Alan Hards from FireRiskAssessments.com

"What took 4hrs in our old system takes 1.5hrs now"

I sat down with Alan Hards (pictured, 3rd from the right) who is one of the Lead Assessors in the team at FireRiskAssessments.com. Alan was one of the very first people to test an early version of FireCheckr and he's been very supportive as we've built out the system.

We spoke about his career, how he's seen the industry evolve, and how FireCheckr is changing the way he works.

Jasper: "Let's start with the story of how you became a Fire Risk Assessor, because you've had a fascinating career which didn't follow the typical path from the Fire & Rescue Service."

Alan: "I've done all sorts over the years. First, I was in the merchant navy. Then I spent 30 odd years as a police officer in the highlands of Scotland. And on retirement in 1999, my wife and I moved south to the Nottingham area to be closer to our kids.

"In 2001 I got a job in a local prison, HMP Swinfen Hall. And I was an OSG (Operational Support Grade) which meant that I was doing anything and everything. One thing they were looking for was a fire officer. So I applied for it and I got the job.

"That was at the same time as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. So I was sent away on a course, did the course, came back and was the Fire Officer for the prison for the next four and a half years.

"In 2010 I left the prison service and started working on Fire Risk Assessment, which is what I've been doing ever since."

Jasper: "Merchant Navy, Police, Prison Service and Fire Risk Assessment: it's interesting that throughout your career you've always been drawn to disciplined, detail-oriented vocational professions that protect others. Was that something you thoughts about as you took each step?"

Alan: "To be honest, I don't know that I've ever thought of it quite like that. Maybe you're right. I suppose those things are important to me but at each step I just took the opportunity that was in front of me."

Jasper: "How has the fire safety industry changed, since the early 2000s when you started out in it?"

Alan: "There's been a lot of change since then. I mean in those days we were all feeling our way. Now there's a lot more structure. It's a serious business. And it's got to be because there's a lot at stake as we saw with Grenfell.

"Most of the changes since then have been for the better. Although I think a few changes were made for the sake of change."

Jasper: "What did you think about FireCheckr, when you first saw it?"

Alan: "It really struck a chord. The idea that you can do a lot of your report by speaking instead of typing, I know a lot of people find it laborious writing lots of notes on site and then going back and then typing it all out again.

"Whereas with FireCheckr, the way you can speak into your phone, it records all your findings, matches them with your photographs, it's very clever. So when you go back to your computer, you open up the report, click a button, it generates all of that information into the report.

"Then you just tinker with it, change a few things here, add a few things there and you're done. As a concept it's great."

Jasper: "How does it compare with the system you were using before?"

Alan: "Obviously a lot depends on the complexity of the building, how much is wrong etc. But it's definitely much quicker with FireCheckr.

"With our old system, and the types of assessments I normally do, a report might take around four hours to complete. With FireCheckr you can do that same report within an hour and a half, maybe two hours."

Jasper: "As one of the first assessors to use the system, you've already seen it change quite a lot. How have you noticed things evolving in just the last few months?"

Alan: "The more we use it the more we're finding out what we can do. It's a new way of working.

"One thing I really like is the way it now picks up printed matter, like if I take a photograph of a EICR certificate it will give you the information off of that and put it in the report without you having to type it in yourself. Things like that save a lot of time."

Jasper: "I think that feature was your idea actually! You asked one day if it was something we could build and we thought it was a great idea."

Alan: "It's good that. To be able to say, is this possible? Or can we take that out? Every time I've rung you up or asked you something, you've come back to me. It's just good cooperation and communication.

"It's great to know that if we suggest something then you'll look at it and, if it's reasonable, you'll see if you can add it."

Jasper: "That's how we like to work! Ultimately, we're trying to make something useful for you, so it's in our interest to listen."

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