FIRE RISK BENCHMARK GETS A WARM WELCOME FROM THE INDUSTRY

[ THE FIRE SECTOR FEDERATION (FSF) has published a new Industry Benchmark Standard for Fire Risk Assessors to provide practical guidance for assessors who want to understand the application of fire risk assessment across a range of buildings. The document was launched on 20 March.

The aim is to support the delivery of comparable standards across the sector. The standard has been developed by the federation’s Fire Risk Assessors Working Group and identifies criteria reflecting individual competency at three distinct core levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. It offers increasing levels of skill, knowledge, experience and behaviour to form a competency-based progression route for fire risk assessors, spanning a clear career pathway for individuals from entry through continuing personal development to the highest levels of competency achievable.

It is unique in that it also seeks to match the three core levels of competency to the fire risk presented in three general types of buildings.

Dennis Davis, executive officer of the Fire Sector Federation, who led the working group, commented: “This Benchmark Standard has been developed by the federation’s Fire Risk Assessors Working Group to expand and complement our previous work on competency. It supports the need for a systematic assessment of fire risk followed by the implementation of recommended appropriate controls, mitigation and continuous management of fire safety.

“Our aim is to raise the professional status of the important work undertaken by fire risk assessors. We also wish to engage with all those proficient assessors, operating without formal or recognised competency assurances, to help them seek appropriate independent accreditation.

The document is available to download from the FSF website at www.firesectorfederation.co.uk

The work undertaken by the federation’s working group will shortly move on into a new phase of development through BSI’s new Competence in the Built Environment Committee CPB/1 to create a British Standard Code of Practice.

The document was welcomed by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). The IFE says it has reviewed the standard and is supportive of its content, which will become central to its own fire risk assessor registration process moving forward.

IFE chief executive Steve Hamm said: “The FSF’s benchmark aims to raise the professional status of the valuable work fire risk assessors undertake and we echo the federation’s commitment to promoting competency.

“A number of our own members have been involved in the competency steering group work tasked with developing the principles that underpin this standard and we have aligned our internal processes to ensure that future applicants to join the IFE’s Fire Risk Assessors Register will be assessed in line with this newly-launched benchmark standard.

“This will enable those seeking a competent fire risk assessor to benefit from the assurance provided by the rigorous IFE registration processes.”

As the global professional body for the fire sector, the IFE is committed to shaping a future world that is safer from fire. Its Fire Risk Assessors Register is a good example of that work.

The register is not just designed to benefit those seeking a fire risk assessment; it provides its member network with independent validation of their services and a marketing tool to support opportunities for business. It is one of a number of initiatives developed by the IFE to help give members the platform, resources or opportunity to drive advantage within increasingly competitive markets. q