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Engineer54
First thing before all the above.....You need correct insurance.....knowledge in Design, install and commissioning a fire alarm systems.
Ability to cad drawings for approval....ability to create final O & M, complete with as fitted......issue certification in Design, Install, Commission and Handover. When this can be achieved, start installing....before this can I suggest course in install and commissioning first, then after a few years move on to a design course. FIA will been you best starting point, on course training, and are the approved route to BAFE.
Even our main contractor has subbed out the design, drawings, material take-off and commissioning to a specialised company. The only work the contractor will be conducting is the installation, and that will be ultimately supervised by myself. Fire alarm installations are not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination, it's the legalities involved that warrants specialised companies involvement...