South African Qualification and Certification Committee for the Fire Industry Reg. No.: 99/1937/08 a Section 21 Company www.saqccfire.co.za Postnet Suite #86 Private Bag X10020 Edenvale 1610 Tel: +27-11 455 3157 Fax: +27-11 455 4126/086 518 4374 Email: saqccfire@tiscali.co.za SAQCC Fire TALK October 2014 Edition Fire Detection & Gas Suppression technicians registration consolidating Since the rush to register technicians in the fire detection and gas suppression under the sunset clause by February this year, more than a hundred applicants have since attended assessment sessions held in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town during 2014. To date 1 287 persons are registered as Fire Detection technicians and 706 as Gas suppression technicians many of whom are registered in both categories. The initial process caused a strain on the resources of the SAQCC Fire, but the D & GS committee has put shoulder to the wheel to ensure that the procedures for registration and future training is formulated and continuously evaluated to enhance an effective process. Registered technicians are urged to access the website at www.saqccfire.co.za to check that their registration details are correctly listed as per name, level and company. Should any discrepancies be noted, the SAQCC Fire should be notified immediately of any corrections to be made. Technicians are reminded that should they leave a company, they should notify the SAQCC Fire administrator as well so that the changes can be made on the website. End users as well as the SABS, DOL and local authorities make extensive use of the website to verify the registration of persons operating in both the Fire Detection & Gaseous Extinguishing systems as well as the 1475 industry. 1
Proposed assessment dates for 2015 for all Detection & Gas Suppression registrations are as follows, but this is subject to a minimum of 15 persons applying: Johannesburg: 21 February/6 June/5 September Cape Town: 14 March/20 June/19 September Durban: 28 March/4 July/3 October And should there be sufficient interest in the Port Elizabeth area one can be arranged there. Applications must be made timeously to the administrator at dgs@tiscali.co.za. Applicants are reminded that once they are notified they have SUCCESSFULLY completed the assessments, they still need to apply to the SAQCC Fire for registration and pay the registration fee! In the KZN area, all applicants for Cabler registration, now have a training course available at Enpower Training Services and no assessment will take place in Durban for this category. Restructuring of SAQCC Fire nearing completion The revision of the companies act in 2011 together with DOL broadening the scope of the SAQCC Fire in 2012, led to the requirement that the SAQCC Fire s constitution had to be replaced with a memorandum of incorporation(moi). This process has been on-going with comments collated and special meetings of the committee held in October with the aim to finalise the MOI and the Disciplinary Code. The chairman of the 1475 committee has proposed a date in the first term of 2015 for a special meeting where these documents will be put to the vote by the members. Technicians will be notified of the date and the procedures. The SAQCC Fire website will also be continuously updated with the proposed documents and relevant information. The proposal furthermore is that, should the proposed MOI and disciplinary code be accepted, an election of the members of the new committees should take place at the same meeting. Technicians are reminded that as they are the members of the SAQCC Fire, they are the persons that can and should vote and if unable to attend, should use their proxy vote. 2
1475 registered technicians urged to collect a copy of the revised 1475 SAQCC manual About 2 000 persons are registered as 1475 technicians and trainees and according to feedback from the distribution centres, it seems that many technicians and trainees have still not collected their copy of the revised 1475 SAQCC operational manual. The updated manual details all relevant information and procedures pertaining to the legal requirements that technicians need to adhere to including a new section on hydrants and hose reels. All technicians and trainees are urged to collect their manuals as per the attached form. NB: These manuals are NOT for the D&GS technicians! News flash & notices! The next road show will be held in Gauteng on 8 November 2014 at the Killarney Country Club. All registered 1475 and D & GS technicians will be notified via SMS of further details. Please ensure that your current cell phone number is made available to the SAQCC. Technicians especially newly registered D &GS technicians are urged to attend this road show as role players such as the SABS, the Department of Labour and the local fire brigade will be available to impart information and answer questions. RSVP by 3 November to saqccfire@tiscali.co.za or 011-455 3157. The SABS urged companies and technicians to take note of the requirement that 1475 technicians are registered as per a company s branches should an organization operate from different sites. This requirement is as per SANS 1475 and the SABS will ensure during audits that technicians strictly operate as per branch listing. A query was addressed to the SAQCC Fire 1475 regarding the person to sign off a 1475 label in the case of a registered trainee technician working under the supervision of a registered competent technician. Both the SABS and the SAQCC Fire confirmed that it is the registered competent technician who needs to sign off service labels ie their signature and registration number. The registered technician thereby ensures that the unit is compliant and that he/she has verified the work done by the trainee. Registered technicians are urged not to allow their number and signature to be abused by trainee technicians as it is the competent registered technician that will be held accountable should the unit malfunction or if an accident should happen involving a unit. 3
In memorium The SAQCC Fire herewith pays tribute to Kobus Breedt who passed away in August. Kobus had served as Treasurer for many years and has made a valuable contribution to progress in the industry in many ways. He will be sorely missed by us all. REMINDERS Please remember to keep the administration office updated with your email address, cell number and postal address. The email address is particularly important in light of the fact that our postal service is almost nonexistent. Remember to constantly check the SAQCC Fire website for notifications once again, because of the postal service, we are making far more use of the website to keep you advised of what is happening within the industry and any events that you are invited to attend. LIZL DAVEL Editor in Chief ROSEMARY COWAN Editor s Assistant And here s something worth remembering just in case you were thinking about it!! 4
South African Qualification and Certification Committee for the Fire Industry Reg. No.: 99/1937/08 a Section 21 Company. www.saqccfire.co.za Postnet Suite #86 Private Bag X10020 Edenvale 1610 2 nd Floor West ~ Helvetia House ~ Greenvale Road ~ Wilbart ~ Germiston Tel: 011 455 3157 Fax: 086 518 4374 - e-mail: saqccfire@tiscali.co.za THE NEW SAQCC FIRE 1475 OPERATIONS MANUAL - 2014 Please take this form to your nearest collection point as shown below. Our committee members in the various provinces have kindly offered to hold stocks to make this more convenient for you. Should you be unable to collect your manuals, then please contact this office so alternative arrangements can be made. There will be a stock of manuals available for collection at the forthcoming road shows to be held in Rustenburg, Middelburg and Polokwane later in the year. PLEASE COMPLETE BELOW IN FULL AS WITHOUT THIS BEING COMPLETED, NO MANUAL WILL BE ISSUED Name Company...... 1475 Registration No... I confirm that I have received a copy of the Operations Manual Part 3 May 2014. Signed... Position/Registration No if on behalf of another technician/trainee. Dated.. Important Note: Should one person from a company collect more than one manual, they MUST have a signed form from each Technician entitled to a manual. GAUTENG: SAQCC FIRE ADMINISTRATION OFFICES Address and contact details as per letterhead above BLOEMFONTEIN: CENTA OFS FIRE Tel: 051 523 3702 6 Rissie Street, Kwaggafontein, Bloemfontein CAPE TOWN: ATLAS FIRE Tel: 021 551 5080 28A Montreal Drive, Airport City, Cape Town DURBAN: BOSSS LIFEBOATS & LIFESAVING SERVICES Tel: 031 205 5565 10 Kobe Road, Bayhead, Durban ERMELO & SURROUNDS: PRO-FIRE Tel: 017 89 2488 Portion 51of The Farm, Witbank, Ermelo GEORGE & SURROUNDS: PYROTECH Tel: 044 382 1220 30 Meeu Street Knysna Industrial PORT ELIZABETH: PHOENIX FIRE PROTECTION Tel: 041 811 9688 60 5 th Avenue, Newton Street, Newton Park, P.E. POTECHEFSTROOM & SURROUNDS: FEST FIRE Tel: 018 293 0776 20 Forsman Street Potchefstroom Industria, Potchefstroom WELKOM: FIREQUIP Tel: 057 355 3890 333-13 th Street, Voorspoed East, Welkom NAMIBIA and outside SA: The Manuals can be posted but please telephone and advise. 5