Why Register with BAFE?
A better question might be, “Why wouldn’t you . . .?” BAFE Registration tells potential customers that you’re appropriately Third-Party Certified to provide and maintain fire safety equipment and systems to the necessary standards.
BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) works with Certification Bodies (CBs) like BSI to carry out audits on its behalf and maintain a directory of certified providers, which potential customers can search and verify online.
For companies working in the fire safety and protection business in the UK, BAFE Registration increasingly looks like a commercial imperative: the UK Government now strongly recommends that those in charge of fire safety choose providers certified by third parties (i.e. UKAS Accredited Certification Bodies such as BSI). The simple fact is that BAFE Registration helps you win business.
About BAFE
BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) is an independent British organization that publishes and maintains a national register of competent fire safety providers. This competency is evidenced through BAFE developed Schemes which outline the criteria required to be audited appropriately.
BAFE Fire Safety Registration is voluntary but very important for those in the UK fire safety and protection industry. Many organizations now require BAFE at the request of their clients if they install or maintain their fire safety systems or fire-safety products and services. BAFE works exclusively with UKAS Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs), which carry out quality checks on its behalf.
BAFE also connects customers with companies they can trust with their directory of independently audited and approved providers.
The BAFE schemes we cover
We audit and certify providers to the BAFE schemes below. In many cases, we offer combined assessments covering more than one Scheme to simplify the certification process. In all cases, providers that meet the standards qualify for the BSI Kitemark.
- SP101 Competency of Portable Fire Extinguisher Organizations and Technicians
A scheme to ensure organizations and the technicians they employ are competent to source the correct fire extinguishers for buildings, commission on-site checks, position and install fire extinguishers, and carry out regular maintenance to the requirements of relevant parts of BS 5306. - SP203-1 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
The BAFE SP203-1 Scheme is split into four modules, system design, installation, commissioning/handover, and maintenance, to ensure that a company only gains BAFE Registration for the specific area(s) of work it provides to the requirements of BS 5839-1 (and BS 5839-6 for Grade A Systems if optional scope is achieved). - SP203-3 Fixed Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems
This Scheme works in much the same way as SP203-1, above, and is split into the same four modules. - SP203-4 Emergency Lighting Systems
The Emergency Lighting Systems Scheme is also divided into four modules: design, installation, commissioning (verification), and maintenance – carrying out work meeting the requirements of BS 5266-1. - SP105 Service & Maintenance of Dry and Wet Riser/Falling Installations
This Scheme, launched in December 2019, provides quality evidence that companies that service/maintain dry and wet riser/falling installations (that are installed in buildings for fire-fighting purposes) are competent to do so. It works to several British Standards, including BS 9990. - SP206 Kitchen Fire Protection Systems
Developed over almost two years, in association with insurers and members of the catering and fire-safety industries and their representatives, launched in the final quarter of 2018. SP206 provides assurance that kitchen fire-protection systems will be competently installed and maintained. Companies are only Registered against the manufacturers/systems they install/maintain. - SP207 Emergency Alert Systems
Launched in October 2020, following consultation with the fire safety industry and the Fire and Rescue Service, SP207 is another modular scheme. Organizations can become certified for one or more of the following: design, installation, commissioning, and/or maintenance of emergency evacuation alert systems.
Fire Systems Installations Kitemark - Stand out from the crowd
As the holder of the Kitemark, you’ll be able to use the symbol for marketing purposes. This means that when potential customers search the BAFE Register, organizations who have achieved BSI Third-Party Certification to a BAFE Scheme shall appear.
Awarded to providers of all sizes, the Kitemark can level the playing field and help smaller businesses compete in a crowded marketplace.
To find out more about how the BSI Kitemark can help your business stand out from the crowd, contact us today using the form.
