How Halspan demonstrates fire safety competency

By Rhod Williams, Technical Director

Recent regulatory changes in building fire safety, including the appointment of the Building Safety Regulator in England, has put fire safety competency in the spotlight. Stakeholders are now compelled to address the issue of competency in fire safety, but defining competency isn’t straightforward, as there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

The recent Competency Framework for Business Fire Safety Regulators emphasises the importance of both knowledge acquisition and the demonstration of practical skills. This framework is intentionally designed to be highly adaptable, with a primary focus on meeting the specific requirements of fire safety disciplines.

As a provider of quality fire door components and fire safety systems, Halspan is committed to demonstrating competency at all levels. Competency can be determined through four key areas – skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours.

Skills

Here at Halspan, our success is deeply rooted in our dedicated and highly skilled team. Some of our employees have been part of this industry for decades, drawing on a wealth of experiences and knowledge.

Yet, we acknowledge that this industry is dynamic, with constant developments taking place – from new Halspan products and services to changing government regulations. It is therefore vital to offer frequent training and assessments to our staff to ensure their competency.

Our training programme, Halspan Tractus, equips our employees with the key competencies, tools and techniques required to meet company goals. As part of this programme, we actively encourage our staff to engage with their career development.

Some team members have pursued FDIS DipFD online training to advance their knowledge of fire door requirements in both commercial and residential settings. Simon Kelly, Operations Manager – Inspection Services and David Litherland, Asset and Inspection Managerrecently participated in a Level 3 Award Passive Fire Protection training course run by the Fire Protection Association (FPA) and certified by ABBE in December. They are also undertaking the FPA Level 3 Award Fire Door Inspections course which will be certified in December.

We also ensure that we continually assess our staff members, for instance, our accredited inspectors are frequently audited to monitor their skills as well as their adherence to regulations.

This training goes beyond internal personnel. We also offer our training services to external third parties, and in 2023 held a week-long training session with a group of brand distributors from overseas.

Knowledge

Staying at the forefront of this industry requires in-depth knowledge. We don’t just keep up with industry news and developments; we anticipate future regulatory updates. This knowledge extends beyond regulations; we aim to understand our customers, collaborating closely with contractors, architects, and surveyors to address fire safety concerns and anticipate their needs. This ensures that Halspan complies with all necessary regulations, satisfies clients, and remains competitive.

Experience

With a remarkable 25-year legacy in the industry, Halspan remains a true pioneer in the realm of fire door safety. In an industry that often presents technical challenges, our extensive experience stands as an invaluable asset.

As we work with clients from a multitude of different sectors, often adapting to ever developing rules and regulations, our journey is one of continuous learning. Over the years, we’ve encountered many technical hurdles, pushing us to think innovatively. From this, we can take invaluable learnings that we consistently employ to enhance our products and services. 

In an industry where the technical aspects can be challenging, our wealth of experience is an invaluable asset. Over the years, we’ve navigated a range of different situations, customer requirements, and technical challenges. These required innovative thinking, and invaluable lessons were learned along the way that continually enhance our products and services.

Take for example our testing philosophy. Halspan was the first company to offer a full range of pre-tested fire doors tested in every conceivable configuration and mode. This ‘single source’ method of testing ensures that all door components are meticulously tested together to guarantee seamless compliance.

Behaviours

We champion innovation, which is evident through the development of Halspan Verified, In the wake of several fire safety tragedies, there was a growing demand for the industry to assume responsibility for compliance. In response, Halspan Verified guarantees evidence-based competency at every stage of the supply chain. Through thorough testing and the diligent maintenance record updates facilitated by the Halspan Tracker, our doors are continually assessed for compliance with both regulations and international standards.

Additionally, behavioural competency is critical in the manufacturing of fire safety doors. Teams must know how to communicate and work together effectively to deliver the best products – something our team does very well.

Halspan’s dedication to continuous behavioural improvement has been recognised through having achieved our Investors in People accreditation over the past year. This accreditation highlights the work we put into creating a positive organisational culture and ensuring our team are empowered to work to their best ability.

Halspan is a trusted and innovative leader in the fire safety sector. Thanks to our exceptional team and demonstrable competency, clients can rest assured that the fire doors and services they invest in are safe, compliant, and of the best possible quality.