Essential Questions to Ask Your Fire Protection Provider

Are you getting ready to review your Fire Protection & Security contract?

It’s important to make sure you are receiving the fire safety expertise and service you require to meet your fire safety responsibilities.

We know,  deciding on your fire protection and security partner is a big decision. You need to make sure you are receiving the best possible fire protection service and choosing the provider best suited to your business.

We’ve put a few together a few questions to give you a helping hand:

1. What services do you offer?

   This may sound like a simple question but often we don’t fully understand exactly what is on offer. For example, can your provider offer both fire protection and building security services so that you know that all aspects of your fire safety and security needs are covered by one contract and one provider? This can save you time, hassle and money and keeping all aspects of fire safety and security under one roof is priceless.

   2. What accreditations do you have?

   Our industry is highly competitive, however, it is also highly monitored and regulated. A  fire protection and security company worth its salt will be accredited. These accreditations ensure that your provider is fully compliant, accountable and professional. If a company has achieved this level of accreditation in the fire safety world they are heavily invested and responsible.

   3. What experience do you have?

   Again, a very simple question but how often do we actually ask? We kind of take it for granted when we really shouldn’t. Client experience and satisfaction are essential, and the industry knowledge across a wide range of sectors is invaluable. If possible, always taking GDPR into account, if you can message a current client for their personal experience this would help you evaluate and decide on the fire safety consultancy for you.

   4. Can I see examples of your work?

   This is a really telling question. How quickly can they provide you with this information and how authentic does it feel? We take great pride not just our service but in our delivery and workmanship. We know that the work we do, how we leave a site, the precision and presentation of our work says so much about us. Seeing an example of a fire alarm installation would give you a huge indication of the inhouse standards of that company.

   5. How do you keep records for us?

   Fire safety and security is as much about evidence as it is about action. You could have the best fire safety procedures but if you are unable to prove that physically, unfortunately, they are worthless. Being a fire safety consultant is about making life for your client as simple as possible and removing the stress of managing paperwork etc. We provide logbooks and 24/7 access to an online portal to ensure our record-keeping works for you.

   6. How do we contact you?

   Big, big consideration. Fire safety and security issues do not keep to office hours (in fact they seem to keep to ‘out of office’ hours!). You need a fire protection company that will be on hand and available whenever you need them, no matter the day or the time or the holiday. To know that your fire safety consultants have all angles covered and are reliable and contactable are one of the most important considerations.

   7. Who completes the work?

   Another big question. Who are the fire safety engineers and how skilled/qualified are they? Ask for brief bios,  specialisms, industry experience etc. Some companies are very good at the ‘selling’ and getting you on board but then the support and service fall away. You need to know that everyone working in your business, in such crucial areas, are qualified, skilled and able. Getting as much information as you possibly can is key.

   There are lots more you could ask, like, for example; what do you include in your fire risk assessments, how do you ensure you up to date with regulation changes etc, but we think, if you ask these key 7 questions, you will be equipped to make an informed decision (and take your fire safety and security provision to another level). It will also help you select the provider that most closely matches your own business ethos and values.

   To give you an idea; when prospective, or existing, clients ask us for examples of our work, these are the kind of examples we are able to send there and then. We take great pride in sharing our work.

   

   If you would like to talk over your fire safety and security needs, there is no obligation, and we’d be happy to help discuss your current situation and any concerns you have. Call our friendly team today on 01675 628999 or request a callback by messaging us here.

   With over 30 years experience and a growing number of highly satisfied customers, in terms of service and savings, Saracen Fire Protection is one of the leading fire protection and security supply, maintenance businesses; locally and nationally. We provide a comprehensive online service portal to ensure our clients have 24/7 access to all of their fire and security information. We are fully accredited and our engineers are highly skilled and qualified.