GAI member Fire DNA scooped the digital innovation award at FIS awards last week.
The FIS Innovation Awards showcase outstanding innovation in the finishes and interiors sector across four different categories: Product Fit-Out, Product FF&E, Digital and Sustainability.
The winners were announced in front of a live audience at the FIS Conference on 27 February in London.
FireDNA is cloud-based software and a mobile app. The system was developed for anyone involved in passive fire product manufacture, installation, inspection, management and maintenance. It also brings benefits to those that live and work within environments where passive fire products are installed.
FireDNA improves processes by connecting everyone in the chain of responsibility, creating a ‘live digital conduit’, that gets the right information, to the right people, at the time of need. This in turn helps and supports decision making and improves competencies.
Its software catalogues manufacturers’ product data, digitally shares it with contractors and installers. They then add their installation data, passing that onto building owners, facilities managers and tenant management organisations. Data can be used by building control, fire inspectors, maintenance teams, and viewed by residents, with a swipe of a smartphone or mobile device.
Architects and designers can specify FireDNA enabled products from accredited manufacturers and suppliers, knowing that all the relevant safety and procedural data and information will be readily available – digitally attached to the product on delivery, and accessible via the cloud.
For manufacturers, it streamlines the ‘paper trail’ – reducing the need for printed certificates, installation guides and DoPs – saving money otherwise spent on printing new and replacement certificates.
For contractors and installers, it saves time and money when it comes to providing evidence that installations have been performed in accordance with the required level of competency and standards. This is achieved by cataloguing the installation as it’s undertaken; it enables the installer to photographically capture key aspects along with supporting notes. This is particularly useful where elements of the installation are no longer visible when completed.
The judges said that this product has a huge potential to help support information management through the entire supply chain for fire critical products such as fire doors. "With ‘golden thread’ at the forefront of current thinking, it is exciting to be presented with something that has sought to understand the journey of the product, and the needs of people at each stage, as it leaves the manufacturer right through to when it is inspected in a live building."
The FIS Innovation Awards are open to all companies operating in the finishes and interiors sector, regardless of size. To qualify, innovations should have been introduced to the UK market in the last five years.
Entry for the 2024 Awards will open in April 2023.
