Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors Now Finalised

« Back to blog home07 Feb 2012 by Indepth Hygiene

After a year of hearing opinions and criticisms of the uneven quality and lack of professionalism of the services of some Fire Risk Assessors where considerable dissatisfaction had been expressed across the Fire Industry, the Competency Council have at last issued their findings.

The essential aim is to ensure that those who provide Fire Risk Assessment advice for a fee should be able to prove a level of professionalism, knowledge and competence that will reassure the purchaser of these services, usually the duty holder/responsible person, that he is receiving the best possible advice.

Without doubt standards have not been independently monitored sufficiently well in the past to provide this reassurance hence why the Competency Council was established.  In future, Fire Risk Assessors will need to show evidence of specialist training and experience, membership of a professional body or certification by a third party certification body.

One area of weak fire risk assessments in the past has been a failure, particularly in complex premises, where grease extract ducting has passed from catering facilities on the ground or lower ground levels through commercial or residentially occupied premises above.  Too little attention has been given to the considerable fire dangers posed in these kinds of buildings by uncleaned extract ducting.  As Fire Authorities have pointed out, in 9 out of 10 fires in catering facilities, grease accumulations in the extract system have ignited causing fires to be widespread and destructive.  It is clearly an offense under the Fire Safety Order not to have all potential fire risk dangers identified and eliminated.  For that to happen, fire risk assessor must have identified potential fire risks in the total extract system and to make recommendations to have the extract ducting cleaned in its entirety or as many property insurers are now demanding, for the extract ducting to be thoroughly cleaned in its entire length. 

There is now a real hope that in future all fire risk assessors will fully meet their responsibilities in providing comprehensive, accurate and informed advice to their clients.