adding the location and unit number of the call points, the smoke detectors, fire alarm panel and all fire appliances. I included this floor plan along with the alarm control panel manual in a folder that it is stored next to the fire alarm control panel in the school entrance.

[Reacher]

Are the newly installed call points and smoke detectors numbered? I edited an existing floor plan of our school adding the location and unit number of the call points, the smoke detectors, fire alarm panel and all fire appliances. I included this floor plan along with the alarm control panel manual in a folder that it is stored next to the fire alarm control panel in the school entrance.

Thanks for your reply keyolder, i've done that myself as a temporary measure noting all numbered call points & smoke heads and put that in the file to make it easier to do the weekly checks. But wasn't sure if the Contractor was legally bound to provide such documents?

[Vera]

I would have thought that the info would have been provided as part of the commissioning of the new system..

What does your assessor for the new fire RA say? it should have been reviewed and updated as a major change to the school fire risk has happened?

Maybe ask the head to write a strongly worded email to the company involved and try to ensure the invoice is not paid until you have the documentation.

[Keyolder]

But wasn't sure if the Contractor was legally bound to provide such documents?

From memory all the installer supplied were the instruction manuals for the newly installed equipment. The system was commisioned and the results were also included.

[Robdog]

I would have thought that the info would have been provided as part of the commissioning of the new system..

What does your assessor for the new fire RA say? it should have been reviewed and updated as a major change to the school fire risk has happened?

Maybe ask the head to write a strongly worded email to the company involved and try to ensure the invoice is not paid until you have the documentation.

Agree, should have all been given, along with some training on the panel as part of commissioning hand over.

[Nail]

Agree, should have all been given, along with some training on the panel as part of commissioning hand over.

Agreed.

Has final payment been made yet?

[Reacher]

Agreed.

Has final payment been made yet?

Yep final payment was made in March as Head was keen to get bills through in that tax yr. We have been given nothing not even a panel handbook!
Only training given was .... this is what you do to turn off the alarm!!
Think i'm gonna have to have strong words with their MD and pin them down.

[Vera]

Yep final payment was made in March as Head was keen to get bills through in that tax yr. We have been given nothing not even a panel handbook!
Only training given was .... this is what you do to turn off the alarm!!
Think i'm gonna have to have strong words with their MD and pin them down.

That's very poor..
for one as long as the invoice is before April and the funding has been allocated it matters not that the payment is later.

The lack of a proper commissioning, paperwork and handover would concern me do you have a maintenance contract with the company for ongoing servicing?

[Reacher]

That's very poor..
for one as long as the invoice is before April and the funding has been allocated it matters not that the payment is later.

The lack of a proper commissioning, paperwork and handover would concern me do you have a maintenance contract with the company for ongoing servicing?

NO we plan on using Chubb for maintenance, they have today sent over system drawings showing zones and various certificates. Still waiting on a handbook etc.
Pretty shoddy all round really, bearing in mind they say they are specialists in Fire Safety & Security! They were recommended to us by another School, who's Trust we were going to join at the time.
The work started in October half term and was to be finished by --- (The seasonal word only permitted in December) --- then various excuses were made saying they hadn't priced it for Weekend work, after l stated the obvious that they were seriously running out of time, they reluctantly started working half days on a Saturday! Hence why it wasn't finished until February. Not to mention the awful mess they left everywhere on a daily basis, like dust and boot prints all over the Kitchen food prep stations, discarded screwdrivers in Nursery & Reception classrooms......

Won't be recommending them to others in Hertfordshire to say the least.