MODULE information
Here's what you need to know
Stay up to date with the latest revision to PAS 9980: Fire risk appraisal of external wall construction and cladding of existing blocks of flats. This free course provides a concise and practical overview of the key changes introduced in PAS 9980:2026.
What you will learn:
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Overview of PAS 9980 and the purpose of an FRAEW
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Key changes introduced by PAS 9980:2026
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Practical implications of the revised guidance for existing and future FRAEWs
This module is for professionals involved in assessing, managing or making decisions about the fire risk associated with external walls, as well as those who need to understand the impact of the changes introduced by PAS 9980:2026.
These individuals might include:
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Fire risk assessors
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Fire engineers and fire safety consultants
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Building and facilities managers
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Building surveyors
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Managing agents and facilities managers
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Other professionals involved in the management or assessment of residential buildings
National Safety Academy qualifications are designed to take you on a learning journey. This course is fully online and self-directed, with instant access to the learning materials.
You can navigate through the course content in your learning portal online.
To support your learning, you'll also have access to:
When the need arises to extend a fire alarm system, several key principles must be followed. Firstly,
all new work must comply with the requirements of BS 5839-1:2025, regardless of whether the existing parts of the system were installed to an older standard. Secondly, a
competent person with a thorough understanding of fire alarm system design must assume responsibility for the entire extension project.
It's also important to consider the scale of the extension. If the planned addition is substantial, perhaps similar in size to the original system, it might be more practical and economical to consider installing a
completely new fire alarm system. This is particularly relevant if the existing system is aging or utilises outdated technology.
For addressable or networked systems, careful attention must be paid to cable compatibility. Using incompatible or older cable types to extend circuits can lead to disruptions in communication or even system failures. If the original cable type is no longer available, it might be necessary to undertake the more significant task of rewiring the entire circuit.
Following any extension, recommissioning of the entire system is essential. This process ensures that the new additions haven't negatively impacted the functionality of the existing system. Key aspects of recommissioning include checking the battery capacity to ensure it can still adequately support the expanded system, verifying signal strength in radio-based systems to guarantee reliable communication, and confirming the cause-and-effect programming to ensure the extended system integrates seamlessly with the existing operational logic.
Finally, a formal "Extensions or Modifications" Certificate must be issued and meticulously kept as part of the system's permanent records.
