What Qdos does

Qdos (legal name: Quality Drawing Office Services Ltd) is a UK-based B2B trade supplier founded in 2009 by Damian Linley and headquartered in Rochdale. The company operates as a specialist CAD outsourcing firm for the fire safety industry, producing bespoke fire alarm zone plans, as-fitted drawings, fire escape plans, premises information plates, and security drawings in compliance with British Standards (primarily BS 5839-1). Its core technology is AutoCAD-based drawing production, augmented by a Plan2CAD service that converts paper originals into CAD files and, as of 2024, the dynamicZM dynamic zone mimic product, a patented 21.5-inch LCD display that automatically shows fire zone information during alarm events and reverts to other media when idle.

Qdos generates revenue primarily through one-time project-based fees for custom drawing services (zone plans from £40+VAT), supplemented by hardware sales of dynamicZM through an approved installer network and minimum-order sales of branded logbooks (from £2.75+VAT, 50-book minimum). It serves fire alarm installers, maintenance providers, and property managers as a trade account-based customer base, with marketing and product positioning aligned to evolving UK fire safety regulations including BS 5839-1:2025, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, and Martyn's Law. The company is BAFE SP203 accredited (audited annually by the NSI) and a member of the Fire Industry Association, with leadership transitioning in 2024 as Gavin Linley was appointed Managing Director while founder Damian Linley moved to Founder & CEO.

Name

Qdos

Legal name

Quality Drawing Office Services Ltd

Website

https://qdos.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Qdos is a UK-based B2B trade supplier specialising in CAD-based fire safety drawings, serving fire alarm installers and maintenance providers with zone plans, as-fitted drawings, and escape plans compliant with BS 5839-1.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Safety Drawings and CAD Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Alarm Systems (Design/Install/Service/Monitoring) (BPABAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration (BPAKAGAF)

Keywords

• Fire safety drawings
• CAD outsourcing
• Fire alarm zone plans
• BS 5839 compliance
• Dynamic zone mimic

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochdale

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fire Safety Drawing Services: QDOS produces bespoke fire alarm zone plans, as-fitted drawings, fire escape plans, premises information plates, and security drawings for trade customers. These are typically one-time project-based fees with pricing based on complexity and zone count.
2. Branded Log Books: Sale of branded fire safety log books for comprehensive fire safety record-keeping. Minimum order quantity of 50 books with one-off branding charge. Provides recurring revenue from trade customers needing ongoing compliance documentation.
3. dynamicZM Hardware: Sales of dynamicZM, the advanced fire alarm zoning solution with LCD display. Available via approved installer network across the UK. QDOS is the only authorized distributor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

QDOS is a B2B trade supplier and CAD outsourcing company that produces bespoke, BS 5839-1-compliant fire safety drawings—including Fire Alarm Zone Plans, As-Fitted Drawings, Fire Escape Plans, and Premises Information Plates—delivered with the customer's branding rather than QDOS's. The company also sells dynamicZM, its proprietary digital dynamic zone mimic hardware, and provides related services such as Plan2CAD conversion, security drawings, fire alarm system design, and branded logbooks to fire alarm installers, maintenance providers, and property managers in the United Kingdom.

Product overview

QDOS is the UK's leading trade supplier of bespoke fire safety drawings, operating as a CAD outsourcing company that specializes exclusively in fire alarm and fire safety building plans. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services centered on four core fire safety plan services: Fire Alarm Zone Plans (displayed adjacent to control equipment showing building zones), As-Fitted Drawings (system layout documentation for installations), Fire Escape Plans (evacuation route maps), and Premises Information Plates (external signage for fire services). Supporting services include Plan2CAD (converting paper drawings to CAD), Security Drawings (CCTV/access/intruder systems), Fire Alarm Design (BAFE SP203 accredited), and Branded Logbooks. The company has recently launched dynamicZM, a digital zone mimic display product that functions as an LCD screen showing fire zone information during alarms and can display marketing/content when idle. All services are provided with client branding rather than QDOS branding, maintaining independence from fire alarm manufacturers. The company operates primarily as a B2B trade supplier serving fire alarm installers, maintenance providers, and facilities managers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• dynamicZM: A dynamic zone mimic product - an advanced fire alarm zoning solution with LCD display that automatically shows fire zone information during alarms and can display other media when not in active use. Compatible with conventional and addressable fire alarm systems.

Products and services

• Fire Alarm Zone Plans Diagrammatic representations of buildings showing fire alarm zones, entrances, circulation areas, and device locations, displayed adjacent to fire alarm Control and Indicating Equipment (CIE) to comply with BS 5839-1:2025. Available in framed, HILUX photoluminescent, aluminium, acrylic, and PVC finishes. Sold primarily to fire alarm installers and maintenance providers.
• As-Fitted Drawings System layout drawings documenting installed fire alarm systems, including device positions, cable routes, equipment locations, and power supplies. Required under BS 5839-1 for system handover and ongoing maintenance. Next-day turnaround offered at no extra cost for systems up to 100 devices. Sold to fire alarm installers.
• Fire Escape Plans Evacuation plans displayed in public areas showing escape routes, exit locations, and assembly points for emergency evacuation. Available in framed, HILUX photoluminescent, and acrylic finishes. Sold to installers, property managers, educational institutions, and accommodation providers.
• Premises Information Plates (PIPs) External building signage (typically 600x600mm) displaying simplified building plans, firefighting facilities, hose lengths, and access points for Fire and Rescue Services. Manufactured from anodprinted aluminium or di-bond aluminium, weather and vandal resistant. Required under Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 for high-rise residential buildings.
• Fire Alarm System Design BAFE SP203-accredited fire alarm system design service providing detailed specifications and drawings based on BS 5839-1 requirements. Maintained under annual independent NSI inspection. Sold to fire alarm installers and end clients.
• Plan2CAD Conversion service that redraws buildings from paper copies, scanned drawings, or site photographs into AutoCAD format for clients without existing CAD drawings. Used as a precursor to fire safety drawing work or as a standalone deliverable.
• Security Drawings System layout drawings for CCTV, Access Control, and Intruder Alarm systems, providing clear documentation for multi-discipline security projects. Sold to security installers and fire-and-security trade customers.
• Branded Logbooks 44-page fire safety record-keeping books covering fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, extinguishers, drills, and training. Branded with the customer's identity; minimum order 50 books, quantity discounts and free branding for larger orders. Sold to fire safety trade customers for ongoing compliance documentation.
• Fire Risk Assessment Plans Fire safety plans conveying fire risk assessment findings, showing fire detection devices, emergency lighting, signage, extinguishers, and compartmentation for maintenance and compliance purposes. Sold to property managers, responsible persons, and trade customers.
• dynamicZM A digital dynamic zone mimic with a 21.5" LCD screen that automatically displays the active fire alarm zone plan during alarm events and can display other media (company info, marketing, health & safety content) when idle. Compatible with both conventional and addressable fire alarm control panels. UK Patent Pending. Sold via QDOS's approved installer network across the UK; QDOS is the only authorized distributor.
• Lockdown Plans Colour-coded plans showing safe areas, potential risk zones, and command centres for schools and secure buildings. Integrates with fire escape plans and supports Martyn's Law compliance by showing lockdown zones distinct from fire zones. Sold to educational institutions and other relevant customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced average turnaround time from 4 days to 2 days in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fire Industry Association (FIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQDOS is a member of the Fire Industry Association (FIA). The company attends FIA events including the Annual General Meeting and Lunch, which brings together over 480 industry leaders. Membership demonstrates commitment to fire safety industry standards and provides networking opportunities with industry peers.
• National Security Inspectorate (NSI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNSI conducts annual independent inspections to maintain QDOS's BAFE SP203 accreditation for fire alarm system design. The accreditation covers the design of fire detection and fire alarm systems.
• BAFEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQDOS is accredited to BAFE SP203 for fire alarm system design. BAFE is the registered certification body for the fire protection industry, providing competency schemes for fire detection and alarm companies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kentec Electronics: Kentec is a UK-based manufacturer of fire alarm control panels and a BAFE SP203-accredited design provider. It overlaps directly with QDOS in serving fire alarm installers with design and documentation services, though its core business is hardware rather than outsourced drawings.
• C-TEC (Computionics): C-TEC is a UK manufacturer of fire alarm panels, disabled refuge systems, and associated design services. It is comparable as a UK fire-safety design and documentation provider with BAFE involvement, although C-TEC primarily makes hardware while QDOS focuses on outsourced drawings.

Broad incumbents

• BRE Group (Building Research Establishment): BRE is a UK building science center that produces fire safety research, standards, and compliance services including fire risk assessment and post-Grenfell guidance. Comparable as an established player in the regulatory-driven UK fire safety compliance ecosystem where QDOS operates.
• Warringtonfire (Element): Warringtonfire (now part of Element Materials Technology) is a major UK and global fire testing, certification, and consultancy business. Comparable in operating across fire-safety compliance services and standards-driven documentation, though with a much wider testing/consulting remit than QDOS's drawing focus.
• Siemens Smart Infrastructure (Building Products): Siemens provides fire detection, alarm systems, and building safety design services globally and in the UK. Comparable to QDOS as a BAFE-accredited fire safety design provider, though at vastly larger scale and within a much wider building technologies portfolio.
• Honeywell Fire (Notifier / Gent): Honeywell's fire safety brands (Notifier, Gent) are leading UK fire detection and alarm manufacturers and BAFE SP203-accredited design providers. They overlap with QDOS in serving fire alarm installers but as part of a much broader fire safety portfolio, and they also represent a competitor to QDOS's independent positioning.

Others

• National Security Inspectorate (NSI): NSI is a UKAS-accredited certification body that conducts annual independent audits for fire and security firms, including QDOS's BAFE SP203 design accreditation. Comparable as an ecosystem partner that shapes the compliance environment QDOS operates within.
• BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment): BAFE is the UK certification body that registers and audits competency schemes (including SP203 for fire alarm design, which QDOS holds). It is comparable as a fire-safety ecosystem participant and is referenced on QDOS's marketing as proof of independent certification.
• Fire Industry Association (FIA): FIA is the UK's largest fire safety trade association, of which QDOS is a member. Comparable as a fire-safety industry body that co-shapes standards, training, and events relevant to QDOS's customer base of fire alarm installers and maintainers.

Emerging players

• PlanRadar: PlanRadar is a European SaaS platform for construction and real estate documentation, including fire safety and defect management workflows. Comparable as a digital documentation/drawing workflow tool that could eventually encroach on QDOS's manual CAD drawing services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/qdoscad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qdos
• Instagraminstagram.com/qdos.biz
• Facebookfacebook.com/QDOSCAD

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qdos