Fire Risk Assessment is a key feature of ensuring buildings are safe from fire; this page contains guidance to assist those who undertake assessments and use this service. As with all professional services individual competence is essential and currently a new British Standard 8674: Built environment – Framework for competence of individual fire risk assessors – Code of practice, is being drafted.
Advice for those responsible in law to undertake a fire risk assessment is offered on how to choose someone competent to assist in undertaking a fire risk assessment with details from a number of industry recognised bodies. The Federation recommends use of third-party approved fire risk assessors. Frequent questions and answers are also provided for fire risk assessors to help them demonstrate their competence.
Industry guidance and advice is also provided on a number of relevant matters including a a ‘Benchmark Standard’ that assessors and service users will find helpful as it outlines the standards of competency across three tiers, suitable to meet most needs, with detailed competency requirements in the aligned ‘Approved Code of Practice – A National Framework for Risk Assessor Competency’.
Those seeking to use fire risk assessor services should always apply diligence when choosing a fire risk assessor to ensure that the assessor they select is competent for the task in hand; this applies whether or not the assessor is listed or not. A competent fire risk assessor will always confirm whether or not they are competent and capable to work on the task they are being asked to undertake.
In the UK the two widely recognised Third-Party Approved (TPA) bodies are: the Engineering Council (EngC) and the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS). Competent fire risk assessors may not have TPA because they are developing professionally or have a Regulated Qualification from one of the UK’s Recognised Awarding Organisations.
The details of the registering body are also shown by an acronym. These bodies, acting as a second assurance party, implement and maintain professional standards and so ensure those on their registers behave professionally and remain competent. Direct contact to the registered fire risk assessor is through this responsible body. Finally a scheme may be shown alongside the fire risk assessor. This scheme refers to the route used to gain access to the responsible body’s register and again the details of the scheme may be found by following the links provided.
Benchmark Standard for Fire Risk Assessors
This standard details the competency for Fire Risk Assessors at three levels that are matched to three general building types
A National Framework for Fire Risk Assessor Competency
This Approved Code of Practice has been prepared by a working group of fire risk assessors who assembled at the invitation of the Fire Sector Federation to consider the implications of competency raised by the Building a Safer Future Report
The Code seeks consolidate the fire industry recommendations of best practice on how to assess the competency of individuals who conduct fire risk assessments. The Code’s foundation remains the guidance criteria originally undertaken to introduce The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
The updated guidance now includes matters of behaviour and details of the knowledge skills and experience expected for a competent fire risk assessor.
Fire Risk Manager
Advice on the competency requirements of those who have a role in fire safety management.
Choosing a Fire Risk Assessor
This guide is provided to help those with this responsibility (referred to as ‘duty holders’ in this document) decide
who should carry out a fire risk assessment so that the premises comply with the applicable fire safety legislation.
Residential Escape Safe Escape Checklist
This guide and check-list has been prepared primarily to assist fire risk assessors. It has no formal or legal status. It has been developed within the fire sector industry in the absence of other guidance using the format of a check list.
Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls
Developed to assist both duty holders like Responsible Persons and Fire Risk Assessors this guide can be used to deveop and evidenced based appraisal of external walls in residential premises
This guidance assists Fire Risk Assessors undertake the Step 1 appraisal of external walls
National Fire Risk Assessor Listing
To access our National Listing of Fire Risk Assessors please click the link below.
Please note an individual cannot join this register unless they are a member of one of the professional registration bodies listed above.
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