Fire safety is never a one-size solution. Every commercial building (and home) is different from the last, which means a fire safety program should be site-specific. But beyond that, the competent fire safety practitioner you partner with should take a genuine interest in the safety of your people and property.
Here are 3 questions to ask fire safety practitioners before making a final choice.
Fill your shortlist with companies who offer comprehensive services and ongoing support tailored to your requirements.
The best competent fire safety practitioners have these capabilities in-house and don’t contract out the work.They are licenced, experienced, and accredited to provide end-to-end fire safety services.
In short, yes. Since 1 July 2020, legislative changes in NSW updated the requirements for accredited fire safety practitioners, previously known as competent fire safety practitioners (CFSPs).
Read more about the NSW fire safety reforms here.
Building codes, Australian Standards and best practice methods evolve over time. Find out how long the company has been in businesshow long the individuals in charge have been in the industry.
As you walk the fire safety practitioner through your premises, ask about their experience with similar buildings. This can help identify risks you might not expect.
Search online and ask for client testimonials. What are current and previous clients saying about the performance standards and customer service? Are the testimonials recent or from years ago?
Associations with representative bodies are a good sign in the fire protection industry. Fire Safe ANZ is a longstanding member of all Australian and New Zealand peak bodies:
Fire protection system costs vary widely depending on the building size, site-specific requirements, ongoing maintenance – the list goes on. We encourage you to shop around and compare quotes, to find a competent fire safety practitioner whose pricing structure is:
Ask about unscheduled charges for things like out-of-hours visits, replacement parts, customer service and equipment rental.
Fire safety includes a hefty compliance component. Your competent fire safety practitioner must keep a thorough, regularly updated record of equipment and inspections:
Find out what system they use, and deep-dive into record keeping to ensure the company is organised.
From the first interaction, you will get a sense of the company’s professionalism. But behind the people you meet is a whole team of Account Managers and office staff. Enquire into how their office works:
Hopefully now you have more confidence going into discussions with fire safety practitioners. If Fire Safe ANZ isn’t on your shortlist already, then get in touch to find out why our comprehensive, tailored approach to fire safety should launch us to the top.
