FSF to develop British Standard for fire risk assessors

Following the release of its Industry Benchmark Standard for Fire Risk Assessors, the Fire Sector Federation (FSF) has confirmed its plans to develop the framework into a British Standard.

Published in December 2022 and created in conjunction with the Fire Risk Assessors Working Group, the purpose of the FSF document is to help improve assessor competency and understanding when it comes to fire risk.

During its launch, the benchmark standard was widely welcomed by industry professionals, who agreed that the document both complemented and expanded previous work carried out by the Federation.

Specifically, the standard set out key competency requirements for fire risk assessors, “progressively raising competency across three tiers to meet more and more complex risks”.

FSF has since confirmed that the benchmark standard will begin its development process to become a British Standard, as part of the BS 8670 Built Environment – Core criteria for building safety in competence frameworks. As noted by the working group, the route to demonstrate competency as a fire risk assessor is now much clearer, with individuals being required to “show conformity to regulated standards”.

FSF adds that the members creating the benchmark standard also recognised the “importance of facilitating transitional arrangements for experienced workers holding existing appropriate occupational qualifications and experience”. Thus, the design and structure of the standard is “fully adaptable to assist this transition given there are many existing FSO-proficient fire risk assessment processes to incorporate”.

Dennis Davis, Director of Competency at the Fire Sector Federation, tells the FPA: “Our aim throughout the process of development of the Benchmark Standard has been to raise the professional status of the important work undertaken by fire risk assessors.

“The route to demonstrating competency is now much clearer but we also wish to continue to engage with all those proficient assessors, operating without formal or recognised competency assurances, to help them become recognised by seeking appropriate independent accreditation.”

More information about the benchmark standard can be found here.