Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

Misting manufacturer launches new competency framework

2023-06-14T21:20:41Z

Plumis Ltd: Created page with "The original inventor of Automist, an electronic watermist fire suppression system that is installed in homes across the UK and the US, has launched a new training suite to demon..."

The original inventor of Automist, an electronic watermist fire suppression system that is installed in homes across the UK and the US, has launched a new training suite to demonstrate the competency of its installers.

Each year, Automist Authorised Reseller Installers (ARIs) are required to undertake a rigorous audit as part of its policy of continual improvement and commitment to providing excellent service through its network of more than 30 installers.

In addition, each individual installer will now be required to complete Plumis’ learning management modules providing the British engineering company with a golden thread of data about the skills and competency of each installer.

Modules cover a wide range of fire suppression topics including compliance with BS 8458, installation and commissioning Plumis’ domestic sprinkler system. As part of the training, some modules require installers to upload a video of themselves demonstrating that they can fulfil the technical requirements as part of the assessment.

Accessed through an online portal, the training is designed to enable the misting manufacturer to easily monitor and keep installers up to date with regulations and technical changes.

Installers will achieve certificates for each completed course, which will also be publicly available on Plumis’ website for prospective and existing procurement teams to access.

Yusuf Muhammad, Chief Design Officer and co-founder at Plumis explained: “Competency remains a huge challenge across building and fire safety and I’m a big believer that tackling the issue will not rely on qualifications alone.

“It requires a constant building of knowledge, ability, training and experience, which is exactly the approach we take as a company when it comes to promoting professional and continual development across our team and external networks.

[[File:Installer from BCK finalising plans for Automist installation.jpg]]

“This new learning platform has been designed so that we can create a golden thread that demonstrates and instils confidence about our system and those installing it, while also enabling us to ensure any technical information or changes is communicated as efficiently as possible.”

Plumis has officially rolled the training out to its ARIs with plans to begin publicising the data and credentials achieved by its installers in the coming months. This is the first in a series of measures the suppression specialist will be launching to demonstrate its networks commitment to competence.

[[Category:Other_legislation]] [[Category:Regulations]]

File:Installer from BCK finalising plans for Automist installation.jpg

2023-06-14T21:20:04Z

Plumis Ltd: Installer from BCK finalising plans for Automist installation.jpg

Installer from BCK finalising plans for Automist installation.jpg

Raising the bar of competency

2023-05-24T15:33:04Z

Plumis Ltd:

By William Makant, co-founder and CEO of [https://plumis.co.uk/ fire suppression] specialist, Plumis

I’ve delivered a number of webinars throughout my career, most of which have been on innovation in fire safety, person-centred fire strategies and designing for the future.

Despite exploring a wide range of topics and sitting alongside various panellists from across both the fire safety and housing sectors, there is one theme that remains prevalent throughout every discussion and that is about raising the bar of competency.

In an attempt to set an example in my own organisation, my co-founder and I have both recently completed a Level 5 Diploma in Fire Engineering Design. This is a qualification aimed at building control officers, approved inspectors and the wider fire safety sector including assessors, engineers and managers.

Underpinning nearly all UK building regulations is fire engineering, so it was really important for us to ensure we as fire suppression specialists have a good understanding of the key principles.

While this qualification has enhanced our knowledge, we know that competency is not just having a qualification. Competence requires a constant building and development of knowledge, ability, training and experience. And in my view, to be competent you also need the know-how and courage to question the assumptions of our predecessors and look for new solutions in an ever-changing landscape.

As a result, in a world where technology leads and regulations follow, it can take a great amount of time and people (with the relevant skills and competencies) to overcome their own pre-established beliefs, understand improved outcomes and adopt new technologies - like the systems developed by my own company.

With this in mind, we’ve rolled out a number of initiatives to improve and demonstrate competency including with our own approved [https://plumis.co.uk/water-mist-domestic-fire-sprinkler-system misting system] installers.

In the coming months, on our website prospective and existing customers will be able to see the date of each installer's last audit, as well as the trained personnel certificates they’ve achieved from completing our learning management modules. Some modules require our [https://plumis.co.uk/installers/bck installers] to upload a video of themselves demonstrating that they are able to fulfil the technical requirements as part of the assessment.

Taking this approach will allow us to closely monitor and keep our installers up to date with further training as and when needed.

Although many buildings will be built in a likeness of one another – especially if constructed by the same developer – the individuals living in them, and their needs, will always vary. Particularly in social housing schemes, where homes are provided for a wide range of people with disparate needs.

A report by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) titled “Fire fatalities in Scotland and recommendations to help reduce them” is a significant and helpful piece of research in highlighting the characteristics of those who are most vulnerable and at risk of injury or fatality in the event of a fire.

Using this research and our experience in the fire safety sector, we’ve created [https://plumis.co.uk/fire-risk-its-not-just-about-the-building seven risk profiles] to demonstrate the personas of vulnerable individuals who may need further preventative solutions in place.

The approach that should be taken when exploring [https://plumis.co.uk/fire-risk-its-not-just-about-the-building new fire safety technologies] should be about considering whether it is fit for purpose and the person it is intending to protect.

Unless professionals have the required competencies, as well as the knowledge and courage to know when they don’t, the unintended outcome of prescriptive guidance is that new, innovative and potentially more effective solutions will be overlooked.

[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]]

Raising the bar of competency

2023-05-24T15:31:49Z

Plumis Ltd: Created page with "By William Makant, co-founder and CEO of fire suppression specialist, Plumis I’ve delivered a number of webinars throughout my career, most of which have been on innovation in..."

By William Makant, co-founder and CEO of fire suppression specialist, Plumis

I’ve delivered a number of webinars throughout my career, most of which have been on innovation in fire safety, person-centred fire strategies and designing for the future.

Despite exploring a wide range of topics and sitting alongside various panellists from across both the fire safety and housing sectors, there is one theme that remains prevalent throughout every discussion and that is about raising the bar of competency.

In an attempt to set an example in my own organisation, my co-founder and I have both recently completed a Level 5 Diploma in Fire Engineering Design. This is a qualification aimed at building control officers, approved inspectors and the wider fire safety sector including assessors, engineers and managers.

Underpinning nearly all UK building regulations is fire engineering, so it was really important for us to ensure we as fire suppression specialists have a good understanding of the key principles.

While this qualification has enhanced our knowledge, we know that competency is not just having a qualification. Competence requires a constant building and development of knowledge, ability, training and experience. And in my view, to be competent you also need the know-how and courage to question the assumptions of our predecessors and look for new solutions in an ever-changing landscape.

As a result, in a world where technology leads and regulations follow, it can take a great amount of time and people (with the relevant skills and competencies) to overcome their own pre-established beliefs, understand improved outcomes and adopt new technologies - like the systems developed by my own company.

With this in mind, we’ve rolled out a number of initiatives to improve and demonstrate competency including with our own approved [https://plumis.co.uk/water-mist-domestic-fire-sprinkler-system misting system] installers.

In the coming months, on our website prospective and existing customers will be able to see the date of each installer's last audit, as well as the trained personnel certificates they’ve achieved from completing our learning management modules. Some modules require our[https://plumis.co.uk/installers/bck installers]to upload a video of themselves demonstrating that they are able to fulfil the technical requirements as part of the assessment.

Taking this approach will allow us to closely monitor and keep our installers up to date with further training as and when needed.

Although many buildings will be built in a likeness of one another – especially if constructed by the same developer – the individuals living in them, and their needs, will always vary. Particularly in social housing schemes, where homes are provided for a wide range of people with disparate needs.

A report by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) titled “Fire fatalities in Scotland and recommendations to help reduce them” is a significant and helpful piece of research in highlighting the characteristics of those who are most vulnerable and at risk of injury or fatality in the event of a fire.

Using this research and our experience in the fire safety sector, we’ve created [https://plumis.co.uk/fire-risk-its-not-just-about-the-building seven risk profiles] to demonstrate the personas of vulnerable individuals who may need further preventative solutions in place.

The approach that should be taken when exploring[https://plumis.co.uk/fire-risk-its-not-just-about-the-building new fire safety technologies]should be about considering whether it is fit for purpose and the person it is intending to protect.

Unless professionals have the required competencies, as well as the knowledge and courage to know when they don’t, the unintended outcome of prescriptive guidance is that new, innovative and potentially more effective solutions will be overlooked.

[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]]