CDS has won a contract to maintain and service the fire safety systems at a new distribution centre for one of the best-known bakery chains in the UK.
It will provide annual maintenance at the Greggs’ 66,000 sq ft bakery in Amesbury in Wiltshire, which employs around a hundred people including operatives, supervisors and drivers.
The centre, along with four sister sites scattered across the country, supplies some of the company’s 2,300 stores nationwide which together feed a staggering six milion customers a week.
The contract will see the CDS team maintain the warehouse’s extensive network of Gent Vigilon Panel fire alarm and detection systems, originally installed by CDS, fire alarm and detection systems and portable fire extingushers.
The complex fire safety system has to be rigorously maintained and needs a fast, effective, responsive repair system.
CDS will also carry out twice yearly fire risk assessments at the premises, a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) in England and Wales.
With stricter rules surrounding such assessments due to become law later in the year, more companies are choosing professionals such as CDS to act on their behalf, even though they can legally be carried out in-house.
Building owners could face extensive fines for fire safety breaches under the Building Safety Bill currently going through the House of Lords, making the need to ensure fire risk assessments are kept up to date even more important.
The new measures will also make it easier to identify who is responsible for fire safety, with anyone impersonating or obstructing a fire inspector facing unlimited fines.
CDS managing director Simon Abley said: “We offer a comprehensive and highly technical range of fire and life safety services. As well as helping organisations protect their workforce, residents and visitors, we can ensure they remain compliant.
“Getting to grips with what is required from both a safety and a compliance point of view is a specialised area.
“As well as specifying, installing and maintaining systems, often in multi-building environments, we can help companies avoid the potentially huge costs of false alarms, reduce outgoings by installing remote monitoring systems and consolidate disparate existing systems under one roof.”
• CDS national sales manager Sophie Kelly celebrates winning CDS’ new contract to carry out annual maintenance for Greggs bakery
