EBM Insights podcast series is a deep dive into current issues surrounding insurance and risk management in today’s ever-changing world.
Introduction:
Fireshield Services
In this podcast we talk with Joel Sharp, Managing Director of Fireshield Services, a business that provides leading fire protection systems, maintenance and electrical services to businesses in Perth and greater Western Australia.
For more information on FireShield Services please visit https://www.fireshieldservices.com.au/.
A transcript of this podcast is below. The complete EBM Insights podcast series is available here.
00:00:00 Speaker 1 – Disclaimer
In this podcast, we have provided general advice only and not personal advice. In giving this advice, we have not considered your personal circumstances.
00:00:15 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley (Senior Marketing Specialist, EBM Insurance & Risk)
Welcome to EBM Insights. Today we are discussing the importance of fire protection systems for your business and home, and the appropriate maintenance and servicing to meet all safety regulations.
Joining me for this podcast is Joel Sharp, the founder and Managing Director of FireShield Services.
FireShield provides leading fire protection systems, maintenance and electrical services to businesses in Perth and greater WA. Thanks for joining me today, Joel.
00:00:41 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp (Managing Director, FireShield Services)
Thank you for having me, Sandy.
00:00:46 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
Joel, to get things started, can you tell us about your background and take us through why you started FireShield?
00:00:54 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
Yes, thank you and absolutely. I’m an electrician and electrical contractor by trade in -which I was trained in service maintenance and installation of fire detection and emergency warning systems.
I always had an ambition to create my own business, therefore in May 2012 I started FireShield Services.
At the time, I believe there was a significant opening in the industry for a business that could deliver all aspects of fire safety, maintenance and repairs.
I had noted at the time clients yearning for a trusted and transparent company to rely on. So, with these values at the forefront, I jumped at the opportunity.
00:01:34 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
Ah, good for you.
So, what are the key areas of support that FireShield delivers?
00:01:41 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
FireShield Services provides preventive fire maintenance, inspection, repairs, alterations and installation for fire detection and warning/intercom systems, sprinkler and fire pump sets, fire hydrants, water tanks, special hazardous/gaseous systems, portable fire equipment, including hose reels, extinguishers, blankets, fire doors, and emergency/exit lighting, so a very large variety just to say the least.
We conduct monthly, 6-monthly, annual, 5-yearly, and 10-yearly maintenance across all of these fire assets. So, it keeps us very busy including 5 yearly hydrant system booster flow testing in which we utilise our own in-house fire truck to achieve the required inspection standards.
00:02:33 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
Yes, I noticed the fire truck is not here today, is it?
00:02:36 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
No, no. Currently it’s getting a bit of an improvement.
00:02:39 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
Oh, good.
So, you have a significant onsite training facility available. Can you tell us more about it and how it helps your team to support your clients?
00:02:53 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
So, we have a vast range of fire service assets installed at our training facility here, comprising of multiple fire detection panels and systems, occupant warning systems. We even have our own sprinkler system and valve sets, fire hydrants, hose reels and an emergency exit lighting test function system including fire extinguishers and blankets and all appropriate testing equipment.
So, with this we conduct relevant training procedures in accordance with Australian Standards 1851, which is the routine service of fire protection systems and equipment, so we hold regular training for our technicians and at different levels as well.
This could range from a basic inspection and testing and reporting, all the way through to, you know more complex integrated file system programming. So, this not only consistently improves our internal skills and personal progress for our team members, but also in turn allows us to deliver and maintain high quality and accurate servicing for our clients across the board.
00:04:08 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
Alright, that’s a great system. Excellent.
So as part of your service, is there specific information that FireShield provides to its clients that assist them with meeting their business insurance requirements?
00:04:21 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
Yes. So that’s a very interesting question that we do come across. As mentioned before, the Australian Standard 1851 is the set minimum standards that FireShield and all service providers must adhere to. Within this Australian Standard, it’s a requirement to provide owners, managing agents, safety auditors, inspectors and insurance companies with an annual fire safety condition certificate and report.
So, we provide these annually detailing all required information of what has been undertaken and any outstanding system defects. We also go one step further providing an updated fire service asset register listing all our clients’ fire equipment with associated photos as well giving our clients that visual transparency.
So, with the sites information compiled into these reports and certificates, this should provide insurance companies a clear picture of the fire services physically on site and their condition and any potential risk that’s associated. If these fire service risk assessments and certificates are clean and clear, then all parties involved are in a safe environment and situation.
So, they’re definitely the ones we like to see.
00:05:48 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
That’s great. So, how about an example of where a routine maintenance schedule wasn’t followed correctly and what were the consequences?
00:06:00 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
Yes. Unfortunately, we have come across some incidents in the past. A couple in particular – they had a fire pump set that wasn’t being maintained correctly and appropriately. There was some confusion on site of whose responsibility this task was so unfortunately it resulted in a fire pump set activating and running as it should, but in turn wasn’t maintained and it overheated, so all the internals of the actual fire pumps ran to destruction. That’s actually left all the internals of the pistons shooting out of the fire pump sets – penetrating through 6mm steel.
So, as you can imagine, was quite damaging.
And for anyone that would have been in there, it would have been very dangerous. Not to mention that you know the damage to the equipment as well.
Another one that is interesting as well as dangerous.
A property we were maintaining wasn’t approved for, you know, defect repairs and the systems needed to be repaired.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t conducted in a timely manner or approved.
This property actually did have, someone stole a car and drove down into the basement trying to get away from the police. Set it on fire.
So unfortunately, the basement and two levels of this building went up in fire and when the fire brigade arrived, the booster system out the front was corroded and rusted and wasn’t operational. So, when they connected into the booster system to get their water to do what they need to – it blew – providing no water to the premises.
As you can imagine, the time delay for that as well can be quite catastrophic.
00:08:16 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
Thank you. Those are great examples.
So, what sort of issues are generally identified and resolved through a proactive maintenance schedule?
00:08:28 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
Maintenance schedules are essential. As mentioned, system issues do arise as we just discussed. But these must be captured on routine servicing whether monthly, 6-monthly, or annual inspections. We must identify issues that range from minor ones, to fire detection which are detector faults where devices need to be replaced, have expired or used fire extinguishers which we need to replace those as well, emergency exit lighting not operating. But they can go all the way through to more critical system inoperative defects such as entire power supplies to all fire systems rendering the early warning detection inoperative. As well as hydrant and sprinkler pump set failures, leaving buildings with no water coverage. So, these are all critical and must be reported and rectified without delay.
00:09:36 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
So, we are coming to the close of this podcast.
Joel, what are your top tips for businesses to consider regarding their fire protection systems and a maintenance schedule?
00:09:50 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
Yeah, well, my top tip would probably be please take your fire services seriously. As it could be catastrophic if neglected, and fast! Protecting lives and property is the most important.
And secondly, find a service provider who will do the right thing and not lower standards or quality and be open, honest and transparent, because even business to business we can all look after each other as well.
00:10:23 Speaker 2 – Sandy Cattley
Well, thank you again to Joel Sharp for sharing his expertise on fire protection systems and risk management practices.
You can find out more about FireShield Services on their website which is www.fireshieldservices.com.au.
I’d also like to mention that FireShield are part of EBM’s Risk Solutions Network.
The Risk Solutions Network provides EBM clients with access to resources and support from specialists like Joel and FireShield to assist with identifying, understanding and managing risks.
So once again that big thank you to Joel from FireShield.
00:11:00 Speaker 3 – Joel Sharp
Thanks very much for having me.
Thank you.
[end]
