WFP Fire & Security

20 years ago, Paul Field 😉 sat in a small room (he'd rented for £50 a month), in front of his spangly HP laptop and with his newly purchased Nokia 3310 and started to make phone calls... The vision was clear, to do things properly and offer real customer service. Today we continue to do things properly, but now with the addition of multi-award winning customer service and a few more superstars... What better way to celebrate 20 years?

This week the team have been busy undertaking a communal emergency lighting rewire, all controlled by contactors. In this video our Senior Electrician, Danny runs through how our new set up works…   You can see the finished install, which is neat and tidy, with a happy customer to boot! Watch to the end to see the emergency switch – after the video, we put the finishing touches to it with labels, metal cable ties, and Unistrut end caps 🔵 #wfpelectrical 🔵 👏⚡️💡 #EmergencyLighting #ElectricalSafety #ElectricalEngineer #LightingInstallation

How good is Paul’s crystal ball?   I like to tell people that I can tell when their fire alarm system needs to be replaced. It’s not because I’ve been moonlighting as a clairvoyant who specialises in fire safety… Although that would be quite the niche.   It’s because all electronic products have a designed lifespan. Anyone with a smartphone will know that a couple of years in, everything starts to slow down, the battery life dwindles, and you’re looking at new models again. It’s the same concept with every electrical product, which includes fire alarms. Most have a 10-year lifespan where they’re working to their optimum and after that, they begin to deteriorate. While it may still work after that time, there are no guarantees – the reality is that the performance of your fire alarm system will diminish at an unknown increment after that point.   And that’s not a spot you want to be in with fire safety.   Apollo, one of our suppliers, state that the lifespan of their products is 10 years, and they provide a warranty to back it up.   You understandably want your fire alarm system to last as long as possible – not least because it’s a pure cost to the business. Warranties vary between suppliers and the answer you’ll get on how long they’re supposed to last will vary too… But 10 years is the most commonly recommendation duration to change your system. BS5839-1 (the Code of Practice for Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings) doesn’t define a fixed timeline for components, but what it does do is discuss the importance of a system being maintained regularly with replacement parts still available. The reality is that the only way of being 100% sure of the viability of your fire alarm system is by conducting regular maintenance. If you’ve got a reputable company looking after your system, they’ll be able to recommend when the right time is to change. It might be that you’re getting false alarms and there’s some issues present, or it might be that you’ve had no issues with a system that’s 20 years old… Until then, it’s like Schrodinger’s fire alarm system – you don’t know until it’s inspected and regularly maintained.   If you want to find out more about our ongoing regular maintenance contracts or if you have a fire safety question or challenge, just hit reply or give us a call on 01277 724 653. Paul

When a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well… And that’s exactly what our engineers have been doing as they conduct a mains upgrade. Rather than just installing the new board and heading out, they’ve taken the time to organise, sort, and arrange the cables so that they’re neat and tidy, and everything is easy to access. It helps them the next time they’re on site, it means everything is easy to find, and it keeps everything looking as it should. It might seem like a small thing, but the small things add up to become big things, and that’s why they always matter.

When a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well… And that’s exactly what our engineers have been doing as they conduct a mains upgrade. Rather than just installing the new board and heading out, they’ve taken the time to organise, sort, and arrange the cables so that they’re neat and tidy, and everything is easy to access. It helps them the next time they’re on site, it means everything is easy to find, and it keeps everything looking as it should. It might seem like a small thing, but the small things add up to become big things, and that’s why they always matter.

Like a classic Western, there’s been a showdown brewing for years in the world of fire alarms. While there’s no Clint Eastwood involved here, there are a few things to consider in the VADs vs VIDs debate...   It’s a subject that often crops up, which is why we want to give you a bit of context about why it matters. Picture the scene: You’re in a noisy factory with noise-cancelling headphones on when a fire breaks out… How would you know?   Well, there are two options – Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) and Visual Indicator Devices (VIDs).   There are crucial differences. VADs are the protagonist, the sheriff in our Spaghetti Western, while VIDs are the deputy who’s little more than an extra in our story. Let’s look at the key points… VADs are: Defined in British Safety Standards Feature bight, measurable flashing beacons Compliant since 2017 Literally designed to save your life!   While VIDs are: Not mentioned in the standards Feature dim, unreliable flashing lights No longer compliant as of 2017 About as useful as a chocolate teapot in a fire situation VADs are the hero, always there when you need them, highly effective, and fully compliant with UK fire safety rules and regulations. The reality is that when there’s a fire, every single second counts and VADs are designed to give you that time to safely evacuate the premises. Whereas VIDs are like a weak flashlight in broad daylight – you can’t be certain that people will notice them when it really matters. The kicker is that some companies are still installing VIDs, whether it’s because they’re not aware of the difference or because VADs cost more, we can’t be sure. But what we can be sure of is that if a fire broke out in your building, we’d want you to be able to rely on a device that’s specifically designed and certified to save lives – and that’s VADs. Staying safe and compliant comes down to trusting in your fire safety experts and we’ll always steer you in the right direction when it comes to fire alarm installations, risk assessments, repairs, and upgrades.   If you want to find out more about VIDs and VADs and why it matters for your premises, we’ll be more than happy to discuss – just hit reply or give us a call on 01277 724 653.

WFP Announces New Appointment to Strengthen Project Management Capabilities   WFP is pleased to announce the appointment of Tommy Lee as Project Manager in our Contracts Department. With a robust background in engineering and project management, Tommy brings a wealth of experience that will be instrumental in driving our projects to success.   Professional Background   Tommy Lee transitions to the Contracts Department from the Service Team at WFP Fire & Security & Electrical, where he has been serving as a Fire & Security Engineer since February 2023. Previously, Tommy worked as a Building Services Engineer at Transport for London (TfL), a safety-critical environment that enhanced his understanding of health and safety—an essential attribute for effective project management. Additionally, his role as a Shift Manager at McDonald's, a fast-paced and demanding setting, helped him develop strong customer service and leadership skills.   Key Responsibilities   In his new role at WFP, Tommy will ensure that our clients receive projects executed with precision and efficiency. He will streamline installations to meet technical standards, maintain open communication with stakeholders, and provide necessary tools for our engineers. By offering technical support and monitoring project financials, Tommy aims to deliver cost-effective solutions that enhance client satisfaction. His proactive management of client accounts will ensure strong relationships and the anticipation of potential issues.   Statement from the Contracts Director   "We are thrilled to welcome Tommy Lee to our team," said Scott Wright, Contracts Director at WFP. "His extensive experience and proven track record in engineering and project management make him an invaluable addition. We are confident that Tommy will excel in his new role and contribute significantly to the success of our projects."   For more information, please contact:   Paul Field     About WFP   WFP offers a comprehensive range of fire, security, and electrical installations, along with long-term maintenance solutions. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality services and ensuring client satisfaction through meticulous planning and execution. For more information, visit our website at www.w-fp.co.uk

I’ve never had to use my fire extinguisher at home, but I’ll always have one. In fact, I’ve had a fire extinguisher in my home for longer than my children have been alive… I know there’s a joke about Trigger’s broom – he’s had it for 20 years with just the 17 new heads and 14 new handles. But every year, it gets serviced, and every 10 years, it gets replaced. I brought mine in this week because it was that time of year again and it opened up a discussion in the office… Should everyone have a fire extinguisher at home? Well, we did the maths and worked out that if you were to purchase a new fire extinguisher and maintain it for its lifetime over 5 years, it’d cost you just 15p per day. There’s not even anything you can buy on Amazon for 15p (believe me, I’ve looked!). I’ve never had to use mine but if I did, it would be if a small fire were to arise in the kitchen, for example. Being able to deploy the fire extinguisher (which is incredibly simple to use) could either put the fire out OR give me and my family the time to safely exit the house and call the fire brigade. And the bonus is that every year, I simply need to bring it along while all of the office fire extinguishers are serviced, and I know it’s good to go. It’s something we’d encourage everyone to do and you can even copy my idea and bring it along when all of the workplace extinguishers are being serviced every 12 months. Services and inspections are an important part of fire safety to ensure that everything’s working as it should, whether that’s a fire extinguisher being serviced or a fire alarms being serviced. Keeping on top of your fire safety requirements is our priority and we’re always here to help with anything fire, security or electrical related. You can find out more about all things fire extinguisher-related on our website below...

In the days before sat navs and phones meaning you can harness the power of the internet in the palm of your hand, there was another way. When I first began driving for work, I’d left the navy and started working as a Fire Alarm Engineer in London. That meant having the A-Z Roadmap the passenger seat, prepped and ready. I’d stop at the side of the road, take a look at where my next turn was and count down the 10 roads until I made my left turn, then stop and repeat. It might seem alien to anyone who learns to drive today, given our reliance on technology, but it means that I know London like the back of my hand. I could probably pass the infamous Black Cab Driver ‘knowledge’ test in another life. But the concept is something that still lives on today – and it’s something we’ve applied to our training academy. Because it’s one thing to be able to follow instructions on a sat nav or through a manual, but it’s another to be able to understand how to do it off your own back. And for our engineers, we want them to be able to problem solve whenever they’re out on a job because no job is ever as straightforward as it makes out in the manual! When things aren’t perfect, you need to be able to apply knowledge and logic to the situation to get things working again. There might be a strange fault that we’ve not seen before, which is the moment our training comes into play because we introduce weird faults for them to find and figure out how to solve. With the methodology we use to train our engineers, we’re much more likely to fix something first time – and not just first time but also fixed properly. I might not still be reaching for the A-Z Roadmap, but I’ll never forget what it taught me. Paul

A few months ago, I finally got round to digitising and sorting out all of my photos. And it’s one of those things that’s sparked a million memories – photos of trips and holidays when the kids were younger, trips before the kids were around, and even some photos from my Navy days. But it was one photo in particular that’s become a bit of a time capsule… I was lucky enough to be selected to go to London for the Queen Mother’s birthday, which involved being onboard HMS Broadsword following the Royal Yacht Britannia as protection.   At the same time, I had a friend who was working on the construction of the Canary Wharf Tower, which was set to be the tallest building in London at the time. So, me being me, I saw an opportunity. I handed my camera to my friend and told him exactly when the Royal Yacht Britannia would be setting sail, and he managed to capture a pretty spectacular photo.   Sometimes being in the right place at the right time (with a little bit of preparation) can yield some spectacular results. That’s a philosophy we try to apply to everything we do – it’s the idea behind our maintenance contracts, too.   Because our engineers are already in the right place (your premises) at the right time (before things go wrong!) and they can make the most of it by pre-emptively checking on all of your systems. Be it fire alarms, CCTV, your electrical system, intruder alarms, security gates or anything else, we’re always here to help.