1. Expertise: They possess domain expertise and a deep understanding of proposed building architecture, fire safety requirements, and regulations.

2. Initial Planning: They offer a preliminary design, cost estimates, project timelines, and resource requirements for procurement and implementation service providers in the initial stages.

3. Material and Technology Selection: Taking into account buyer preferences and budget constraints, they narrow down suitable materials and technologies. This information informs modifications to the design, including adjustments to the Bill of Materials (BOM), specifications, and cost estimates.

4. Tender Process: With this input, the buyer’s procurement department initiates the tender process, considering both technical and commercial proposals. The final selection of a turnkey supply and implementation agency is a collaborative decision made by the buyer and consultant.

5. Promoting Competition: Design consultants may intentionally incorporate multiple technologies and brands into their designs to encourage competition and provide choices for the procurement department.

6. System Integration: Upon choosing the system integrator, they may need to revise the system design, including layout drawings, BOM, cable schedules, checklists, and timelines to align with the selected brand and technology. Design consultants review and approve these modifications.

In essence, this collaborative process ensures that fire safety solutions meet compliance requirements, are tailored to the specific project’s needs, and allow for competitive pricing and technological options.

Important Considerations for Design Consultants:

1. Risk of Exploitation: It’s crucial to be aware that some design consultants may exploit the vulnerabilities of buyers.

2. Unprofessional Consultants: The market has its share of unprofessional consultants. Both the chief consultant and their assistants may lack expertise in building codes and the latest technologies available.

3. Lack of In-Depth Effort: Some consultants may not invest the necessary effort to provide optimal solutions. They might reuse previous tender documents without customizing them to meet the buyer’s specific requirements. Inexperienced assistants may be tasked with preparing designs and documentation.

4. Neglecting Budgets and Requirements: Consultants may not adequately consider client budgets and exact project requirements. This can lead to reduced competition and inflated prices.

5. Specifying Brands for Personal Gain: In some cases, consultants may specify particular brands and technologies for personal benefit rather than what is genuinely best for the project.

It’s important for buyers to exercise caution and conduct due diligence when selecting design consultants to ensure they receive high-quality, customized solutions that align with their needs and budget constraints.

1. Tender Response: When the procurement department initiates the tender process, the system integrator adjusts the design to align with the proposed brand and technology. This includes considering techno-commercial aspects and after-sales service benefits.

2. Detailed Design: Upon finalization, the system integrator develops a comprehensive design, encompassing layout drawings, Bill of Materials (BOM), cable schedules, checklists, loop power calculations, battery calculations, NBC compliance statements, and more.

3. Consultant Review:*The design consultant reviews these documents, making corrections if necessary. The system integrator revises and resubmits the design for approval.

4. Procurement and Supply: Upon approval, the system integrator proceeds with the procurement and supply of materials. Buyers or their consultants verify that the delivered products align with the approved brand and model.

5. Installation: The system integrator initiates cabling and erection as per the approved design. During the erection phase, the buyer or their designated agency conducts verification to ensure alignment with the approved design and drawings.

6. System Completion: The system integrator completes the entire system and provides it along with as-built drawings, cable schedules, and an operation and maintenance manual.

7. Training: The system integrator plays a crucial role in training both the user operation and maintenance department personnel and third-party preventive maintenance agencies.

This collaborative effort ensures that the fire safety system is not only effectively installed but also supported by the necessary documentation and training for smooth operation and maintenance.

Cautionary Insights from System Integrators

The role of a system integrator is to supply and install systems in alignment with codes, standards, design consultant recommendations, and user requirements. However, this doesn’t always happen as intended.

In India’s price-sensitive market, many builders and owners wield significant influence with government officials and politicians. In worst-case scenarios, they might step in to resolve issues, creating a situation ripe for exploitation by design consultants, system integrators, buyers, and users.

In many instances, the design consultant’s involvement concludes once the buyer receives preliminary designs and estimates and connects with a system integrator.

Frequently, system integrators are given the liberty to design, supply, and install systems, but the presence of unprofessional integrators lacking system knowledge and resources can lead to the delivery of systems that don’t meet occupants’ functional requirements or comply with licensing codes and standards.

Upon receiving an order, system integrators often subcontract to wiring contractors. These contractors sometimes exploit buyers by maximizing cabling requirements to earn more through supply and installation. Contract agreements may provide these contractors with the flexibility to determine cable quantities, potentially leading to an excess of unnecessary and lengthy cables. This can result in communication signal loss, power inefficiency, increased costs for buyers, and difficulties in testing and commissioning the system.

To manage their finances and meet operational needs, some integrators may supply materials required only at the final stages at the outset of the project, collecting payment upfront from buyers. Often, products carry a one-year warranty, but they may be installed years after procurement. In the absence of domain experts for testing and commissioning, integrators may rely on product suppliers who, once the sale is complete, may not fully honor their promises. Warranty periods are sometimes lost due to these delays, with integrators citing design consultant recommendations and OEMs’ lack of support.

Unprofessional system integrators often fail to create proper as-built drawings, documentation, user and training manuals, supplier warranty certificates, and related documents. Consequently, the supplied systems may remain unused, and the intended procurement objectives are lost in many buildings.

Codes and standards emphasize that even well-designed fire detection and alarm systems cannot fulfill their purpose unless they are properly maintained. Consequently, users are encouraged to enter into agreements for the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) of these systems.

Maintaining a fire detection and alarm system within a building is virtually impossible without the support of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). These systems comprise proprietary software and hardware, both of which require regular upgrades. When smoke detectors are part of the system, calibration support becomes essential.

Therefore, it is crucial for users to engage with OEM-authorized AMC service providers who specialize in preventive maintenance and emergency service support.

AMC service providers are domain experts with an in-depth understanding of the system and its components. They receive training from the OEM and have established their own functional validation methodologies to ensure the system consistently performs its functions. These providers liaise with the OEM for tasks such as smoke detector calibration, managing product obsolescence, and conducting periodic software and hardware upgrades. They also carry out cleaning and maintenance of smoke detectors and periodically train personnel.

Copies of AMC agreements, service reports, and fitness certificates are mandatory documents that are subject to verification by fire safety auditors and government fire authorities.

Most AMC service providers charge reasonable fees, as physical intervention is typically minimal. Modern systems often feature self-diagnostic capabilities to assess the health of wiring connections and device functionality. Moreover, comprehensive device health monitoring and fault tracking can be conducted from the control panel, and remote system checks via the internet are also possible.

A Cautionary Warning from AMC Service Providers

When considering AMC service providers, exercise caution, as the market includes numerous unprofessional and unauthorized entities lacking the expertise for effective preventive maintenance. Some may even lack the know-how to properly clean smoke detectors and resort to using incense sticks for simulated testing.

To avoid triggering alarms, unethical providers might deactivate sounders and devices while billing for incomplete services, especially when the system seems to function correctly. If issues arise, they may continue billing while masking faults by deactivating devices, perpetuating this cycle until customers notice.

Careful selection of AMC service providers is paramount to ensure your fire detection and alarm system’s proper maintenance and functionality.

Building owners bear the responsibility for the entire fire safety infrastructure, designed to safeguard the well-being of occupants. To fulfill this obligation, owners should permanently appoint trained personnel to manage operation and maintenance, ensuring 24/7 coverage, 365 days a year. NBC 2016 clearly outlines their roles and responsibilities.

For larger-scale buildings, numerous facility management companies specialize in handling utilities and fire safety operation and maintenance. These professionals are well-trained to operate and maintain fire safety systems with expertise.

Facility management companies also play a pivotal role in coordinating with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) agencies, fire safety auditors, and the fire department. They maintain all the necessary documents and records as prescribed by relevant codes and standards.

A Word of Caution for maintenance service provider

However, some building owners opt not to appoint professional operation and maintenance personnel. Instead, they attempt to manage fire safety with their electrical and mechanical maintenance teams or security service agencies, aiming to reduce building maintenance costs. Unfortunately, these teams often lack the expertise required for fire safety activities, focusing primarily on regular utility maintenance and operation. This approach assumes that the AMC covers all necessary aspects without realizing the potential consequences.

Similarly, some unprofessional facility management companies lacking domain professionals make similar mistakes. Building owners may assume that these companies are handling required tasks and retaining the right professionals. In some cases, professional companies engage qualified personnel but fail to establish the correct systems and processes, leading to difficulties in managing auditors and the Fire Department. It is crucial for end users to prioritize both qualified personnel and proper systems for effective fire safety management.

Fire safety auditors play a crucial role in assessing and ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations and standards. They inspect buildings, facilities, and processes to identify potential fire hazards, assess the effectiveness of fire safety measures, and provide recommendations for improvement. Their goal is to enhance overall fire safety, protect lives, and minimize property damage.

In some states, government fire safety departments have established dedicated fire prevention wings to oversee fire safety systems from the early stages of building planning.

Builders are required to submit their fire safety system installation plans, ensuring compliance with national building codes and functional requirements for mitigation. Upon review and approval, provisional clearance is granted for system implementation.

Upon completion, government fire authorities conduct inspections, comparing the installation with the approved plan. Any deviations must be justified by the builder. If everything aligns with the standards and functions as intended, the authorities issue a license and a no-objection certificate for occupancy.

During these inspections, fire safety officers collaborate with local fire station officers and firefighters to familiarize themselves with the building’s architecture and fire safety infrastructure. This ensures readiness to support rescue operations and firefighting in case of emergencies.

Government fire authorities conduct yearly visits to verify the fitness of the fire safety system for license renewal. Building owners can also utilize their services to conduct mock drills and provide training to occupants, enhancing overall fire safety awareness and preparedness.

A Cautionary Note from the Fire Department

The ultimate goal for builders is to secure a license from the fire department, and at times, they might achieve this even without proper safety infrastructure, leveraging their influence. However, it’s crucial to be aware that such licenses can be revoked at any time if deviations are noticed by higher-ranking officers.

In some cases, certain officers within the department may lack familiarity with the latest NBC 2016 codes and standards for MOEFA (Manually Operated Electronic Fire Alarm) and automatic fire detection systems. Builder representatives may exploit this knowledge gap to gain approval.

Recently, an increasing number of complaints have been lodged with the government through the Right to Information Act. In response, government agencies conduct thorough verifications of fire safety infrastructure and its overall fitness. This serves as a reminder that adherence to safety standards is essential to maintain the integrity of licenses granted by the fire department.

Building a robust Fire Alarm infrastructure is an integral part of construction projects. Construction cost management companies play a vital role by assisting architects and builders in several key areas.

1. Infrastructure Requirements:

– Providing insights into the necessary infrastructure components.

2. Materials and Manpower Estimation:

– Offering tentative material lists, manpower requirements, and their associated costs.

3. Budget Preparation:

-Assisting in creating budgets for the entire project, including procurement, installation, completion, and warranty maintenance stages.

4. Cash Flow Management:

– Managing cash flow requirements at different project stages, ensuring smooth progress.

5. Resource Utilization:

– Identifying available resources for procurement, installation, and ongoing maintenance processes.