RSA Annual Members Day

Xact was honoured to be invited to help boost a campaign by the Residential Sprinkler Association to promote and enhance competency within the sector at its annual members day.

The training company’s founder and spokesman Trevor Norwood received a warm welcome from the 100-strong gathering, which included USA sprinkler manufacturers, at the association’s recent Members Day at the De Vere Staverton Hotel, Daventry, Northamptonshire.

Mr Norwood put forward the case for both nationally-recognised courses and qualifications in an hour-long address to the meeting. He said: “Admirably, the RSA recognises that it is time to  take the lead in raising the competency levels of the entire residential sprinkler sector as well as that of its own members by promoting high quality training and meaningful qualifications. Xact is delighted to get the opportunity to work with the association on achieving this goal.”

His focus at the meeting was the outcome of Dame Judith Hackitt’s inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire disaster of June 2017. The inquiry has highlighted competence and maintaining and recording a “Golden Thread” of information during a building’s concept, design, construction, occupation, refurbishment and demolition to ensure that fire safety measures are fit for purpose throughout its lifetime.

The significance of its message for the RSA was central to Mr Norwood’s talk. With this theme in mind, he discussed the competencies of the sprinkler sector outlined in the Grenfell Interim Report “Raising the Bar” issued last August.

Pertinently for all fire safety professionals including RSA members, the report states that sprinkler installers and designers will require standardised, mandatory training; Level 2 and 3 qualifications relevant to their competencies; Membership of CSCS: Card scheme (skill card) and CPD refresher training and maintenance of skills.

Mr Trevor Norwood said: “Taking on board the outcome of the Hackitt Inquiry and the needs of professionals working with this sector, we at Xact look forward to doing do all we can to support the RSA to promote quality training in the sector.”

Contact Xact on  qualifications@xact.org.uk for more information.