Fire Service

College
April 2023

Fire Safety L3
 Competency
and Regulation
of Fire Risk
Assessors (FRAs)

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 AIM
To understand the importance of
competence as a Fire Risk Assessor.

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 Learning
Outcomes By the end of this session you we will be able to:

• Recognise how competence can be achieved

• Identify the criteria and standards within `A National
Framework for Fire Risk Assessor Competency’ published by
the Fire Sector Federation (FSF)
• Explain the requirement for continuous professional
development (CPD)
• Define professional memberships, fire risk assessment
registers and approved third party certification (ATPC)

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 Definition of Competence

From the Cambridge dictionary – The ability to do something well

H&S Executive - the combination of training, skills, experience and knowledge that a person has and their
ability to apply them to perform a task safely.

Fire Sector Federation - where they have sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other
qualities to enable them properly to implement their role.

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 Competency in
the UK Fire This has been a long standing issue within the UK fire sector
which various professional bodies have attempted to address
Sector this with the introduction of;
- Competency criteria and standards
- Risk Assessment Registers
- 3rd Party certification for FRA Companies

Following the tragedy at the Grenfell Tower fire on 14th June

2017, the UK Government commissioned Dame Judith Hackett
to review building fire safety which resulted in the production of
a comprehensive `Building a Safer Future’ report (Hackitt
Report).
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 Building a Safer Future Report

• Dame Judith summarised in her Hackitt

Report regarding general competence;

“…While there are many competent

people working within the system, the lack
of a coherent and comprehensive
approach to competence can seriously
compromise the fire safety of High-Rise
Residential Buildings, for example, where
decisions are taken and/or materials are
installed by people who do not fully
understand the implications of how to
achieve good quality building work, and
the implications of getting it wrong”.

• Following the issue of the report, a Working

Group was set up to review the role of fire
risk assessors and how their practices
could be improved.

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Fire Sector Federation
Approved Code of Practice
(ACOP)

• In November 2020, the Fire Sector Federation produced

an Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) titled `A National
Framework for Fire Risk Assessor Competency’

• This recommends the levels of competence appropriate

for FRAs who are undertaking work on high risk/life safety
critical buildings (although is relevant for fire risk
assessments on all buildings).

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FSF - A National
Framework for Fire
Risk Assessor
Competency

• Sets out appropriate standards and criteria to

ensure that FRAs carried out in the UK are
`suitable and sufficient’ (or `adequate’ under
Scottish legislation) and that fire risk
assessors are competent in the role.

• It details core areas of knowledge required,

which can be supplemented by sector
specific knowledge (eg Healthcare).

• Evidence of training and experience, or

membership of a professional body, or
certification by a third-party certification body,
may assist in demonstrating competence.

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 FSF - A National Framework for
Fire Risk Assessor
Competency
The Framework identifies the areas below as core knowledge
required;

• The assessment of risk from fire

• Applicable Legislation (Scotland, England & Wales and Northern

Ireland)

• Appropriate guidance documents

• Behaviour of fire in premises

• Effects of fire on people and behaviour of people in fire situations

• Means of escape

• Fire prevention

• Fire protection (Passive & Active)

• Management of Fire Safety

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Methods of Assessing
Competence
• Can be assessed internally or externally

• Person carrying out the assessment should have

the appropriate qualifications and experience

• All assessments must reflect the core knowledge

and criteria detailed in the ACOP

• All evidence used in the assessment process

must be authentic and direct (the person under
assessment should be directly involved
submitting their own work).

• Remote assessment can take place, as long as

there is a robust process in place to ensure
validity/originality of the material submitted

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 Maintenance
of
• FRA at all levels must carry out an appropriate level of
Competence planned CPD annually, to maintain competence and ensure
currency
• Recommended annual CPD is 25 hours, which can be a
blend of formal and non-formal activities
• Formal study should account for at least 50% of study time
• Formal/informal mentoring by an experienced FRA can
assist in development and maintaining competence

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 Maintenance
• A record of CPD activities should be available for both
of internal and external audit
Competence • There should be a suitable record which identifies how
and what an individual has learnt
• The record should be reliable, simple to use and easy to
interpret

A CPD record may be required to provide proof that an ethical and

professional standard has been maintained by an individual, to meet
the requirements of an internal validation/quality assurance process
and/or an external accreditation body or perhaps in a court of law.

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 Professional It may be advantageous for FRAs to become a member of a
professional organization such as;
Memberships
• Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE)
• Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM)
• Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO)

These and other similar organisations can assist with CPD

activities and provide a recording mechanism for CPD also.

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 Fire Risk
Assessors • The IFE, IFSM and IFPO all operate Fire Risk Assessors
Registers Registers. There is also the Fire Risk Assessors
Certification Scheme (FRACS)
• They all have similar entry requirements, for different
levels, which involves an applicant demonstrating
suitable education, training and experience in the
principles of fire safety and fire risk assessment, with
submission of completed FRAs
• There is the requirement to maintain CPD activities and
to pay registration and annual fees

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 Accredited 3rd
There are 2 main organisations in the UK offering accredited 3rd
Party
party certification (ATPC) to fire risk assessment companies.
Certification
British Approvals for Fire Excellence (BAFE) SP205
Assessment and Registration Process;

• This scheme is for organisations only and includes criteria to

ensure that they operate an effective management system,
including establishing the competence of fire risk assessors
when first appointed and ensuring that their competence is
reviewed within a 36-month period

• All FRAs carried out under BAFE SP205 must be checked

and signed off by a designated competent validator within the
organisation
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 Accredited 3rd
Party
Certification Fire Risk Assessors Certification Scheme (FRACS);

• This scheme allows for both individuals and organisations to

be registered
• The assessment procedure for certification of an
organisation not only examines the competence of the
employees, but also assesses the quality management
systems and procedures operated by the company

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The Future? Potential legislative requirement for
all FRAs to be members of an
approved risk assessors register to
demonstrate competence and
currency
 Any Questions?

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 Relevant Links

IFE
Institution of Fire Engineers - International Organisation for
Fire Professionals (ife.org.uk)
IFSM
IFSM | Raising Awareness Of Fire Safety
IFPO
IFPO – The Institute of Fire Prevention Officers
FSF
Fire Sector Federation: Fire Safety Guidance & Advice
Fire Industry Association (FIA)
The FIA: Promoting professional fire safety
Fire Protection Association (FPA)
Welcome to the Fire Protection Association. (thefpa.co.uk)
British Approvals for Fire Excellence (BAFE)
Fire Risk Assessment (bafe.org.uk)
FRACS
FRACS | Warringtonfire

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