The FIA continues to go from strength to strength

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1 Annual Report 2015

The FIA continues to go from strength to strength The past year has seen a continuation of the FIA taking the lead and ensuring that members voice and views are represented in our industry.

considered and holistic views on fire and safety for the UK.

2 The FIA continues to go from strength to strength The past year has seen a continuation of the FIA taking the lead and ensuring that members voice and views are represented in our industry. The growth of our association over the past 10 years together with the introduction of new councils has helped the association not only to expand into other fire related areas, but develop a more considered and holistic views on fire and safety for the UK. With Central Government moving towards closer working between emergency services, in the near future we may possibly see a combined Fire and Police service, at management level. This together with devolution to more local control of services will offer both a challenge and opportunity to our industry. Change is something, that not only happens outside our association, 2015 also sees a change in the management team, with Graham Ellicott standing down as the Chief Executive Officer and Ian Moore taking over the reins. We thanks Graham for all his efforts and successes over the last eight years and wish him well in his future endeavours. Although new to the FIA, Ian has been involved in the fire sector for most of his life and fully understands the importance in promoting best practice whether that is by training, providing World Class technical support or influencing legislative direction. The steady recovery of the economic markets together with government infrastructure projects (especially the UK) is clearly leading to increased activity in the fire sector. With forecasted construction growth expected to be about 5% in 2015 and to go on in further in the next few years this is good news for us all. Much of the detail that supports this can be seen within this report. On behalf of the board we thank the FIA staff for the past years good work, and look forward to next year where the FIA will continue to focus on supporting its members and raising the bar on the professionalism within our industry. Martin Harvey, Chairman Ian Moore, Chief Executive Officer

3 Membership At the 2014 AGM, members agreed to expand the membership grades which helps to level out the banding of turnovers. This will be achieved by lowering the subscriptions for those effected from 1st April 2015 and will make the hurdles between bands less daunting for current and potential members. Joined in last 12 months Joiners & Leavers left due to lack of TPC, mergers and acquisitions has seen 71 companies join the FIA, however there have been 65 members leave. Investigation has found that during the years or recession many of the new members had moved into fire to expand their portfolio but with market conditions changing they have returned to core skills and are moving away from the fire sector having not achieved or kept their fire Third Party Certification (membership requirement). We have also seen the return of acquisition and have therefore lost members due to mergers and buyouts. LOW 2013 HIGH % SEPT members SEPT members Member satisfaction with the FIA LOW 2014 HIGH % LOW 2015 and business requirements. HIGH % Top 5 most important benefits for members APRIL 2007 SEPT 2015 Grade A 7 6 Grade B 11 5 Grade C Grade C2 N/A 18 Grade C3 N/A 22 Grade D Grade D Grade E Grade E Grade E3 N/A 79 Grade F Overseas 2 4 Associate Have an influence on legislation FD&A 1 Training courses Have an influence on standards 2 Formulate industry best practice 84% Membership 4% distribution w w w FIA website Fire Engineering 43% 4% Portables 26% 6% Fire and Rescue Suppliers Fire risk assessment Extinguishing systems

4 Training Providing professionals with knowledge and understanding of the standards that underpin the fire industry. FIA training has your learning needs covered with subjects as diverse as servicing portable extinguishers and fixed extinguishing systems, through the life of FD&A systems and emergency lighting and on to understanding fire risk assessment for service technicians. Successful completion of all of our courses carries an industry recognised certificate, either awarded by the FIA or an independent body. Who s learning with the FIA? Total number of learners 3867 over 299 courses Pass Unit 1 93% Unit 2&3 95% Unit 4 89% Unit 5 92% Unit 6 97% Unit 7 89% Unit 9 100% Unit 11 95% Combined 93% 94% AVG 8% (302) increase in learners PASS 7% (24) decrease in the number of courses run Voice Alarm 100% Elec Comp 98% ICEL Foundation 86% ICEL Adv Maint 95% F-Gas 90% 6% increase on 2014 HIGHEST UNIT 9 SUCCESS 100% PASS RATE Communications 100% Intro to Fire 100% MOST SUCCESSFUL VENUE Plymouth Portables 84% Portables Refresher 97% 98% PASS RATE 100% LEARNERS PASS RATE

5 What s new in technical? Standards Committees The FIA is still heavily committed to ensure that our members views are represented on all relevant national and international committees. As a result we have increased our input to BSI/ CEN and ISO committees. 53% nonmembers TECHNICAL????? 33 calls per month QUERIES 47% members FIA Committees Extinguishing Council Active working groups: Extinguishing Manufacturers Technical Committee Active WI-4 Infographic Portables user guidance Input to CEN/TC70/WG 5 EN 3 Input to FSH/2 Fire Extinguishers Survey: Extinguisher use WG Foam Active WI -7 Fact File 61 Class A/Wetting agents Guidance Firefighting at biomass facilities Guidance: ECO foams Update: Fact File 3, Foam and the environment Fact file - Field testing of fire fighting foams Input to CEN/TC 191/WG 2 foam systems Input to ISO/TC21/SC 6 foam systems 67% FD&A 5% TRAINING TOP 3 QUESTIONS 13% PORTABLES AVERAGE SOLUTION TIME 27 minutes WG Gases Active WI-5 Guidance on F Gas Regulation Guidance on container handling Guidance of periodic testing of containers Input to CEN/TC191/WG6 Gas Systems Input to ISO/TC21/SC8 Gas systems ISO/14520 revisions new ISO on Venting of gas systems BS, EUROPEAN, FIA INPUTTED TO OVER 50 Non-automatic Fixed Fire Fighting systems Active WI-2 Hose Reel Servicing training Course Input to FSH/14/-/5 Revisions of BS 9990 Hydrant systems in buildings completed standard published INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DURING 2015

6 FIA/BAFSA Watermist group Active WI-4 Input to CEN/TC191/WG6 TG3 watermist Input to BS 8458 Residential watermist systems and BS 8489 commercial watermist systems Services Council Active working groups: Portable Servicing Committee WI-7 Business without premises guides Open air events Farms Extinguisher refilling training course BS extinguisher coverage slide rule/app WG Testing Validation and Measurement Active WI-1 Testing of FD&A Visual/ Audible devices Installers and Maintainers Section Maintenance of domestic detectors FF60 Infographic: User guide on maintenance tasks for fire systems Guide for procuring Fire Alarm systems Manufacturers training guidance FD&A Council Active working groups: FDWG 02 Communications Guidance: IP connectivity and remote servicing Guidance: Routing connections to an ARC Review EN 54-21, including multipath signaling Guidance: Next generation networks Input recommendations to SIG BS FDWG 05 CIE Guidance: The revision of EN Guidance: The revision of EN 54-2 Guidance: Repeater panels FDWG 24 Radio Linked Devices Feedback into FIA training on wireless systems Guidance: New SRD frequencies allocated by ETSI Guidance: R&TT test requirements in EN Guidance: The revision of EN Guidance: Radio Equipment Directive FDWG 27 Alarm Devices Revision of joint FIA BRE CoP on VAD (inc glare) Fact File 68: Revision of EN 54-3 (Sounders) Guidance: Installation of tactile vibrating devices Guide on EN Voice alarm system Fact File: Effectiveness of sounder frequencies Guide on the application of VID (non EN VAD) Fact File 69: The revision of BS FDWG SAD Smoke Alarm Devices Guidance: The revision of EN FactFile 70: Smoke detectors for use in boats Guidance: Guidance on Combined Smoke & CO Alarm SIG CPR Review of FIA CPR Guidelines FDWG 03 Fire Alarm Detectors Guidance: EN Duct Detectors and a FIA CoP Effect of e-cigarettes on fire detectors Fact File on ISO Video Fire Detection (VFD) Code of Practice for VFD systems Guidance: Fire detection in data processing centres Guidance: The application of CO detectors

7 FIA Publications We ve had an extremely productive year and published 15 new or revised guides and a similar number of Fact Files. Our thanks go to the Councils and working groups for their efforts in producing the guidance. 15 Fire Risk Assessment Council Major work items MOU with IFE & Fire Engineering Council to set up a joint working group to look at business ethics amongst other overlapping area All Fire & Rescue Services chased to use the latest version of A guide to choosing a Competent Fire Risk Assessor with 58% updated at the end of July 2015 CPD days London s Housing, London s Tall Buildings, London s Heritage Buildings, London s Airports Commented on BAFE SP205 revision Commented on London Fire Brigades review of the Fire Safety Order Commented on the CFOA s revision of the standard Fire Safety Order letters used by FRS Introduced a new Myth Buster range of topics for the weekly Focus ezine Fire Engineering Council Major work items Approved Inspectors Regulation 9 (Independence). Concerns raised over one stop shops and the definition of independence raised with Government (DCLG), the Construction Industry Council (CIC AIR) and the Building Control professional bodies and associations Clarity also sort over the boundary of design advice/ and inspection provided by AI s Scope of Works defining where Fire Engineering consultancy fits into the building construction cycle, published Guide for the procurement of Fire Engineering Services published Manifesto agreed MOU with IFE & Fire Risk Assessment Council to set up a joint working group to look at business ethics amongst other overlapping area Peer review guidance drafted NEW OR REVISED GUIDES AND 15 NEW OR REVISED FACT FILES Fact File 39 Environmental Guidance 15 MYTHBUSTERS P U B LIS H E D FIA AND IFE SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

8 FIRESA Council FIRESA Council, representing our fire-fighting sector suppliers, has had one of its busiest years, reflecting its involvement in the significant evolution of our Fire and Rescue Services (FRS). Building substantively on existing external liaisons as well as initiating important new relationships, it works pro-actively to engage with and influence a range of stakeholders, bringing suppliers perspectives to the decisions that are shaping the future Fire and Rescue landscape. Changes Expected Within The FRSs Greater collaboration and infrastructure sharing between the Services Creation of FRS National Back Office FRS mergers Private provision of some aspects of FRS functions More on-call fire fighters Blue Light cross-fertilisation and co-responding Government proposal to place Fire and Rescue Authorities under Police Commissioner control Extended life of fire appliances and move to smaller specialist vehicles LAST 8 COUNCIL MEETINGS Cheshire FRS, Winsford Staffordshire FRS, Stone Leicestershire FRS, Leicester Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh South Yorkshire FRS, Sheffield West Midlands FRS, Birmingham Scottish FRS Training Centre, Glasgow Wiltshire FRS, Devizes LOW HIGH P R E S S U R E PRESSURES ON THE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES FIRESA Council s Activities In A Changing Landscape Strengthening of key liaisons and creation of new partnerships Input into government policy Enactment of Memorandum of Understanding with Chief Fire Officers Association Support for collaborative and more streamlined procurement Support also for standardised product specifications, national equipment evaluations and product innovations Other activities include joint seminar with CFOA, sponsorship of Emergency Services Show Drinks reception, sponsorship of Excellence in Fire and Emergency Awards Supplier of the Year category and work on various Standards Committees Central Government funding cut by over 20% in past five years Reduced funding of 600m by Fewer front-line fire fighters 145 Fewer fire stations Fewer fire appliances

9 Export Council This Council is a UKTI Trade Challenge Partner and supports the UK fire industry s export interests across a range of product and service types. Central to this is our work with UKTI, overseas exhibition providers and other export-facing bodies, including other trade associations, in providing advice and developing opportunities in pursuit of our members overseas sales growth. Moving to an elected Council this year, we remain committed to act on behalf of all of our exporting members. Promoting British fire safety excellence internationally Representing UK companies large and small across a range of fire safety product and service types Fire Protection and Fire Fighting exports from the UK amount to over 300 m a year The FIA Export Council is a UKTI Trade Challenge Partner and a member of the UKTI Defence and Security Organisation Engaging with UKTI centrally and locally in the UK and with Commercial Officers in over 80 countries overseas Weekly bulletin provides many hundreds of export news and advice items annually Access to preferential rates and government TAP funding for key overseas events Council and the FIA s exporting members promoted through the web site, FIA Focus, social media and external publications Working in partnership with the BSIA and BSIF Plans for the coming year include Market Research, Directory of Exporting Members and key project Case Studies

10 Marketing 2015 has seen some major progress within the marketing function. The biggest win in the last year has been the launch of the new website, featuring more news and content and a more intuitive structure aimed at making it easier to find information than previously. Both members and non-members are now finding it easier to see topic-related information and content no matter whether it s a training course, web page, infographic or technical guide. Content is king in the new marketing world and we have embraced this new order with the regular publication of news, articles, infographics, e-publications and videos. All aimed at helping those in the fire industry trade or those responsible for fire safety in commercial premises. But we haven t thrown out more traditional marketing methods; we know the importance of face to face contact still in the modern world. Organised by the FIA, FIM Expo happens twice a year around the country and sees around 20 exhibitors meet and network with over 100 delegates over the course of a day. And our annual AGM lunch sees 400 industry movers and shakers get together for a fantastic day of food, laughter and networking! More website visitors than ever Unique website visitors in % up on 2013 (127,000 v 118,500) Over 40 membership Enquiries made via the website every month ENGAGED WITH S Average click to open rate AVG 27.5% (compared to industry AVG of 11%) Over Technical newsletter subscriber News articles being read on the site every month in 2015 Technical documents downloaded in , Focus subscribers with avg of 60/month signing up referrals 25k 7500 Training newsletter subscribers (clicking on an link) in 2014 (AVG 2K/month) SOCIAL MEDIA AT WORK Over 8000 views 4500 LinkedIn page followers 200 comments /month AVG social referrals to website of our videos 3750 every month followers avg 80 retweets/mentions /month 6.6m readers reached in 2014

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