Vehicle installers provide an essential service to vehicle owners and operators in fitting after-market electronic equipment into their vehicles. Correctly fitting such equipment can be a highly skilled activity and owners and operators need to be assured that the work is being done to the highest standards.
The FCS installer community provides the crucial technical skills to ensure electronic equipment is installed properly resulting in two codes of practice;
- FCS1362:2022 (UK CODE OF PRACTICE for the installation of mobile radio and related ancillary equipment in land-based vehicles)
- This gives guidance on ‘Best Practice’ in this arena. Both the National Association of Police Fleet Managers and Crown Commercial Services insist upon FCS1362 as the default benchmark for vehicle installations.
- FCS1364:2019 UK CODE OF PRACTICE ADR ‘FL’ & ‘AT’ VEHICLE RADIO COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION
- SUPERSEDES Energy Institute document “Recommendations for Radio Communication Equipment and its installation in Petroleum Road Tankers
The FCS Installer community operates in the following three groups:
The Installer Group (IG)
This comprises FCS Installer Members. All Installer policies are referred to the Installer Group.
The FITAS Membership
This comprises Members of the FITAS Scheme. There is no compulsion to join the Installer Group to be a FITAS Member.
Audits
Part of the FITAS process. Click here to find out more
The FCS Installers’ Group provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge on installation practice for FCS members. The Installers’ Group is also responsible for the maintenance of FCS 1362 to keep it aligned with the latest benchmark practices.
It is essential that owners and operators of vehicles are given the necessary confidence that the installation will be done to the highest standards. To address this need, the Installers Group was instrumental in the establishment of the Federation of Communication Services Installation and Training Accreditation Scheme (FITAS). The main purpose of this Scheme is to provide a means by which installers can provide the end customers with the evidence that they have the necessary skills to perform the installation to the correct standards.
Members of the Scheme will be certified, will have an ID card and their names will be listed on the FCS website, confirming their accreditation to the FITAS Scheme.
Membership of the FITAS Scheme is available to any installer of equipment.
This Scheme is administered by the FCS.
The FCS Installers Committee acts as a Steering Committee for the wider Installer membership. It meets four times a year.
FCS1362-2022 remains the UK ‘best practice’ Code of Practice for the after-market installation of radio equipment into land-based vehicles.
Since 2022, the policy regarding UKCA marking has changed, requiring minor amendments to the Code of Practice each time. Accordingly, FCS1362-2022 has been raised to Amendment 3. This latest version of the Code of Practice is denoted as FCS1362-2022 A3.
You can download this latest version here.
FCS1362 is the default standard for all installations and modifications of radio-frequency equipment in blue-light and public sector vehicle fleets.
The standard covers every aspect of safe and professional best-practice when installing equipment from reversing sensors and cameras to radios, tablets and light-bars. FCS1362 has been referenced in the National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ guidance documents for fleet garage.
It has been referenced in tender documents produced by the Department of Health Ambulance Radio Project as a requirement to be followed for all installations of communication equipment. Installers of such equipment are required to be members of an accreditation scheme which is based on the code of practice.
The current FITAS course is a core foundation stone, and will be built on to provide skills related to other areas of vehicle installation.
Future plans include:
- Working at heights
- EV/Hybrid training (IMI)
- Complex Installations – installing multiple technologies in one vehicle
- Installation Design
Codes of Practice
FCS1362:2022 A3
(UK CODE OF PRACTICE for the installation of mobile radio and related ancillary equipment in land-based vehicles)
FCS1364:2019
UK CODE OF PRACTICE ADR ‘FL’ & ‘AT’ VEHICLE RADIO COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION
Note that the purchase of services and equipment under the Procurement Act will move from RM6244 to RM6382 towards the end of 2026.
Included in the FCS Audit
Certificate & ID Card
Further Training
Delivered by specialists
Petroleum Regulations
Safety
Book your next Audit: You will need your contact details – fitas@fitas.org.uk
Join us today
Members benefit from telecoms regulatory checks, dedicated compliance and regulatory expert team support, templates for Ofcom compliant consumer & complaint codes, dispute resolution support, bite-size on-demand online regulatory training covering Ofcom’s General Conditions, represented interests and more to avoid fines, save time and strengthen your reputation with customers and partners.