Installation & Maintenance of Fire Alarm Systems

Installing and maintaining modern fire alarm systems requires particular skill sets and technical knowledge as they are essential to protect property and most importantly the lives of a building’s occupants. For this purpose Access Training’s bespoke fire alarm systems course provides delegates with the knowledge and skills to install and maintain these systems so fire can be detected quickly and to prevent false alarms.

The course itself begins by addressing current legislation and the codes of practice that are applicable to Fire Alarm Systems. Candidates will then learn about the differing system categories and types of detectors, alarm zones, alarms units and their practical applications.

Candidates will also be taught the practical issues of system maintenance, the required certification and how to report. Above all the course provides underpinning knowledge and the specialist technical expertise required to install and test fire alarm and fire detection systems. The overall purpose of this course is to enable candidates to gain the underpinning knowledge and practical skills required to design, install and commission Emergency Lighting Systems. This course is designed for anyone including practicing Electrical Installers, Building Maintenance Personnel, Emergency Lighting Installers and anyone else who has the desire to learn the hands-on, practical skills to be able to work on Fire Alarm Systems. Other areas the course will cover includes risk assessment analysis and considerations that need to be made for building layout, allowing for the designation of standard emergency escape routes. Ultimately the course will provide additional skills for fire alarm installers and electrical installers giving them the ability to design emergency lighting schemes.

This course will provide for tutoring on two levels; it will cover the essential elements for new electrical installers and engineers in addition to providing a challenging new skill to learn for most experienced engineers or electrical installers.

Even thought there are no entry requirements to attend this course, we would advise that the course is suitable individuals who have at least some prior knowledge of electrical principles and electrical theory. This is because the course is intensive and uses common electrical terminology and uses practical examples of Emergency Lighting Systems that only candidate with some knowledge will understand. If you are in any doubt as to your suitability then please call. The benefits of attending this course with Access Training are numerous and include the fact that after the course every engineer or candidate will be able to provide their clients with advice on emergency lighting, be able to design a new lighting scheme and be able to install, test and carry out maintenance tasks on emergency lighting. Access Training’s courses ensure that candidates are trained to the high standards required by the building services and Electrical Industries. They help to support and provide a skilled and flexible workforce that gives our students the best preparation for their future career. We offer choice, customer focus and technical expertise in all areas of the construction industry and this course forms part of our specialist range of Electrical qualifications. (Covering the Requirements for Emergence Lighting Systems BS5266)

• How to zone and connect large fire alarm systems
• Understand the British Standards for fire alarm systems
• Understanding fire panels and constituent components
• How to terminate mains supplies for detectors
• How to site call points and detector components
• How to identify different types of available detectors including BGUs, sounders etc
• Connecting Break Glass Units (BGUs) to a fire alarm system
• How to fault find in cabling, malfunctioning detectors etc
• How to commission a fire alarm system using walk tests and testing for functionality
• Completing relevant paperwork and issuing certificates for systems after commissioning
• How to minimise false alarms
• How to select the correct cable types

Guided Learning: 2 days The course itself can be taken on its own or can form the ideal complement to our Emergency Lighting Installation Course. This is because the Fire Alarm Systems course will raise the alarm in the event of a fire, with the emergency lighting highlighting all suitable escape routes that are available making them easy to follow. These systems have for some time now been considered to be an integral part of any commercial buildings and are designed to operate automatically when the primary source of lighting fails. Emergency lighting then remains illuminated for a specific period so all inhabitants can evacuate the building.

After this course some students also undertake the EAL Part P Domestic Installers qualification and go further with their training. If this is the case then we recommend that completing both as complete package ensures that the student has practical experience as well as theoretical knowledge of electrical work. This provides students who successfully complete both courses with a good grounding and the ability to carry our domestic installations safely and within the regulations.

Our electrical courses provide a clear progression route, helping learners to achieve the career goals they aspire to. Successful candidates can progress to higher level work during their career and can for example move on to work in the Building Services Industry in roles such as Project Management. This helps those who wish to, to progress from skilled occupations into technical, supervisory or managerial posts. The Level 3 Inspection & Testing also provides candidates with a route to becoming certified to carry out work testing existing electrical installations and gain even more lucrative work in the sector.

• City & Guilds 2382-10: Certificate in 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations BS 7671:2008 (Level 3)
• City & Guilds 2392-10: Certificate in Fundamental Inspection, Testing and Initial Verification (Level 2)
• City & Guilds 2391-10: Certificate in Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations (Level 3)
• City & Guilds 2391-20: Certificate in Design, Erection and Verification of Electrical Installations (Level 3)

Access Training is committed to the highest standards of customer focus and technical expertise, with a host of benefits including:

• Specialist, professionally qualified teaching staff with a wealth of industry experience.
• Enhanced Online Assessments, allowing students to sit exams with flexibility to fit around their speed of learning.
• 24hr online support for all student questions and queries when studying away from the training centre.

The main areas include:

• South Wales
  (Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend)
• South of England
  (Bristol, Gloucester, Bath, Swindon, Oxford, Reading, Slough, London)
• The Midlands
  (Birmingham, Hereford, Worcester, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester)
• The South West
  (Devon, Cornwall, Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton)

Information regarding our electrical courses is available from our Course Advice Team. Please call for advice or leave your details and we’ll contact you!