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PROPERTY INSURANCE COMMITTEE Prevention Specifications

CEA Base requirements for Installers of Fire Fighting Systems

CEA 4046: September 2005 (en)

Copyright by CEA – 3 bis, rue de la Chaussée d’Antin – 75009 PARIS

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Contents

1 Scope of application..............................................................................................................................3

1.1 General.................................................................................................................................................3

1.2 Type of installations .............................................................................................................................3

2 Definitions ..............................................................................................................................................3

3 General requirements............................................................................................................................4

4 Evaluation criteria..................................................................................................................................4

4.1 Specialist staff ......................................................................................................................................4

4.2 Products and spare parts.....................................................................................................................6

4.3 Quality System .....................................................................................................................................6

4.4 Experience ...........................................................................................................................................6

4.5 Design of installations ..........................................................................................................................6

4.6 Workshop and Equipment....................................................................................................................6

4.7 Service and maintenance ....................................................................................................................7

4.8 Link with the manufacturers of components ........................................................................................7

4.9 Insurance liability..................................................................................................................................7

4.10 Documentation .....................................................................................................................................7

4.11 Construction site ..................................................................................................................................7

4.12 Other requirements ..............................................................................................................................7

Annex A EN ISO 9000 for Installers ................................................................................................................9

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1 Scope of application

1.1 General This document represents the state of the art and describes the base requirements for the installers of Fire Fighting Systems (FFS). The approval procedures are named in “CEA Rules for the approval of installers of Fire Fighting Systems in accordance with the CEA 4047”.

The installer shall be qualified for the installation of FFS, the installer must meet all requirements as follows and use the state of the art (CEA rules for design and installation).

This document is valid for installers, able to render all the following services: a) Assessment of risk b) FFS configuration (design) b) FFS installation c) FFS commissioning and handing over to the client (including instruction) d) Issue a declaration of conformity for the FFS e) Service/maintenance of the FFS. For electronic parts, control devices etc. the installer must be qualified in accordance with the rules for detection systems or to co-operate with an approved installer for detection systems.

1.2 Type of installations This document is valid for installers of the following types of systems:

a) Sprinkler systems

b) Water spray systems

c) Foam extinguishing systems

d) CO2-fire fighting systems (low pressure systems)

e) Gas-extinguishing systems (CO2 high pressure systems, non-liquefied inert gases or halocarbons)

Note: As far as the term "fire fighting system" is used hereunder without specifying the type of extinguishing system, the statements shall refer to the type of system for which the applicant wants to be recognised as an installer.

If need be, this document shall also be valid for fire fighting systems which are not mentioned above.

2 Definitions Approval body: Independent body which approves installers of FFS (Note: an approval body may operate its own testing and inspection activities or oversee these activities carried out on its behalf by other bodies.)

Applicant: the installer of FFS.

Approved FFS: System meeting in all respects the CEA Rules for Fire Fighting Systems Design and Installation. This includes in particular the requirement of using exclusively approved components and systems.

Declaration of conformity: With this declaration, the conformity of the FFS with the CEA Rules for Fire Fighting Systems or other national or international rules recognised by insurers – Design and Installation – is confirmed by the installer.

System: Configuration (design), installation, commissioning/handing over and service/maintenance of fire fighting systems.

Permanent establishment: Business location from which the installation (according to section 1.1) is performed. The business locations shall completely belong to the legal entity of the applicant.

Branch office: Permanent establishment of the installer which according to company law and organisation is linked to the plant of the installer.

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3 General requirements The applicant has to prove

• the correct registration of the company

• the qualification of the staff

• service/maintenance capability

• a Quality assurance system

• an operations liability insurance.

4 Evaluation criteria The installer shall fulfil all requirements as follows.

4.1 Specialist staff The installer shall have available at any point of time a sufficient number of its own qualified staff.

These people shall be employed fulltime only by one installer and shall not work elsewhere either for another contractor in the same profession or in the same branch of the industry.

Employees working on job sites in the framework of short-time work or in part-time employment programmes both approved by the labour laws are accepted as the installer's own employees. Trainees may be employed on the job sites but do not count as employees or as external workers.

For employees with fixed term employment contracts, the date of expiry shall be indicated in the notification of the company's workforce.

The installer shall provide for further education and training of its staff.

4.1.1 Qualification of the responsible and chief responsible specialists The responsible and chief responsible specialists shall be engineers with university degrees or graduated engineers of a suitable faculty. Suitable faculties are e.g. mechanical engineering, process engineering, utility engineering, civil engineering. Equivalent qualification by virtue of long-time experience (minimum 5 years in an equivalent job) may be recognised.

Note: Basis for the recognition of university degrees is the "1st Guideline for Recognition" 89/48 EC.

These specialists shall have detailed knowledge and know-how in the field of extinguishing systems and structural fire protection. They shall be familiar with the technology, the limits of application and the specifics of the type of fire fighting system of the installer.

Some specification of qualification for risk assessment, e.g. the in-house engineer or a graduate engineer should have responsibility for risk assessment.

4.1.2 Qualification of the technicians

4.1.2.1 Heads of workshops

Heads of workshops shall have completed their occupational training (journeyman/craft certificate) in a technical profession and shall have an experience of a minimum 3 years in the field of machining, repairing and revising of pipework and fittings and shall be familiar with the applicable technical rules, in particular with the Rules for Fire fighting systems.

4.1.2.2 Site supervisors and field inspectors

Site supervisors and field inspectors shall have completed their occupational training (journeyman/craft certificate) in a technical profession and shall have an experience of a minimum 3 years in the installation of fire fighting systems and shall be familiar with the applicable technical rules, and in particular with the rules for fire fighting systems.

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4.1.2.3 Fitters

Fitters shall have completed their occupational training (journeyman/craft certificate) or shall have professional experience in assembly of a minimum 2 years. Occupational training or the 2 years of professional experience in assembly shall have been fulfilled in a technical profession.

4.1.2.4 Welders

Welders shall have a qualification e.g. according to EN 287 corresponding to the Rules of Design and Installation of FFS.

4.1.3 Organisation

4.1.3.1 Chief responsible specialist

The installer shall nominate an employee as the chief responsible specialist for the rule-conforming design and installation of fire fighting systems. The chief responsible specialist shall have the technical and in-house competence for detecting inadequate technical work performed by his or her company or deficiencies attributable to the installer and shall have the authority to initiate corrective action within an appropriate framework.

(in part II)The chief responsible specialist shall see that specialists and professionals are available in sufficient numbers in the installer firm at any point of time.

The chief responsible specialist is the contact with the approval body. He/she shall make sure that all relevant technical information is passed on to the professionals of the installer firm.

The company shall guarantee that the chief responsible specialist has all the authority necessary to ensure the correct application of this and other applicable rules.

The chief responsible specialist shall be based in the installer's business location.

4.1.3.2 Responsible specialists in the branch offices

For each branch office in which fire fighting systems are planned and configured, the applicant shall appoint at least one employee as the responsible specialist qualified as described under Section 4.1.1. and 4.1.3.1.

4.1.3.3 Workforce

All locations, including branch offices, which are specialised in the installation of fire fighting systems shall have at least five technicians, qualified according to 4.1.2.3.

For the workshop and for the spare parts store the installer shall nominate one employee qualified according to 4.1.2.1 as the responsible head of the workshop.

If pipe connections are produced by welding in the installer's plant or in the branch offices, the installer shall have two employees qualified as welders according to Section 4.1.2.4.

Note: This requirement is considered fulfilled if two of the required fitters can give proof in form of the corresponding welding qualifications.

The approval body shall be notified within one month of technicians who join or leave the company.

4.1.3.4 Site supervisors

On each construction site, one site supervisor qualified according to Section 4.1.2.2, shall be employed by the installer. The site supervisor shall be permanently present during the installation of the fire fighting system. According to the size of the construction site, provision shall be made for additional fitters qualified according to Section 4.1.2.2 reporting to the site supervisor to the effect that installation teams of maximum 5 fitters (including external workers) are formed.

Note: For sprinkler systems this does not apply to extensions of less than 50 sprinklers where no additional alarm valves are fitted.

4.1.3.5 Field inspectors

The installation of fire fighting systems shall be regularly monitored by a field inspector on the construction sites. The field inspector shall be qualified according to Section 4.1.2.2 at a minimum.

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4.1.3.6 External workers

As a support for the installer's own fitters, a maximum of 30% of external workers (hired help), related to the total number of workers per construction site, shall be employed for the installation of fire fighting systems. Differing from this a maximum of 50% of external workers shall be employed, if the total staff is 2 or 4 persons. These limitations do not apply when the subcontracted installer is also an approved installer under these rules.

The external workers shall have an occupational qualification according to Section 4.1.2.3. The right of the site supervisor to issue instructions to the external workers shall be warranted by a suitable contract.

4.1.3.7 Duty of notification, identification

The installer shall notify to the approval body the names of the following individuals. A way to identify the workers listed below shall be provided, e.g. by I.D.card:

− the chief responsible specialist

− the responsible specialists in the branch offices (if applicable)

− the site supervisors and field inspectors

− the head of the workshop

− the welders

− all other professionals (fitters)

− design staff working on the construction sites.

4.2 Products and spare parts

The applicant shall have available a range of components and, in particular cases, a system approved by the approval body.

Note: The need for approval of components and/or systems for each system is given in the particular Rules of design and Installation. Deviations from these requirements are subject to the permission of the relevant approval body before installation. If necessary, additional product tests and approvals need be conducted and/or obtained.

The applicant shall notify to the approval body without delay the withdrawal of an approval for a product used and shall present suitable substitute measures.

The installer shall keep a sufficient number of spare parts in stock.

4.3 Quality System The installer shall run a Quality Assurance System (QA-System) in accordance with series EN ISO 9000 (see Annex A) and shall have the appropriate certification.

4.4 Experience The installer shall furnish proof to the approval body of a minimum number of reference systems in the form of duly issued declarations of conformity signed by the chief responsible or responsible local specialists.

The reference systems shall not have any substantial deficiencies.

4.5 Design of installations The installer shall use methods and programmes approved or accepted by the approval body for dimensioning and calculating the pipework of fire fighting systems.

The installer shall ensure that the installations correspond to the relevant rules and state of the art.

4.6 Workshop and Equipment The workshop and the equipment must permit working, repair and inspection of pipework and fittings.

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4.6.1 Measuring equipment Installers of fire fighting systems shall have suitable equipment at their disposal for critical or relevant measurement, e.g. concentration measurements for gas FFS.

4.6.2 Efficiency proofs, system for demonstration purposes Installers of foam systems as specified under Section 1.2 c) should be able to demonstrate the function of these extinguishing systems by means of a single demonstration test set-up. The efficiency of systems according to Sections 1.2 e) (local application protection) should be proven by the installer to the approval body once by means of fire and extinguishing tests. This applies to new extinguishing agents.

Installers of fire fighting systems according to Sections 1.2 a), b) (sprinkler and water spray) and e) (gas) should set up a suitable demonstration system for training their specialists.

4.6.3 Triggering of fire fighting systems by fire detection systems Proof shall be given that

− a contractual agreement with an approved installer of automatic fire detection systems (AFDS) according CEA 4048 (CEA base requirements for Installers of Fire detection and alarm system and/or Intruder Alarm Systems) exists; one member of the applicant's staff (minimum qualification: foreman in an electronic trade) shall be familiar with the technology of the fire detection system to be applied (proof to be furnished by a training certificate) or

− the applicant is an approved installer for fire detection systems.

In both cases, the additional authorisation for the triggering of fire fighting systems shall be included.

4.7 Service and maintenance At the request of the client the installer shall service/maintain the extinguishing systems installed by him and shall have available the necessary equipment for repair and maintenance work at any time.

The installer shall make sure that fault messages can be received at any time. The installer is obliged to commence the repair work on the fire fighting system 12 hours at the latest after reception of the fault message and shall have completed this repair work within 36 hours if technically possible.

4.8 Link with the manufacturers of components The installer shall deliver confirmation from the component/system manufacturers (and/or owner of the approval) that the required equipment and technical support will be provided to the installer Note: This is not required if the applicant is also the owner of the system approval .

4.9 Insurance liability The installer shall give proof of an operations liability insurance.

4.10 Documentation The installer shall be able to deliver all the documentation as laid down in the relevant CEA installation rules.

The installer shall have available at any time the latest version of the necessary regulations and standards covering the business.

4.11 Construction site The installer shall ensure that on each construction site the installations are of a quality as defined in Part 5.3 of CEA 4047 (CEA Rules for the approval of installers oft FFS in accordance with the CEA 4046) .

4.12 Other requirements The installer shall

• meet its financial obligations in relation to the approval body

• guarantee that all data about the client and the installed systems are treated confidentially and are not disclosed to unauthorised third parties

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• notify the approval body without delay by registered mail, e-mail or fax of all changes relating the conditions of this document, adding if necessary all required documentation,

• correct at its own expense all defects detected as the result of inspections by the approval body of the systems for which the installer is responsible,

• observe all legal and official regulations

• co-operate with the approval body in the construction site inspection procedure.

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Annex A EN ISO 9000 for Installers Companies shall be obliged to provide evidence of a complete and acceptable QA documentation consisting of the QA manual as well as of procedural and job instructions. The QA documentation shall contain a detailed description of an installation of extinguishing systems according to the rules. In case of preliminary phase according to CEA Rules for the approval of installers of Fire Fighting Systems in accordance with the CEA 4046, an EN ISO-9000 certificate is not required.

If the company has already an EN ISO 9000 certificate for a related business, this ISO certificate shall be extended to be valid also for the installation of FFS. During the term of the preliminary phase an EN ISO 9000 certificate valid for the "Installation of Extinguishing Systems" shall be produced for the purposes of an extension to the final phase.