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?