Do you install fire alarm systems?

The real problem is exactly where fixed wiring and appliance cross over. I think a normal fire panel system (24V normally) is an appliance. The wiring is part of that appliance and does not come under BS7671. Whether the system works in an event is nothing to do with anyone except the manufacturer unless the installation is faulty due to the installer. We have a problem here in that responsibility is being passed around like pass the parcel. The manufacturer makes most of the money. The installer takes the labour charge to fit and to carry out a functional test. If it functions as designed, the install is good, and it is then the problem of the owner to ensure it continues to work and is maintained. Most of these jobs come with a maintenance contract presumably at the manufacturer's risk of failure. However, there is a tendency to go for the small man if there is a claim, which is totally unfair, but is caused by the feature and scope creep of BS7671. The definition of what is covered should be set in stone and be bulletproof by design. The inclusion of ELV wiring etc is foolish, it needs to go, and an exact definition of the scope needs to be added. OK, smoke alarms may be included, but they are actually in the Building regs, as are CO alarms, the necessity of those being even more lost in the noise. None of these should be in an EICR, the regulations are elsewhere and somewhat unfit for purpose anyway. Remember the problems with Grenfell were NOT electrical, that system worked perfectly, it was everything else that one could imagine that went wrong. That is why they are hurriedly rewriting the building regulations, about 20 years too late!

The real problem is exactly where fixed wiring and appliance cross over. I think a normal fire panel system (24V normally) is an appliance. The wiring is part of that appliance and does not come under BS7671. Whether the system works in an event is nothing to do with anyone except the manufacturer unless the installation is faulty due to the installer. We have a problem here in that responsibility is being passed around like pass the parcel. The manufacturer makes most of the money. The installer takes the labour charge to fit and to carry out a functional test. If it functions as designed, the install is good, and it is then the problem of the owner to ensure it continues to work and is maintained. Most of these jobs come with a maintenance contract presumably at the manufacturer's risk of failure. However, there is a tendency to go for the small man if there is a claim, which is totally unfair, but is caused by the feature and scope creep of BS7671. The definition of what is covered should be set in stone and be bulletproof by design. The inclusion of ELV wiring etc is foolish, it needs to go, and an exact definition of the scope needs to be added. OK, smoke alarms may be included, but they are actually in the Building regs, as are CO alarms, the necessity of those being even more lost in the noise. None of these should be in an EICR, the regulations are elsewhere and somewhat unfit for purpose anyway. Remember the problems with Grenfell were NOT electrical, that system worked perfectly, it was everything else that one could imagine that went wrong. That is why they are hurriedly rewriting the building regulations, about 20 years too late!