Zindzi Fire Engineering provides fire protection installation and maintenance services. They have experience crews that conduct daily inspections and testing of fire systems to ensure proper functioning. Regular maintenance is important to detect any issues and replace aging components, keeping systems operational to provide safety. Zindzi advocates for dedicated on-site maintenance teams to provide daily oversight and quick response to any fire protection needs.

1. ZINDZI Fire Engineering
and Maintenance
INNOVATION - CHALLANGING THE WAY
THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE
Zindzi Fire Engineering, integrated expertise in Automatic Fire
Protection Installation and Maintenance. We are Focused on
being a trusted partner in Fire Protection industry, always
aware that production never stops. Commitment to service
delivery is paramount to our growth. Our experienced service
team and supplier network provides all our clients peace of
mind when it comes to budgetary and time constraints.

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COMPANY PROFILE
About us:
Zindzi Engineering was established in 2005, as part of Africa Paramount Holdings; founded in 1992, Zindzi
Consulting, formulated in 2005. The company is dedicated to being a truly representative South African
Organization, Zindzi is a black FEMALE owned company. Zindzi Engineering is in the process of merging with Alpha
Pyrosec, Alpha has 25 years of experiance in the Fire Protection industry. Alpha Pyrosec is compliant and
registered with all industry regulators; SAQCC, Fire Protection Association, ASIB and the FDIA. Zindzi is compliant
with all government regulations and Alpha Pyrosec has the expertise and knowledge in the industry. Our CEO Ms.
Mulla has set the benchmark for transformation to contribute towards the achievement of Government
Accelerated Growth Initiatives (ASIGSA) within the installation and maintenance industry. Our core business
component is made up of three segments of professional personnel; Project Management Services, FIRE
PROTECTION INSTALLATION AND MAINTANANCE and Disciplined Engineering Services. Zindzi Engineering is a
qualified level 1 BBBEE accredited contributor, all our Engineers are registered with (ECSA) Engineering Council of
South Africa and all our senior Engineers are LEEDS certified. All our statutory requirements include but not limited
to SABS, SAQCC Fire, FPA, FFETA, BEE, MHSA and the OSHA standards.
Knowledge expansion is paramount to our growth, embracing technology and expanding our industry related
services. We pride ourselves in keeping up with industry news, new technology, new products and daily
maintenance schedules - We pride ourselves by informing all our clients that they are dealing with a company that
takes Fire protection seriously.
Through our 'innovative' hands-on approach, we always ensure that our clients are up to date with new legislative
requirements and all their fire protection needs are met on a daily basis. It is this approach that has helped us
develop the reputation we have today.
Our organization offers Fire Protection supplies, service's and maintains all Portable Fire Equipment as well as
Automatic Fire Suppression/Detection Systems. All sites that are serviced and maintained by Zindzi will be issued a
daily report electronically as well as an in depth report every week. Daily, Weekly and Monthly reports will be filed
and left on site for any site personnel's inspection, transparency is an additional key to our success.
Components when required: A reflection of our loyalty and business integrity, we import both stock and indent
products from our network partners across the globe. We have a local supplier database that assembles
equipment using imported and locally manufactured components which in turn guarantees competitive pricing.

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Services
Fire Pump Systems
Jacking Pump - Jacking are manual (hand) or electric (semi-automatic or fully automatic) pumps are not always
fitted to an automatic fire sprinkler system. They however provide a method of pumping (boosting) water from the
water supply to the fire sprinkler system after the alarm valve. This leads to an increase in water pressure in the
fire sprinkler system, thus forcing the alarm valve into the closed position. Jacking Pumps have a secondary
function of maintaining the water pressure within a fire sprinkler system reducing the likelihood of false alarms
caused by low pressure, caused by small water leaks
Ancillary Components
In addition to the main components of the fire sprinkler system, there are a series of ancillary (support)
components that regularly form part of an automatic fire sprinkler system.
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing
adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected.
Although historically only used in factories and large commercial buildings, systems for homes and small buildings
are now available at a cost-effective price Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide, with over 40
million sprinkler heads fitted each year. In buildings completely protected by fire sprinkler systems, over 99% of
fires were controlled by fire sprinklers alone.
Fire Suppression Systems
Fire Suppression systems are governed by the codes under the NFPA. Fire Suppression Systems are commonly
used on heavy power equipment. Suppression systems use a combination of dry chemicals and/or wet agents to
suppress equipment fires. Suppression systems have become a necessity to several industries as they help control
damage and loss to equipment. Common means of detection are through heat sensors, wiring, or manual
detection (depending on system selection).
 Fire sprinkler systems (wet, dry, pre-action, and deluge)
 Gaseous agents
 Wet and dry chemical agents
 Water

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 Automatic Fire Suppression Systems
 Automatic fire suppression systems control and extinguish fires without human intervention. Examples of
automatic systems include fire sprinkler system, gaseous fire suppression, and condensed aerosol fire
suppression
Design Fire Systems
Components of an automatic fire sprinkler system
Typically, a Fire Sprinkler Systems are made up from a series of components including; Stop Valve, Alarm Valve,
Fire Sprinkler (head), Alarm Test Valve and Motorized Alarm Bell (Gong). In addition to this there are additional
components that support this arrangement including a Valve Monitor, Pressure Switch and Flow Switch.
The illustration to the right shows each of these components, and the approximate location within the
arrangement.
This illustration shows only one type of fire sprinkler system however there are other types including dry pipe, pre-
action, tail-end, residential and domestic fire sprinkler systems
Since 2005 Zindzi Fire Engineering has provided turnkey fire detection and protection solutions, including design,
fabrication, supply and installation. An uncontrolled fire in any operation has serious consequences, including loss
of life, damage of assets, financial loss and often permanent cessation of the business. Such loss is
unnecessary. Zindzi Fire Engineering will ensure your business has the protection it needs. Maintenance contracts
are standard to ensure that all our systems are fully functional at all times. Our focus is on quality workmanship,
leveraging our experience to ensure economic viability, to complete each project to spec, on time and in budget.
Multi-disciplinary offering
Zindzi Engineering is a multi-discipline fire protection company in Southern Africa. Our expertise is vast in water-
based system, from deluge systems to sprinklers. We execute work with smoke detection systems and special risk
systems, including state of the art gas suppression systems. We offer Fire Sprinkler Systems, Fire Designs, Smoke
detection and control, Spray Systems and Special Risks, Piping Installations, Fire Hydrants, Fire Hose reels, and
Hand Fire Appliances, Fire Pumping Plant and Fire Water Storage Reservoirs.

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Maintenance and Servicing
Fire Alarm System Testing, Inspection and Maintenance
Are you really maintaining your fire alarm system?
Fire alarm systems are expected to help protect people, property, and assets. But you can’t tell if they’re fully
operational just by looking at them. As with any other system, electronics and other components can degrade over
time and compromise the system’s operation. Dust, dirt, and other contaminants can cause problems with smoke
detectors. Such things as vandalism, building improvements, and improper maintenance procedures can also
damage fire protection equipment. The good news is that with proper testing, inspection, and maintenance you
can keep your fire alarm system at optimum operating performance. In addition to ensuring protection, keeping
your system in good condition reduces expenses by preventing unbudgeted emergency repairs and costly false
alarms. Current service companies don't see service and maintenance contracts as priority. Servicing contracts
seem to take a back seat when the appointed contractor receives higher paying jobs that require most of their
resources. Leaving your site exposed to dangerous hazards and in most cases unpaid insurance claims.
Why not has a dedicated and experienced maintenance crew on site every day at your disposal?
Where to start: Knowing the system’s age and maintenance history helps you determine the steps you must
take to maintain its operational readiness. Systems under five years old should require daily maintenance in
order to maximize the fire systems life expectancy. In systems so young, problems are usually due to
marginal installation like improper grounding or environmental factors like voltage transients, daily system testing
and inspection by qualified specialists can detect many such problems.
Systems between five and ten years old may experience component breakdown caused by harsh, but normal,
environmental factors. Voltage fluctuations, temperature, and humidity may cause system failure or nuisance
alarm problems.
Systems between ten and fifteen years old can still provide appropriate life-safety response. However, systems in
this category need close attention, even with proper maintenance procedures in place. If the system has had a
history of poor maintenance or none at all, it’s likely that failure of components and improper monitoring of
system components will occur; resulting in replacing the entire system.
Systems approaching 20 years of age may be beyond their technological life expectancy. The system may
continue to work satisfactorily if properly maintained, but you need testing and inspection by trained
specialists to ensure proper system response will occur in an emergency.

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The steps: The maintenance activities for fire detection systems can be summed up in four steps:
1. Test and calibrate alarm sensors, such as flame and smoke detectors, per manufacturer specifications. This
requires knowing about the different sensors—and their testing requirements, failure modes, and re-
installation requirements.
2. Simulate inputs and test the sirens. This requires specific knowledge of the system under test.
3. Set sensitivity. This requires an understanding of the particular system, the specific application, and fire
detection theory.
4. Check the battery for corrosion and expiration date, then, take appropriate action, if necessary.
These steps seem simple enough, provided you have the knowledge. However, that knowledge is useless if you
don’t pay absolute attention to detail. Experience shows that maintenance technicians are under pressure to keep
production equipment running often overlook important details because “nothing is broken.”
In virtually all cases, the standards outline the minimum requirement, which means that we are still in
a reactive mindset. The potential problem, however, is that not all fire alarm systems are subject to the same
environmental and ambient conditions. Therefore, meeting minimum standards of all applicable codes and
standards may not provide the optimum protection for a facility. Because of this, manufacturers’ service &
NFRA organizations recommend inspections and maintenance that exceed published standards and guidelines.ie
on a daily basis.
System maintenance: In addition to system age, you must consider budget and staffing resources.
Does our site have the time and expertise to properly maintain this critical life-safety system?
Will it be more cost-effective to have a contractor specializing in fire alarms perform the maintenance?
The most stringent standards and guidelines are meaningless unless the people performing the inspection, testing,
and maintenance are knowledgeable and qualified to service the fire alarm system.
Facility maintenance people usually don’t maintain or possess the experience and knowledge found in service
technicians, whose daily work revolves around fire alarm system technology in a variety of environments and
circumstances. The best-designed fire alarm system can be rendered ineffective, if improperly maintained. When
you’re pinched by budgets, it’s tempting to take the risk that a fire won’t happen and delay responsible
decisions about your fire protection until the next quarter. However, courts have increasingly ruled against
people who have made such decisions, and held them—and their managers—personally and criminally liable. You
must ensure your fire protection system operates properly, even if that means dipping into other budgets.

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Regular maintenance is essential to keep equipment, machines and the work environment safe and reliable. Lack
of maintenance or inadequate maintenance can lead to dangerous situations and accidents.
• new installations • inspection • testing • measurement • replacement • adjustment • repair •
upkeep • fault detection • replacement of parts • servicing • cleaning
Maintenance is critical to ensure continuous productivity, to produce products of high quality and to keep
company’s competitiveness. If not maintained or serviced on a daily this could impact on occupational safety and
health, audits or any legal undertaking that may arise from accidents or insurance claims. There is so much time,
money and effort that are put in on site safety. Unfortunately once these much needed and expensive equipment
is installed, Snr site staff members are under the impression that there sites are fully protected. Appointed
contractors servicing these systems usually are very busy, so when they do come out to do a service they do the
bare minimum.
About the Technical Division
Utilizing a team of qualified professionals, with national and international fire safety management
maintenance/servicing experience, we are ideally positioned to offer a cost effective professional maintenance
service that will help members meet their fire safety obligations with confidence.
Supported by our extensive technical library, that provides access to local and international standards, codes and
best practice, we are able to offer fire safety maintenance to all business sectors. Due to our involvement in legal
compliance reviews our competent technical staffs has all the necessary training requirements and certification in
order to execute any project with confidence.
WHY should you service on a regular basis?
 Due to the harsh environment, newly installed equipment could get damaged prior to the monthly or
even weekly service intervals leaving that area vulnerable to fires. Mine employees usually just do visual
inspections, they do not have the tools or the expertise to test or service the equipment
 The decision to implement a daily maintenance crew should not be based on cost. It should be factored
on investing in company assets and the safety of all the mines employees
 Maintaining on a daily basis reduces cost of ownership. Ultimately, this results in reducing costs and
maximizing a fire systems yearly budget
 Quality servicing and care of fire equipment can guarantee safety in the event of an emergency
 This is a responsible approach

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The Benefits of having a regular fire support crew:
 You are guaranteed a dedicated service crew for the upkeep of your systems with the necessary expertise
to carry out the work. The support crew is at your disposal to discuss any queries or concerns
 You will have peace of mind that your automatic fire system will be functional and healthy 24/7
 Costs and time on small installations relating to the fire system will be dramatically reduced as we have a
team on site everyday which eliminates site establishment costs and SHE documentation delays
 You will no longer have to wait for contractors to complete and submit inadequate service reports. Our
service report will be designed to suit YOUR audit requirements and will be submitted to site on a daily
basis. An in depth report will be submitted on a weekly then monthly basis
 Fire system training for existing and new site personnel can be done on your schedule and not the
contractors
 No downtime with unions, strikes, etc
 We undertake all the responsibilities of contracts attendance registers ( all that will be required is a
signature for verification from site management)
 Systems will always be maintained which will in turn save costs on bringing outside contractors in to
ensure that the site is compliant for audit purposes
 Systems that are maintained, checked, inspected and serviced on a daily basis will guarantee a much
longer life expectancy. These systems will beable to do what they are designed to do
 The onsite service crew would beable to do small and urgent jobs relating to fire (this will save costs as
the service team will only be invoicing for equipment and not labour)
 Call out and site establishment costs for minor works will be eliminated
 Down time related to fire hazard conditions will be eliminated
 Consumable Equipment will be kept on site to avoid delays with procurement procedures

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Maintenance Proposal
Philosophy for maintenance
Maintenance Proposal
Philosophy for maintenance
Regular maintenance is essential to keep equipment, machines and the work environment safe and
reliable. Lack of maintenance or inadequate maintenance can lead to dangerous situations and
accidents.
• inspection • testing • measurement • replacement • adjustment • repair • upkeep • fault
detection • replacement of parts • servicing • lubrication, cleaning
Daily attention by ZINDZI maintenance teams
A checklist will be scheduled on a daily bases to:
 Ensure that the panels indicate a normal and healthy operation. If not, any fault that is indicated
will be recorded and receive immediate attention
 Any fault warning recorded the previous day would have received attention
 For systems over 13 zones, more than 1 zone will be tested in a day. Each time a zone is tested a
different trigger device will be used
 Fire doors fitted with automatic releases will be checked to ensure that they are operating
efficiently and are effective; self -closing
 Note will be made of the particular trigger device that was used to initiate each test
 If the operation of the alarm sounders and / or the transmission of the alarm signal has been
prevented by disconnection, then a further test will be carried out to prove the final reinstatement
of the sounders, and if permissible, the alarm transmission circuits
 Primary batteries, including reserves, will be tested to verify that they are satisfactory for a further
period of use by taking measurements that are indicative of the conditions of each cell e.g. voltage
measurements, all further checks and tests specified by the manufacturers or supplier will be
carried out on each
 Detectors will be checked for correct operation in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations
 Visual inspections will be made to confirm that all cable fittings and equipment are secure,
undamaged and adequately protected

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 Any defects or faulty equipment will be recorded and reported to the responsible person, action
will be taken to correct it once approval is received
 On completion of the work a daily certificate/report of testing will be given to the responsible
person
 Detectors in dusty and dirty environments will be tested every day. All other detectors will be
tested twice as we
 Assess and Check for any integrity issues in enclosed areas. Fill and close any holes and seal cable
entries
 On request apply Intumescent Micon paint to any cables or fire boards
 Inspect Fire Extinguishers, pressure gauges and gas cylinder gauges
 As required test any trips during shutdown periods
 Test that all signals are going back to the PLC unit twice a week
 Test all sirens, strobes, break glass units and alarms
 Ensure that fire signage is still to standard. Not falling off, broken or sun damaged
 Ensure that all Gas piping, Gas nozzles, water piping and brackets are all secure and not rusting
 When requested we will paint the Gas piping and water piping
 Inspect cables and other potential Fire Hazards
 Test that all Dampers/ Louvers are operational
 Assist with the implementation and control of the Fire Evacuation plan
 Do the Fire system training on new mine employees and refresher courses on existing employees
 Complete any small Fire related installation that needs to be done urgently
 (Please note that Zindzi will only be charging for equipment in these instances. Labour has already
been invoiced for that month, provided that the onsite crew is sufficient to complete the required
work)

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ZINDZI FIRE ENGINEERING AND MAINTENACE DEFINED
Being the central component of any fire protection installation, the Fire Alarm System deserves the
Highest level of care and maintenance achievable. The prevalent trend is for property owners to
Outsource this technically demanding task. However, the highly competitive environment and the
Expectation of unrealistically low prices by property owners often prevent maintenance contractors
From delivering the expected level of service. As a result, the level of care and maintenance delivered
May deteriorate to an extent that compromises the integrity of the system, thereby compromising the
Safety of occupants and property. In view of the disturbing trend, this paper aims to re-visit some pertinent issues
of Fire Alarm System maintenance management.
Keywords – Fire, maintenance, maintenance program, Service Level Agreement, Key Performance
Indicators, eMaintenance, embedded Internet, globally networked.
1.0 Introduction - Important functions of a Fire Alarm System
The single most important factor in surviving a fire incident is a timely and orderly evacuation.
The single most important factor in that evacuation is early notification of the existence of fire.
The most effective way of receiving early notification is in the form of a fire detection and alarm system.
Besides providing early notification, the fire alarm system also performs the following critical functions,
Whenever applicable:
 Shuts down AHUs to limit the spread of fire and minimize smoke exposure of occupants
 Closes fire doors held open electrically to limit the spread of fire
 Starts pressurization fans to clear stairways of smoke for occupants to escape
 Stops ventilation fans in car parks to contain the spread of fire
 Closes roller shutters to provide fire barriers and limit the spread of fire
 Automatically alerts the fire brigade to reduce attendance time
 Brings passenger lifts to the ground floor and prevent them from further use
 Monitors sprinkler, pressurized hydrant and hose reel pumps
 Monitors CO2 or other total flooding systems
Being the central component of any fire protection installation, the fire alarm system deserves the
Highest level of care and maintenance is achievable It is only as effective as the quality of care and
Maintenance the system receives. Due to system complexity and specialized expertise required to
Maintain this life-safety system, the maintenance task is often outsourced to a supplier, manufacturer
Or specialized contractors
2.0 Recommended Maintenance Program
Our maintenance tasks are classified according in the table below:
Table 1: Fire Alarm System Maintenance Work Classification
Category Sub-Category Description

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Generally, the more rigorously planned maintenance, and in particularly time-based preventive
Maintenance is implemented; the less likely is the need for costly and disruptive unplanned
Maintenance. The code of practice for system design, installation and servicing of a fire detection and
Alarm system, SANS 10400, SANS 10139 and the NFPA regulations, lists the recommended tasks to be performed
as part of the time-based preventive maintenance program. The fire alarm system is most likely to perform its
critical life-safety functions at all times if these maintenance tasks are performed dutifully.
Table 2: Time-based preventive maintenance according to SANS 10400
Note: Daily tasks will be included in weekly inspections, weekly tasks in monthly inspections, and so on.
Table 2: Time-based preventive maintenance according to SANS 10400
Daily
• Check the control panel to ascertain that it shows normal operation. Otherwise log
The failure.
• Ensure that any fault reported the previous day has received attention
• Visually inspect backup batteries
• Check all fault indicators and circuits by simulating a fault condition
• Check each detector for correct operation in accordance to manufacturer’s
Planned Maintenance
Time-based
Maintenance
Detects system deterioration and
prevents failure by systematic inspection
and monitoring undertaken at
predetermined time intervals
Condition-based
Maintenance
Corrective maintenance work
performed, as a result of significant
deterioration or failure, to restore the
system to full functionality.
Statutory
Maintenance
Actions performed to provide the
minimum level of maintenance to meet
mandatory requirements of NFPA or
Code of Practice such as SANS 10400
Part 1. (Often includes
Some of the Time-based and Condition-
based maintenance tasks).
Unplanned
Maintenance
Routine & Breakdown
Maintenance
Unplanned and reactive maintenance
actions performed to restore the system
to full functionality, as a result of an
unforeseen failure.
Incident Maintenance
Unplanned maintenance actions to
restore the system to full
Functionality as a result of damage
resulting from a lightning strike,
vandalism, fire or other accidents.

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Recommendation
(please note that this is over and above the Daily inspection noted in the proposal)
Weekly
Ensure that the system is capable of operating under alarm conditions by operating
At least one detector or call point on one circuit (zone or loop). For systems with 13
Circuits or less, each circuit will be tested in turn. For systems with more than
13 circuits, then more than one circuit will be tested each week so that the
Interval between tests on one circuit does not exceed 13 weeks.
• We will Check any printers to ensure that reserves of consumables are adequate for 2
weeks normal usage
• Visually inspect whether structural or occupancy changes have affected the
Requirements for the positioning of call points, detectors and sounders.
Monthly
• Simulate mains failure to automatically start standby generators/batteries to power the
fire alarm system for at least 1 hour. Check for malfunctions. Restore to normal supply and
check generator start-up battery & charger. Fill up fuel tanks, top up oil and coolant if
necessary.
Quarterly
• Re examine entries to log books to ensure that the necessary actions were taken
• Examine batteries and their connections and test them as specified by supplier to
Ensure that it is not likely to fail before the next inspection.
• Check Alarm functions of the panel by operating a detector or call point in each
zone
• Check Alarm sounders and automatic link to remote centers, if any.
• Check all ancillary functions of the control panel, where possible.
• Visually inspect the control panel for signs of moisture ingress or other deterioration.
• Visually inspect to confirm that a clear space of at least 750mm is preserved in all
directions below each detector, that detectors are sited in accordance with code of
Practice clauses 12 &/or 13 and that all call points remain unobstructed and conspicuous.
• These tests will be done by a competent person, and upon completion, a certificate of
testing will be issued to the responsible person.
Annually
• Visually check all cable fittings and equipment are secure, undamaged and adequately
protected.
• Record any defects in a logbook and upon completion, a certificate of testing is issued to
the responsible person.
3.0 Commonly practiced maintenance programs
3.1 Comprehensive maintenance: Outsourced to Facilities Management Companies
Maintenance of the fire alarm system, together with other building services, are managed by a
Facilities Management Company. For larger facilities, the Facilities Managers (FM) usually has a
Dedicated on-site maintenance teams handling planned and unplanned maintenance tasks. Having a
Professional maintenance team on-site enables the daily and weekly preventive maintenance tasks
Listed in table 2 above to be performed more effectively.
In a scenario where the FM is obligated by such an SLA, the fire alarm system has the best chance of
Getting the level of care and maintenance it deserves.
3.2 Zero-based maintenance

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Ignorant or low safety-conscious property owners sometimes adopt the zero-based maintenance
Program, where no maintenance action is undertaken until a breakdown is discovered. In this case,
maintenance is totally reactive and unplanned. This form of maintenance strategy is meant for minor
non-critical assets and those assets planned for refurbishment, replacement or disposal. Unfortunately, there are
cases where a critical life-safety asset like the fire alarm system is being maintained in this manner.
4.0 Challenges faced by system owners
With a few notable and commendable exceptions, for the majority of cases, the quality of care and
maintenance given to Fire Alarm systems is not satisfactory.
Despite having a maintenance contract and a maintenance budget, property owners are sometimes
Faced with the fact that their fire alarm systems remain poorly maintained. For example, a survey of 36
Systems in the Johannesburg belonging to an owner having maintenance contract in place
(Type 3.2 above)
Reveals the following:
• 83% have at least two “faults” condition.
• 28% are in “total failure” condition, i.e. no AC and standby power supply.
• Only 17% are in proper working condition, as indicated by the panel.
A casual system owner may be pleased when the control panel shows “normal” condition. However,
this is only “half the battle won”. Many less noticeable system abnormalities can be technically “hidden” from
owner’s view, some of which bear potentially life-threatening consequences. For example, it can be appreciated
from section 1.0 above, the fire alarm system is designed to trip the passenger lifts, bring them to the ground floor
and prevent them from further use during a fire. If, due to frequent false alarms and annoyance to occupants, the
tripping cable is disconnected from a conventional fire alarm panel, I/O module of an addressable system or the lift
control panel, this life-saving function cannot be performed by the fire alarm system. This disconnection will not be
annunciated at either control panel. In the course of maintenance, numerous system problems can technically be
“hidden”.
5.0 Challenges faced by the maintenance industry
The fire maintenance industry experienced unprecedented growth over the last several years. This
Could be attributed in part to new statutory requirements, a greater level of fire safety awareness, and
The scarcity of new constructions projects driving more industry players to focus on deriving a more
Stable and recurring revenue base from the fire maintenance sector.
In an unregulated and highly competitive environment, this rapid growth creates a business
Environment where contractors are finding it increasingly difficult to render maintenance services
Professionally while safeguarding their bottom line.
In some cases, unrealistic expectations from clients influenced contractors to veer away from
Professionalism, with the justification that such inequitable contracts have to be taken up for the sake
Of “survival”. Price pressures can also come from other players in the industry. Contractors who factor
In a professional and high standard of maintenance when bidding for a job may find them out
Priced by others who claim to offer the same service at below market prices. Either way, the result is a
General decline in the level of service and professionalism, which ultimately casts a negative image on

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The fire maintenance industry as a whole.
6.0 Making it work
In the interest of public safety, protection of property and creation of a vibrant and professional fire
Maintenance industry, owners, contractors and relevant authorities will do well to cooperate on the
Following:
6.1 Enter into an equitable maintenance contract
The key to a successful maintenance contract is being equitable. The terms, and in particular the price should be
reasonable, reflecting the complexity of the task, requirement for technical expertise, time required to physically
carry out the inspections in the SLA and the onerous responsibility of taking care of a critical life-safety system. In
the long term, owners would benefit by not expecting or imposing an unrealistic price. Likewise contractors would
do well to shun contracts that cannot be implemented without compromising on safety, quality, and
professionalism.

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ZINDZI FIRE ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE
SPECIALIST FIRE PROTECTION
COMPREHENSIVE AFTER MARKET SERVICING AND SUPPORT
21 YEARS HANDS ON SITE EXPERIENCE
OUSTANDING SAFETY RECORD
SANAS EMPOWERMENT RATING
DESIGNS AND INSTALLATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS AND INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE
TURNKEY PROJECT MANAGEMENT
LEVEL 1 BBBEE CERTIFICATION
100% BLACK FEMALE EMPOWERED
FIRE DETECTION
GASEOUS AND SPECIAL HAZARDS SUPPRESSION
SYSTEMS
PLC AND SCADA NETWORKING
CONVEYOR PROTECTION
TRANSFORMER PROTECTION
WAREHOUSE PROTECTION
SPRINKLER INSTALLATIONS AND HYDRANT
RETICULATION
SAQCC REGISTERED
COMPLIANT WITH ALL MHSA AND OSHA
REQUIREMENTS