IFC SDI 19 - What is it and why does it matter?

Ensuring smoke ventilation systems are properly installed and maintained is essential for a building to perform as expected in the event of a fire – safeguarding both lives and property. To help project teams, building owners and facilities managers to confirm that companies contracted to carry out this work have the necessary skills and training, the Smoke Control Association (SCA) worked in partnership with IFC Certification to introduce IFC SDI 19: Smoke Control Systems.

What is IFC SDI 19?

IFC SDI 19 is a voluntary certification scheme designed to ensure both quality and competency in the installation, inspection and maintenance of smoke control systems. The scheme is operated by IFC Certification and requires certified companies to continually demonstrate that their processes and trained staff adhere to industry best practice, including relevant standards such as BS 9991, BS 9999 and BS 7346 - 4,5,7 and 8, through a process of regular audits.

What is involved in IFC SDI 19 Accreditation?

When a firm applies to be accredited under IFC SDI 19, it will need to confirm that it meets all the technical requirements contained in the scheme document, including specific installation and maintenance requirements.

IFC Certification will then carry out an initial audit of different aspects of the company’s on and offsite operations to confirm compliance. This includes:

• Office – demonstrating that they operate a management system which allows all work for contracted clients to be tracked and recorded over time. This should include specific information about the products that are fitted and their ongoing maintenance and inspection logs.
• Site installations – auditing a selection of completed and ongoing installations to demonstrate that staff have the necessary training and understanding of systems they are installing, and that works are being completed in line with the contract drawings and installation instructions.
• Maintenance – evidencing that service and maintenance activities are only undertaken by suitably qualified individuals, that they are maintaining a database of all the contracts they operate and the systems installed within the buildings, and that there are clear processes in place for the inspection, maintenance and reporting of any issues to the client/end user.

Achieving certification under this scheme is only the start of the process. Once a company is certified, it is required to log every contract it takes on to IFC Certifications’ web-database, along with all staff who are recognised as competent by IFC Certification through training and assessment.

The company will then be subject to a process of annual office audits along with interim site audits of a range of jobs based on a variety of factors including:

• Size and complexity of the installation
• Type of system
• Contractor activity level.

Any non-compliance issues will lead to additional audits and can result in accreditation being suspended and ultimately withdrawn.

What are the benefits of using an IFC SDI 19 accredited company?

There are a number of benefits for appointing an IFC SDI 19 certified company to carry out the installation or maintenance of smoke control systems. These include:

• Certified assurance of quality – on completion of all works, IFC SDI 19 certified companies are required to issue clients with Certifications of Conformity, giving assurance that the works meet the requirements of the scheme.
• Specialist installations – staff recognised as competent under the scheme must demonstrate that they have the full knowledge and understanding of the products and systems they are installing to ensure a best practice installation.
• Proactive service and repair – all certified companies who offer service and maintenance contracts are recognised as and are required to regularly service and maintain systems in line with industry best practice guidance. This proactive approach can allow issues to be identified and rectified with minimal disruption to building operations.
• Golden thread maintained – all certified companies are required to maintain detailed records of your building’s smoke control systems including maintenance patterns and any works undertaken. This ensures the Golden Thread of information about these systems is upheld across your contract.

Is Colt IFC SDI 19 Accredited?

Yes, Colt International was the first smoke control business to be certified to both IFCC SDI 19 and SDI 05: Fire and Smoke Curtains (Active or Passive).

We are proud to operate a UK wide network of experienced engineers backed with regular, comprehensive training to stay fully up-to-date with the latest regulations and best practice guidance.

We provide a 24/7 365 callout scheme and, where possible, we look to ensure that the same engineer is assigned to a building for every scheduled visit. This helps to ensure they have a detailed knowledge of how your smoke control system should operate.

Get in touch with our service team to learn more about our comprehensive service offering.