Fire Systems Specialist at Teraco

MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

Oversight of Maintenance Including Risk Management

• Oversee all planned and corrective maintenance activities for fire detection and suppression systems, ensuring that all work is carried out in accordance with applicable SANS standards, manufacturer requirements, and site-specific procedures. Ensure that full cause-and-effect testing is performed at prescribed intervals and meets the required technical standards.
• Act as the technical authority for fire systems during maintenance, testing, impairments, and system modifications, and interface with relevant local authorities and regulatory bodies, including fire consultants and engineers, fire authorities, insurers, certification bodies, and ASIB. Act as the technical authority for all installed system impairments, ensuring risks are assessed, mitigated, approved, and systems are safely reinstated in live environments.

Fire Detection & Alarm Systems

• Oversee the inspection, testing, maintenance and fault-finding of fire alarm systems and control panels.
• Interrogate fire alarm control panels to validate alarms, faults, configurations, and overall system status.
• Review and validate loop drawings, cause-and-effect matrices, and fire system layouts.
• Ensure manual call point testing is conducted in accordance with applicable standards, site procedures, and required testing intervals.

Passive Fire Protection

• Oversee the inspection, testing, and maintenance of passive fire protection systems, including fire doors, fire curtains, fire dampers, and fire-rated building fabric.
• Ensure all passive fire protection elements remain compliant with applicable standards, approved designs, and site-specific requirements.
• Ensure effective fire sealing is maintained in all areas to support room integrity and system performance.

Fire Fighting Equipment

• Oversee the inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire-fighting equipment, including hose reels, fire extinguishers, and fire blankets.
• Ensure equipment is correctly located, clearly identified, serviceable, and compliant with relevant standards and statutory requirements.

Water-Based Fire Suppression Systems

• Oversee the maintenance, testing, and operational readiness of water-based fire suppression systems, including sprinkler systems (wet and dry pipe), fire pumps (electric and diesel), fire protection valves and valve sets, bulk water storage tanks, and nitrogen compressors for dry pipe and pre-action systems.
• Ensure all water-based fire suppression systems are maintained and tested in accordance with applicable SANS standards, OEM requirements, and approved site procedures.
• Verify correct operation of fire pumps, including duty/standby changeover, pressure and flow performance, alarms, and interlocks.
• Ensure the integrity and availability of bulk water storage, including capacity, redundancy, monitoring systems, and associated alarms.
• Oversee the inspection and testing of sprinkler heads, pipework, valves, and ancillary components to confirm system integrity and operational readiness.

Gas Suppression Systems

• Oversee the maintenance, testing, and operational readiness of gas suppression systems, including FM-200, Novec 1230, and Inert gas systems. (Inergen and Argonite systems)
• Ensure correct cylinder pressures, system integrity, discharge controls, release logic, and interlocks are maintained and fully operational.
• Confirm that all gas suppression system maintenance and testing activities are conducted in accordance with applicable SANS standards, OEM requirements, and approved site procedures.
• Oversee and verify room integrity testing to ensure enclosure suitability and effective agent retention.
• Oversee the operation and testing of gas purge and post-discharge ventilation systems to ensure safe and compliant system operation.

Vesda & Early Warning Detection

• Oversee the maintenance, testing, and performance of aspirating smoke detection (VESDA) and other early warning fire detection systems.
• Review and verify airflow performance, sampling pipe integrity, alarm thresholds, and detector performance to ensure reliable early detection.
• Ensure correct system configuration, sensitivity settings, and zoning in accordance with protected area risk profiles, applicable standards, and site-specific requirements.

Fire System Performance and Compliance.

• Review and approve maintenance records, test reports, and compliance documentation to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Identify non-compliances, risks, or deficiencies and drive timely corrective actions to closure.
• Support audits and inspections, ensuring full compliance with applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date as-built documentation, drawings, and fire system records are maintained.
• Support and enforce Permit to Work (PTW) and Method Statement compliance for all fire system-related activities.
• Coordinate effectively with service providers, contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance, oversight, and mentoring to technicians and operational teams.

Training, Mentorship & Knowledge Transfer

• Provide targeted training to site technicians on fire system best practices, and work with the L&D Manager to design and deliver programmes that enhance fire system competency across the organisation.
• Develop operational guidelines, engineering notes, and technical references to support consistent fire system protection and operation.
• Create, review, and refine fire system simulation scenarios, ensuring all teams regularly complete emergency-response exercises and remain proficient in required response protocols.

Provide Technical Support to Operations

• Close the skills gap between service providers and Teraco Operations by critically evaluating service-provider recommendations, validating proposed repairs, and supporting technicians with complex fault investigations.
• Deliver specialist fire system support to all regional operations teams, ensuring consistent technical guidance across the national estate.
• Act as an expert user of Teraco’s Building Management Systems to ensure maximum operational insight and value.
• Collaborate with BMS teams and site management to develop meaningful dashboards and reporting tools that highlight performance trends and identify improvement opportunities for each facility.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Relevant technical qualification or trade background (Electronic, Fire Detection Systems, Fire suppression systems, etc or similar).
• SAQCC, ASIB and other similar qualifications will be advantageous
• Proven experience overseeing fire system maintenance in complex or critical facilities.
• Strong working knowledge of SANS fire standards and applicable regulations.

Demonstrated experience with:

• Fire alarm control panels (interrogation, fault analysis)
• Cause & effect testing
• Gas suppression systems
• VESDA / aspirating smoke detection
• Ability to read, interpret, and validate fire system drawings, schematics, and documentation.
• Strong technical judgement and compliance mindset.