FIRA Technical Services

Tristine HargreavesStandards & Regulatory Manager

Our Experts

Dr. Peter Beele Tristine Hargreaves

Technical Development Manager Standards & Regulatory Manager

Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund James Bell

Research & Consultancy Manager Environmental Consultant

Bruce Lovell Sue Calver

Engineering Consultant Project Manager

Levent Çaglar

Senior Ergonomist

How can we help you?

• Membership Projects• Research Projects• Product Requirements

– Flammability

– Expert Witness Work

• Sustainability Services• Business Process Improvement• Specifier Services (soon to be re-branded!)

Membership ProjectsCurrent:• FR Chemicals – alternatives to Deca-BDE

• FR Regulations – alternative match test proposal

Future:

• FR Chemicals & End of Life (POPS)

Ongoing:

• National and European Standards development

• Involvement in public consultations

• Forums to discuss technical issues for FRQG / FIRA / BFM members

Research• Membership Projects• EU and Nationally Funded Research

Safe Seats of Learning

Benchmarking Carbon Footprints

of Furniture Products

Annual Statistics

Digest

Competitiveness of the UK Furniture Manufacturing

Industry

Flammability

• Domestic Furniture - UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations

• Contract Furniture more complex

- Flammability Guides

- Flammability Testing

- Flammability Training

Expert Witness

Expert witness skills and invaluable court experience:

•An excellent background in standards

•The ability to gather evidence with facilities for testing and investigation

•First class reporting with unrivalled knowledge of the subject and experience in court

Sustainability

• Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme (FISP)

• Club Green

• Furniture Footprinter

• Business Support, Advice and Training in:– EU Timber Regulations– Chain of Custody – REACH Compliance– Environmental Management Systems– Health and Safety

Business Process Improvement• Lean Manufacturing

– 5C workplace reorganisation

– 7 wastes

– Standardised work

– Set-up improvement

– Problem Solving

• Factory Layouts

• DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) Improvement Project Management

The reorganisation shown resulted in an increase in productivity by 11%

Specifications - Current Problems

Tenders that specify misleading or inappropriate standards

and requirements cause problems.

Both for tendering authorities and suppliers, resulting in:

• Loss of time • Higher costs• Wasted effort • Inferior quality• Non-conformance• Liability/Legal Challenge

Specifications – Solution!

Specifiers need:

• Access to clear and concise advice for tender creation• Access to accurate information on current requirements• Access to the correct and current furniture standards

• A Guide for non-domestic and contract furniture

Target Audience

• Purchasers for Public Sector Organisations (Central and Local Government, Education and Health).

• Interior designers and architects.

• Specifiers for hospitality, hotels, offices.

• Procurement Professionals in the Private Sector.

• Construction and Fit-Out Companies and Main Contractors.

• Facilities Managers.

• Manufacturers and Suppliers.

Specifier Services Web Site

http://www.specifierservices.co.uk

The site has 2 main elements:

• A guide to Specifying and Tendering for Contract Furniture• A tool to Create A Technical Specification

Any questions?