How MFE Take Care Its Clients

New clients

We take immense pleasure in welcoming new clients. Client retention is crucial to our operations. However, attracting new clients is also an exciting opportunity. Starting a new site can be daunting. Getting familiar with the Essential Safety equipment may cause some anxiety or even despondency. This situation becomes especially relevant when limited baseline data and inadequate documentation exist. Questions often arise, such as, “How did the construction of this facility happen?” or “What information did the previous service provider rely on?” These inquiries are common when transitioning from a previous contractor.

The AS1901 Part 1 dossier on fire doors is important. The manufacturer initially compiles it, and the installer later adds to it. This document should ideally be available on site. However, if we can’t readily access it, we must quote for additional research and interaction with various parties. Challenges arise when the builder or Original Equipment Manufacturer is no longer operating. Since fire door testing is a destructive process, we cannot verify the authenticity of fire doors without initial indicators.

We recently contacted the Fire Doors manufacturer. We used information from door tags for this inquiry. This communication provided us a deeper understanding of the actual procedures and mechanisms involved. As a result, we identified weaknesses in the system. The AS code already predicted most of these weaknesses.

What we learned from the Fire Door manufacturer

Insights from the Fire Door manufacturer reveal that the door and frame, equipped with closers, latches, and drop-down door seals (DDS), are sold as per specifications. The door serial number, displayed on the door tag, is utilised for cross-referencing the details of all fittings supplied for that particular door. Builders, following manufacturer instructions, install the door and fittings, and prepare a Statutory Declaration to this effect. The manufacturer then issues AS1901 door and frame tags, which include the year of manufacture and a unique serial number, to the builder for affixing. Manufacturers anticipate spot checks of these details as part of the due diligence activities of the Registered Building Surveyor who authorises the Certificate of Occupancy.

When we arrive on-site, we expect to find the building ready for tenants or new owners to occupy, with the building or facility manager having set up systems for Essential Safety equipment maintenance. We can assist in establishing this maintenance contract and subcontract specialist equipment contractors if necessary.

Having access to drawings that show the location of all safety equipment helps us locate items quickly. This reduces the chance of overlooking anything. We also need lists of your Essential Safety equipment, detailing their location and type. For complex or unusual equipment, we require access to your maintenance manuals. Absence of ready-made equipment lists necessitates the creation of an asset list from scratch. This process can be time-consuming, prone to errors and omissions, requiring several iterations and repeated visits. Therefore, you may need to seek additional compensation. Without comprehensive asset lists and equipment details, we cannot comply with AS1851 maintenance requirements.

In this context, we question the value of spending excessive time searching for hidden safety equipment on your site. We also doubt the need to document every relevant detail. Our answer is that it\’s not the best use of your resources. Instead, we propose helping you discover what information is likely already available to you.

How can we help?

For further assistance, feel free to ring us on 1300 134 971.