Hi K. Thepthai,
Firstly best wishes for 2014!
Thank you for sending me your report which I have now received in good order. I have a number of questions for clarification please as follows:
1. You mention the hydrant system and that you have had a contractor come to measure our site. I recall that the size of the land is the critical factor that determines the legal requirement for a hydrant system or not, furthermore I believe our site is large enough to warrant that we need to provide such a fixed hydrant system. So, in addition to having a local contractor come and make his recommendation I would ask you to seek the proper authority to check as well. If we are to move forward then we must do so with the right guidance from the authorities.
I have no issue with the procurement of portable firefighting equipment unit as you wish, it would all make good sense if we ever have a major fire to fight on site, but my endorsement here of this strategy does not then also mean I am fine not to pursue a fixed hydrant system - if indeed we are obligated by local code to have one.
2. I note you have completed a fire training drill last year and are scheduled to undertake another next week - which is good as such activities are mandatory. I believe this step therefore also means you have a fire manual which has been endorsed by your GM, posted around BOH areas for the staff, related training activities are centered around the contents, and, the drills are based on this document. If not then please take urgent steps to achieve this and then use such monthly reports to update me and highlight concerns to your GM accordingly. Please also ensure that all records of the drills are kept with your office (perhaps get a copy from HRD who would definitely also be recording such drills). Your office records would comprise of a folder with the policy, drill records, any associated training and PM activities as we have discussed in the past.
3. I note the kitchen hood fire suppression project is listed with a status of TBA?, this cannot be surely as it is a critical life safety concern. What I recommend and ask you to do is to provide at least two updated quotes to have such installed and then raise a CAPEX Request through the proper channels with a memo report stating the reasons why such equipment needs to be fitted with your suggested corrective action. The outcome of such a move is therefore left to the relevant parties to make a decision based on your alert and subsequent recommendations, failure on your part however to do this represents a risk that they are not made aware of such risks and leaves you exposed - as in my view this is very much your responsibility as CE to raise concerns of this nature with the best engineering corrective steps to be then considered at a higher level.
4. Critical Systems and Equipment - by now you should be well on your way towards setting up a comprehensive PM system with the wall chart, you have captured all equipment on site within an annual maintenance schedule, and in addition you should have at least 50% of the detailed checklists for the particular equipment maintenance activities based on frequency. If you have not then you will need to work harder to achieve these milestones. This type of administrative activity forms the basis of your responsibilities as the hotel Engineer. Do not hesitate to advise me if you need anything further from me in this area as by my next audit I am expecting to see giant steps forward in this area from you please.