Fire safety legislation An overview of current UK regulation
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE IFSM
Out of the ashes of the Grenfell Tower disaster, a new opportunity has arisen to build a pipeline of talent for the fire risk assessment sector
fire trial collapses; BSR calls for better fire protection measures in buildings
Chair’s corner David White on a flurry of member activity, and a new-look Daedalus
Event IFSM council member Vicki Swaine reports on the value of competency in fire safety
Grenfell Tower inquiry The impact of the appalling 2017 tragedy on regulation and the work of fire risk assessors
Steel frame structures Installing passive fire protection materials to insulate structures from the effects of high temperatures
update on progress towards a fire risk assessment apprenticeship
safety
Key legal changes and their implications for the sector, particularly in social housing
Out in force
IFSM’s
presence at the Fire and Safety Event in April this year helped raise the profile of the organisation and led to a number of interesting conversations that provided food for thought
For this edition of my column, an up-to-date photograph! We had a magnificent stand at the Fire Safety Event held in Birmingham’s NEC in April. My thanks to all the staff and council members who worked the stand over three days of the event. We were mobbed as usual with both members and non-members, and we were delighted to sign up around 100 visitors to the stand as members before they left!
The conversations and discussions I had with visitors and members were varied and always interesting. There was a lot of interest in apprenticeships – I have a small group working on this subject in conjunction with the Fire Industry Association at the moment.
Our focus is on making a career pathway for people aged 18 and over who want to come into fire risk assessment at the foundation level. I don’t really have a rigid timeframe for this, but I am hoping that we will have a
scheme ‘package’ for formal submission around the beginning of September. I had other significant conversations with a number of people in the fire industry, such as fire alarm installers and engineers, who wanted to be recognised on a professional body register, similar to our Tiered Fire Risk Assessors Register. I was asked why we don’t have a fire engineers register or an enforcers register.
We designed an enforcers register using the three levels of the occupational standards for fire and rescue services a few years ago but never launched it – it’s still ‘on the shelf’ and we could roll it out at any time. I would be interested if members let me know what they feel about starting up different registers for different skills and/or competencies in the wider industry.
We are a main player in drafting BS 8674 on the competency of fire risk assessors, which is in its final stages of consultation – it’s a very
long process! We have the technical content for knowledge, skills, experience and behaviour in place, but there is still a lot to discuss about the semantics in some places.
Now that the government has accepted all 58 of the Grenfell inquiry’s recommendations (see our cover feature on page 14), we have set up a small team of two council members from the technical subgroup, plus the chair and myself, to identify which ones could impact, both directly and indirectly, the Institute and its members. We will then circulate our thoughts to all members for their views, comments and additions.
There are a large number of British and European draft standards relating to fire that have just been issued for comment. As usual, the timeframe for comments is always very short, so we have to be selective in picking those of most relevance to us all. We will be concentrating on the draft BS 8674 and the new draft of PAS 9980.
Finally, I go back to the NEC event. We were invited to hold a session on fire risk assessor competencies. A report on what happened is elsewhere in this edition (see pages 10-11), but although it was a postlunch, afternoon presentation, we filled the theatre... and beyond! A personal thanks and well done to the presentation team led by our chair David White, with Matt Spivey, Julie Saunders and Vicki Swaine. Another successful three days at the event!
Dr Bob Docherty QFSM, PhD, CEng, FIFSM (Life), FIFireE, MEI is president of IFSM
The IFSM stand at the Fire Safety Event in Birmingham drew great interest from attendees
News
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS QUARTER...
PROSECUTIONS
Trial exonerates fire risk assessors
Professor Steve McGuirk, a leading professional in the fire industry, will host a one-day professional development event, focusing on the Grenfell inquiry.
THE TRIAL OF FOUR companies over the Beechmere retirement village fire in Crewe collapsed after just two days when the prosecution offered no evidence on all counts.
The retirement village was destroyed by the blaze in 2019, and six firms were originally prosecuted by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS), before action against two of them was dropped.
The four companies facing trial included Your Housing Ltd, which was responsible for implementing fire safety measures, and Total Fire Group (TFG), which carried out fire risk assessments at the premises.
Lawyers for the firms argued that the evidence offered by the prosecution’s fire officers was inadmissible due to an absence of independence, impartiality and competence.
After initially arguing that this claim was baseless, having heard oral submissions,
the prosecution conceded that they were right and offered no evidence on all counts in the indictment. The judge stated that he would have ruled in the defendants’ favour in any event.
TFG’s managing director Darren Baird – a member of IFSM – said: “TFG has always maintained that it acted professionally and properly, and always in compliance with the Fire Safety Order. By dropping the case, CFRS and the court have recognised this. We remain mindful of this fire’s impact on the residents of Beechmere.
“Fire risk assessments are not about deconstructing buildings to find latent defects. Fire risk assessors are not building engineers, and the concept of fire risk assessment was never envisaged to cover this.”
The company that constructed the building with various latent defects has since gone into liquidation and could not be prosecuted.
The talk will be held at IFSM’s head office in Chesterfield on 15 July. The time of the event is 9.00am to 3.30pm.
It is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities and lessons learned from this tragedy. It will be relevant for anyone involved in fire safety or simply seeking to understand the implications of the inquiry.
A cold lunch buffet will be provided, along with refreshments throughout the day.
Book your space at ifsm.org.uk/events
See our cover feature on page 14
More than 150 residents lost their homes after the Beechmere retirement village fire in August 2019
AWARDS
IFSM Awards set to recognise fire safety excellence
THE IFSM AWARDS WILL be held at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester on 1 October, offering the chance for the industry to come together to recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals and organisations within the fire safety industry.
The awards are designed to celebrate the dedication, expertise and innovation of our members and the wider fire safety community. By recognising exceptional contributions, we aim to inspire progress, elevate industry standards and highlight the crucial role fire safety
IFSM INVITING
professionals play in protecting lives and property.
The event will recognise excellence in the following categories:
Fire safety manager of the year
Young fire professional of the year
Fire safety professional of the year
Fire safety team of the year
Fire safety company of the year
Accredited course of the year
Fire safety project of the year In addition to these nominated awards, IFSM will present several special recognition awards. These include the Chairperson’s Award and
the Lifetime Achievement Award, to honour members who have made an exceptional and lasting impact on the fire safety industry.
As well as helping to celebrate the achievements of those in the industry, attending the awards provides a valuable opportunity to network with peers and fellow professionals, and to engage with potential partners.
There are also opportunities for sponsor companies to be associated with the event, allowing them to demonstrate their commitment to fire safety and benefit from prime exposure to an influential audience of professionals and decision-makers. This opportunity is exclusively available to IFSM affiliates and members.
To book your ticket for the event, keep an eye on ifsm.org.uk/awards-2025
To find out more about sponsorship, please email naydean@ifsm.org.uk
FELLOW APPLICATIONS
Applications are now open for people seeking to become IFSM fellows, and will remain open until 1 August. The process consists of two stages, with an initial application review followed by an interview. To be eligible, applicants must have a minimum of eight years’ experience at member grade and be able to provide two referees. The application fee is £175, which is non-refundable.
To apply, please email membership@ifsm.org.uk to request an application and invoice. Once payment has been received, you will receive an acknowledgement email and details regarding your interview in September.
Old Trafford Cricket Ground will host an influential audience of fire safety professionals and decision-makers in October
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
August dates announced for fire safety course
NEW DATES HAVE BEEN announced for the ‘Essential building design and construction for fire safety professionals’ course, to take place over the summer.
The one-day course will run at Dunston Innovation Centre in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on 19 and 21 August 2025.
Developed by Malcolm Thomas, a building surveyor and IFSM council member, it is designed for fire risk assessors, inspectors, fire safety officers and others with a nonbuilding technical background.
The course will raise awareness and understanding of the construction of common building structures and known
REGULATION
or likely fire safety strategies. The aim is to improve the accuracy and relevance of fire risk assessments to better reflect the risks posed.
The course is split into four parts:
1 Design and construction of seven common types of building structure. Covers basic design principles, evolution of construction materials and techniques, and detailed structures of walls, floors and roofs.
2 Fire protection regulations and guidance. Focuses on fire spread mechanisms, fire safety strategies and relevant regulations and guidance, including compartmentation and means of escape.
3 The design and layout of major building use types. Techniques for inspecting various building structures, specifically for residential, workplace, leisure, educational and healthcare facilities.
4 Refurbishing and repurposing of existing buildings. Discusses the challenges and regulations involved in refurbishing and adapting buildings for new uses, with a focus on fire safety design and risk assessment.
Tickets are available at ifsm.org.uk/events. Remember to log in to your account to obtain the member discount
Firms must do better with fire measures, says regulator
THE BUILDING SAFETY REGULATOR
(BSR) has warned that developers need to do more to improve safety in higherrisk buildings, including implementing better fire protection measures.
Philip White, the BSR’s inspector of buildings, revealed that the organisation is rejecting around 70 per cent of applications because they fail to meet the legal requirements.
“This isn’t ‘red tape’ for the sake of it,” he said. “We’re preventing risks and problems from being designed into the built environment.
“It’s about making sure residents have safe and quality homes, and avoiding costly works at a later date or homeowners not being able to secure lending and insurance. Getting it right from the start isn’t just a legal requirement; it’s the responsible thing to do.”
The BSR has highlighted the following areas as common fire issues found in applications:
The smoke-extracting design risks pulling smoke from the source of a fire (in a flat) into the evacuation stairs. Applicants’ own smoke analysis shows smoke will be pulled into the lobby ‘safe area’.
No assurance that the wall will be built to required fire resistance. No details of required fire barriers in the external (cladding) to prevent a fire spread externally.
Some corridors not wide enough to allow total evacuation if recommended by the fire service. No smoke detectors provided in
the flats, only one heat detector in kitchen.
The BSR was set up in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and acts as the building control authority in England for higherrisk buildings. These are defined as those having at least seven storeys or being 18m or more in height, and which are either care homes or hospitals or have at least two residential units.
The body has faced criticism for being unable to cope with the volume of applications made, but White says the backlog is nearly cleared. He urges firms to factor in around 18-20 weeks to obtain building control approval.
Making progress
The last few months have been a flurry of activity as IFSM continues to grow and represent the sector across the country
Ihope you are all keeping well and, as always, busy. It’s been a hectic few months since I last sat down to write my thoughts for Daedalus –and what a whirlwind it has been!
Our presence at the Fire Safety Event at the NEC in April was our biggest yet. For the first time, we took a spaceonly stand, and what a difference that made! We were rushed off our feet for three days straight, meeting current members, speaking with a wide range of people keen to get involved, and welcoming over 100 new members.
The buzz around the stand was incredible, and I want to thank the whole team, who helped make it such a success. It was a true reflection of how far the Institute has come, and how highly regarded we are across the fire safety industry.
As many of you know, this year we launched our new partnership with the Children’s Burns Trust, pledging to donate £2 for every new member who joins. I’m proud to announce that our first donation has now been made: £1,050 raised from Q1 new memberships
alone. A heartfelt thank you to every new member who joined – it’s your contribution that made this possible. This initiative will continue throughout the year, and I look forward to sharing more milestones with you in future editions.
Since the last issue, I’ve barely been in one place long enough to unpack a suitcase. I’ve been in and out of government meetings, and travelling across the country and internationally, representing the Institute at all levels. The work never slows down, but neither does our momentum.
Nominations for the IFSM Awards 2025 have now closed, so our thoughts are turning to the event itself. This will take place on 1 October at the iconic Old Trafford Cricket Ground. The categories are:
Fire safety manager of the year
Young fire professional of the year
Fire safety professional of the year
Fire safety team of the year
Fire safety company of the year
Accredited course of the year
Fire safety project of the year
This is your chance to acknowledge outstanding work, whether it’s your team, a colleague or an organisation doing great things in our field. Don’t miss the opportunity to recognise and celebrate excellence.
With that in mind, you will have noticed that your issue of Daedalus looks a little different this time. We have partnered with Redactive Media Group – a well-respected content and publishing agency specialising in producing high-quality publications for membership organisations – to produce the title going forward.
We are always looking for ways to streamline our operations to bring greater benefit to our members. This collaboration marks an exciting step
forward that we believe will enhance the reach, quality and engagement of our publication. There are also opportunities for fire safety experts to contribute articles, so if you have something you’d be keen to write about, please email the editor at daedalus@redactive.co.uk
I’m confident that Redactive will help us deliver even greater value to our readers, ensuring that Daedalus continues to be an essential resource for fire safety professionals.
As always, the president and I continue to represent you at every level, ensuring that the voice of our members is heard where it matters. With continued growth comes the need for careful oversight to make sure our values remain front and centre. It’s something
We are always looking for ways to streamline our operations to bring greater benefit to our members
I’m committed to, now more than ever, as the Institute continues to evolve.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our events in the months ahead. Thank you again for your continued support.
David White FIFSM (Life), MIFireE, MIIRSM, LCGI is chair of
IFSM
VTS
Q&A SESSION
The case for competency
At The Fire Safety Event in Birmingham in April, IFSM highlighted the value of competency. Council member Vicki Swaine BEng (Hons) Fire, MIFSM, CMIOSH, GIFireE reports
The Fire Safety Event at Birmingham’s NEC proved once again to be a cornerstone for the industry: professionals, regulators and organisations all focused on raising fire safety standards across the UK. Among the highlights was a compelling presentation and panel session hosted by IFSM, entitled ‘Why we should still be discussing competence’.
IFSM council members David White
(chair), Matt Spivey (vice-chair), Julie Saunders and Vicki Swaine took the stage (pictured right).
David White opened the presentation by addressing the crucial role of competence in ensuring effective and compliant fire risk assessments. He highlighted the necessity for assessors to have the right blend of qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge to enable the Responsible Person to meet regulatory requirements and safeguard lives.
The panel then discussed competency, addressing some of the industry’s most urgent and practical concerns:
Q How is IFSM supporting fire risk assessors?
A IFSM’s mentoring scheme provides a clear path for those entering the industry to gain more experience, enabling them to move onto a higher level and acquire knowledge and skills in different areas.
Q How is IFSM attracting younger professionals?
A The industry is working towards developing an apprenticeship scheme. This will encourage school leavers and others considering a career in fire risk assessment to consider fire safety as a viable career option.
Q How does IFSM support the recruitment of assessors?
A
IFSM has a Fire Risk Assessors Register that provides assurance to employers that appropriate checks have been conducted. This includes peer-reviewed work for those on the Tier 2/intermediate level. This is valuable because most individual assessors do not have UKAS accreditation to demonstrate that they have been externally verified.
Q What has been the challenge with professional indemnity insurance, and how is IFSM helping?
A Increases in insurance have been felt across the fire safety sector, leading several insurance agencies to
withdraw from the market. IFSM and the Fire Sector Confederation recently presented a paper to insurers outlining how competency should drive their risk models.
Q
As a large business, we rely on the status of BAFE for competency. How can IFSM support me in understanding if an assessor is competent, other than using BAFE status?
AIFSM’s register is for individuals not companies. It recognises the BAFE scheme but then checks that the individual has been assessed as a validator under the BAFE scheme. For those individuals who don’t work for a BAFE SP205 registered company, IFSM will do its own internal rigorous competency checks to ensure everyone on the register is competent.
Q What are the plans for IFSM to make it easier for end-users to confirm competence?
AIFSM is heavily involved in the ongoing collaboration across the fire safety sector to explore the development of a national database for greater transparency.
Q Many fire risk assessors work for various companies. Does IFSM believe that these assessors should provide their relevant qualifications and the names of all companies they are working for to assist the end-user in evaluating individual competence, rather than focusing solely on the business level?
AThe Responsible Person must confirm the competency of any contractors they employ, and should conduct reasonable checks. The depth of the work and the associated risk levels will determine the extent of these checks. There shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach, but the Responsible Person should be able to demonstrate that they have taken suitable measures to ensure the assessor is competent to perform the work.
The importance of competency
According to official guidance, the individual conducting the assessment must be competent. A competent fire risk assessor must be able to:
Understand the principles of fire safety and fire development
Identify possible fire hazards and assess the risk to individuals and property
Recommend suitable control measures to mitigate risk
Stay informed about current fire safety legislation and standards
To ensure that a fire risk assessor is competent, in addition to being a member of a professional body and on a recognised professional register, organisations should look for:
Professional qualifications
Relevant experience, especially in similar types of buildings or industries
Training and continuous professional development (CPD) in fire safety
References demonstrating a record of thorough, compliant assessments
Choosing a qualified fire risk assessor is not merely a regulatory requirement; it’s a crucial aspect of a responsible safety strategy. By emphasising qualifications, experience and ongoing development, building owners and managers can ensure that their fire risk assessments are thorough, compliant and, most importantly, effective in protecting lives as well as property.
The Fire Safety Event
WHY COMPETENCY MATTERS
Legal compliance: Article 9 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that fire risk assessments be conducted by a ‘competent person’. Failure to meet this requirement can result in legal penalties, invalidated insurance policies or even criminal charges in the event of an incident.
Safety of occupants: An incompetent assessor may overlook critical risks, potentially endangering lives. Competent assessors are more likely to identify nuanced issues and recommend effective measures to prevent fire incidents or mitigate their impact.
Reputation and liability: Organisations that engage unqualified assessors may face reputational damage or be held liable for negligence. Demonstrating that a competent individual carried out assessments can serve as a defence in legal proceedings.
Have quality conversations that drive change HOW TO…
Fire safety professionals often find themselves having tricky conversations where they need to pick up on something that’s being done incorrectly. David Liddle outlines how to ensure a positive outcome
Being a fire safety officer demands far more than technical competence. It calls for courage, emotional intelligence and the ability to lead conversations that may be uncomfortable but are essential. Whether challenging unsafe practices, engaging with sceptics or influencing under pressure, your voice often represents a line between risk and responsibility. When handled with skill and intention, challenging conversations can serve as catalysts. They build trust, transform behaviours and ultimately create safer, more collaborative workplaces. Managed well, these conversations can build trust, change behaviour and make workplaces safer. Here’s how to approach high-stakes discussions with authority, humanity and impact, and turn challenging dialogues into quality conversations:
1
Don’t go in cold Preparation is key. Know what you need to say, the outcome you’re hoping for, and the facts that support your case. But remember this is humanto-human dialogue. People’s reactions usually stem from something real, like fear of change or a loss of control. If you can understand the reason for potential resistance even before the conversation, you’ll be far better placed to reframe things in a constructive way. Also consider the timing and setting. Choosing a private, neutral space and an appropriate moment can affect how your message is received.
2
Lead with empathy
When people feel seen and heard, they are far more likely to listen. Begin by acknowledging their reality. A phrase as simple as ‘Help me understand what’s happening from your point of view’ diffuses tension and sets a collaborative tone. Empathy does not dilute accountability. It enhances it by building trust and helping you co-create solutions.
3
Banish the blame game
Avoid the temptation to assign fault. Blame is a barrier, which shuts down dialogue. Instead, focus on observation and inquiry: ‘I noticed X – what’s your perspective on that?’ This keeps the conversation grounded in facts and invites joint problem-solving. The aim is not to score points – it’s to create progress by shifting the dynamic from judgement to problem solving.
4 Make constructive requests
Rather than issuing directives, frame your feedback using the Stop, Start, Continue model:
‘I’d like us to stop X because it’s creating unnecessary risk’
‘Please continue doing Y –that’s been really helpful’ ‘Could we start doing Z to improve safety further?’
This approach encourages ownership and agency, instead of imposing compliance.
5 Don’t make it personal
Maintain open body language, steady eye contact and a calm voice
6
Watch your body language
Your body language matters. Defensive posture, crossed arms or visible irritation can undermine even the most carefully worded message. Maintain open body language, steady eye contact and a calm voice. Small cues – nodding, pausing to listen, avoiding interruption –signal respect and reduce tension.
7
Create a climate of psychological safety
People engage when they feel safe. Invite input by asking open-ended questions: ‘How do you see it?’ or ‘What would help you feel more confident in doing this?’ Listen carefully and affirm contributions. When people trust that they won’t be ridiculed, ignored or punished for speaking honestly, they are far more likely to accept feedback and act on it.
8
Seek mutual solutions
The goal isn’t to win an argument. It’s to build a shared understanding and a safer outcome. Look for the ‘zone of possible agreement’ (ZOPA) –the overlap between what is needed, and what is workable. Define clear actions and follow up. A well-handled conversation not only resolves the issue, it also sets the tone for future dialogue.
In high-stakes environments, psychological safety and physical safety go hand in hand. Well-managed, quality conversations build trust, surface hidden risks and reinforce a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility.
David Liddle is president of the People and Culture Association and author of Managing Conflict and Transformational Culture Illustration: Shutterstock
Stay grounded in the present issue. Avoid sweeping generalisations or rehashing old frustrations. Watch for microaggressions or undermining labels – calling someone ‘emotional’ or suggesting they are ‘over-reacting’ can shut down dialogue and erode trust. Keep your language neutral, your tone calm and your feedback tied to observable behaviours and agreed standards. This reduces the risk of conflict becoming personal.
Grenfell Tower inquiry
The Grenfell Tower fire, an appalling tragedy that killed 72 people and injured or traumatised hundreds more, has come to symbolise multiple failings in our society. But it has also generated a drive to enhance regulation of the built environment and fire safety industries, with significant implications for fire risk assessors.
David Adams reports
In September 2024 the Grenfell Tower inquiry published its phase 2 (final) report. This was followed, in February 2025, by the government’s published response, which accepted all 58 of its recommendations. Among them was a commitment to make certification of the competence of fire risk assessors a legal requirement.
The response document states: “For too long, fire risk assessors have operated with no consistent standards or oversight, resulting in a culture of complacency without due regard to competence … We intend to bring into law mandatory competence requirements for fire risk assessors … independently verified by a UKAS-accredited certification body and overseen by a regulator.”
It continues: “By placing fire risk assessors on a more professional footing, setting a common standard for competence and creating a clear pathway into the profession, we will be able to build a pipeline of future talent for this critical role and attract a more diverse workforce.” The document states an intention to pass any necessary legislation before the end of 2028. Aspirations to ensure competence and consistency and to encourage more people to become assessors are very welcome. But turning those aspirations into reality will not be straightforward. Government will need to work closely with the profession, building on progress made in recent years to bring more people into what is currently a relatively small profession with an ageing workforce, as demand for its services increases.
Under scrutiny
Neil Gibbins is lead fire safety consultant at Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK), which collates confidential reports by professionals about fire and structural safety issues. He is also a former president and CEO of the Institution of Fire Engineers. Gibbins notes that the external cladding that caused the rapid and fatal spread of fire at Grenfell was not within the remit of its fire risk assessor, whose work was concerned primarily with internal communal areas of the building.
However, shortcomings in the work of the assessor who completed six fire risk assessments at the tower between 2009 and 2016 has cast a shadow over the profession. “What was exposed in the inquiry was that the chap who had charged a very significant amount for carrying out an assessment wasn’t registered anywhere,” says Gibbins. “That clouded the real issues, but it did open up questions about competence.”
In some ways, this created a partly false and unfair impression, because great efforts have been made within the fire risk assessment profession over the years to promote competence, against a backdrop of sometimes imperfect legislation and regulation.
At the heart of the fire safety regulatory regime for England and Wales in 2017 was the Fire Safety Order, a statutory instrument in operation since 2006, based on the principle that a single Responsible Person (RP) working for whoever owned or managed a building would bear responsibility for ensuring the assessment of fire risks within it. Assessments for complex
Grenfell Tower inquiry
buildings tended to be completed by third-party assessors, including many retired or semi-retired fire officers. Some were highly skilled and experienced. Others were not.
That regime was created “as part of a process of deregulation”, says Dennis Davis, competency director at the Fire Sector Confederation (FSC). “It produced a duty on the responsible person, but did not require a level of competence.”
The risks created by this inconsistency led to proactive attempts to self-regulate within the fire safety industry, long before Grenfell. These included the creation by IFSM of its first register of fire risk assessors; and drafting of a competency standard for fire risk assessors by IFSM and other members of the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council.
In the years that followed, IFSM’s register evolved to become the Tiered Fire Risk Assessors Register (TFRAR), which ranks entry-level members in Tier 1, and more experienced assessors, including those with competence in assessing fire risks within specific types of buildings in Tier 2. Tier 3 is reserved for the most experienced individual assessors or businesses, whose experience and competency has been examined and tested by an independent
third-party accreditation or certification scheme and are competent to work on higher-risk buildings, where assessing fire risks is most complex.
Following Grenfell, the industry also responded to the findings of Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of building regulations and fire safety, published in 2018. The FSC convened a Fire Risk Assessment Working Group, chaired by Dennis Davis, of which IFSM president Bob Docherty was also a member.
This group wrote a new Approved Code of Practice to serve as a framework for fire risk assessor competency, and this has informed the drafting of a new British Standard, BS 8674: Built Environment –Framework for Competence of Individual Fire Risk Assessors – Code of Practice. At the time of writing, the final draft of this standard is still being refined.
New regulations
The past four years have also seen the introduction of a new building safety regulatory regime in England and Wales, through the passing of the Fire Safety Act (which updates the Fire Safety Order, adding new requirements including for assessing fire risks related to external walls in some buildings) and the Building Safety Act, and the
creation of the Building Safety Regulator. Additional fire safety regulations have been introduced in England. These changes have added new responsibilities for fire risk assessors. In part this is because section 156 of the Building Safety Act requires RPs to record all details of fire risk assessments and produce a Safety Case Report, based in part upon the fire risk assessment. They will also need to create an audit trail for the risk assessments, including details of an assessor’s employer and credentials. The assessor will need to provide proof of competency to conduct their assessment in line with new regulatory and legislative requirements. But establishing a mandatory “robust certification system and a
Grenfell Tower inquiry
commissioning process that requires competence to be verified” for assessors cannot happen very quickly, because of a shortage of assessors in general, and of those with the highest levels of competence in particular.
Difficulties are already arising where there is a gap between the level of competence required to complete an assessment and the capabilities of the assessor on the ground. For example, assessors who have no experience of assessing fire risks linked to external walls are currently having to exclude them from assessments.
There are also assessors who are competent and experienced, but have not yet acquired full formal qualifications. IFSM will try to help them complete a recognised qualification from FireQual,
and is currently applying to UKAS to enable formal recognition of this route to certification. “You’ve got to bring the proficient existing fire risk assessors through the system,” says Davis. “But that may take a number of years.”
Higher-risk buildings
Another problem is linked to the definition of ‘higher-risk’ buildings. Forthcoming legislation may follow the example of the Building Safety Act by assuming increased risks are likely to be present within buildings more than 18m high. However, many in the industry have questioned the legitimacy of using this as a dividing line for changes in a building’s risk profile.
As Colin Todd, managing director of CS Todd & Associates and an expert
witness at the inquiry, says: “Until the 1980s, fire brigades had equipment that could get up to 15m, and if you carried a ladder up on your shoulder and lashed it on at the top you added another 3m. So there’s nothing happening at 18m that increases fire risks.”
The most important factor determining numbers of deaths from a fire in a dwelling is not the building’s height, but who is inside it. Todd points out that while numbers of deaths per thousand fires in blocks of flats during a recent year was 5.1, the figure for bungalows was 16.2, because they are more likely to be the homes of older people. The buildings where the risks of death in a fire are greatest are actually those used for care homes or supported housing.
Grenfell Tower inquiry
The government’s response to the inquiry says plans for an ongoing review of the definition of higher-risk buildings “will be set out in summer 2025”. But whatever the final definition, there will still be a shortage of assessors formally qualified to assess fire risks in higher-risk buildings.
With that in mind, Todd is among those in the industry who fear that making certification for fire risk assessors of all building types mandatory is “certainly in the short term … completely ridiculous and impracticable”. He believes it would lead to many experienced assessors leaving the profession rather than spending time and money working through the certification process.
“We’d be left with a very small pool of people to do all the assessments.”
For now, the industry will have to wait to see how the government chooses to proceed. “My inkling is that the government will roll out a phased programme of regulation,” says
Docherty. “I suspect the first types of premises they will ‘designate’ will be higher-risk residential buildings and maybe some where sleeping accommodation is provided – care homes, boarding schools, sheltered housing and similar.”
But another concern is that assessors may be asked to perform tasks that were not previously, and arguably should not be, in scope: Docherty cites inclusion within draft legislation of a suggestion that fire risk assessors create residents’ evacuation plans. “That’s got nothing to do with a fire risk assessment,” he says. “We certainly appreciate that every fire risk assessor should have a measure of competence, skills and experience, in order to carry out assessments appropriately. But there is a balance to be struck.”
Next generation
Finding the right balance will only be possible if government and regulators do more to help find and nurture the
development of a new generation of assessors. One change that should help will be an apprenticeship scheme for the profession. IFSM and the Fire Industry Association are leading the development of apprenticeships that will last three years, during which the apprentice will be taken on by an employer.
“Aft er three years you should have at least a Level 3 qualifi cation in fi re risk assessment and you will be able to do a fi re risk assessment in normal risk buildings,” says Docherty. “You then go through the UKAS scheme to start working towards Tier 3 [of the TFRAR].
“There has to be an awareness that there is a good career as a fire risk assessor,” he continues. “It’s not currently something to which school leavers aspire.” IFSM is now increasing outreach work with schools to try to show how interesting and well paid the work can be.
CROSS-UK’s Gibbins also says the government should do more to promote and support the work of professional organisations like IFSM, which “defines the profession, supports and tests individuals, and challenges the ethics of its membership”, rather than focus on the supposed benefits of cutting red tape, including through deregulation.
“I was very disappointed to hear the current government talking about deregulation, because one of the lessons from Grenfell is we deregulated fire safety to the point where no one could recognise the risk that was in front of our faces,” he says.
At present, he says, CROSS-UK is still “seeing risk assessments being carried out by people who haven’t got the necessary competence. Even after Grenfell, we still don’t seem to have learned that you need appropriately skilled people to carry out safetycritical assessments.” That lesson must be learned, and reinforced by a fire risk assessment profession defined by competence and integrity.
David Adams is a freelance journalist with a strong background in the built environment
Daedalus is the official s magazine of the Institut Fire Safety Managers, re decision-makers, specia and thought leaders acr the fire safety professio
When you advertise with us, you place your brand directly in front of the U fire safety influencers, specifiers, and consulta
Steel frame structures are one of the seven common types of construction that I believe IFSM members are most likely to encounter in their work. This type of loadbearing frame is predominantly used for multi-storey, nonresidential buildings in the UK, although it is also used for some medium and high-rise apartment blocks.
Compare the characteristics of steel frames set out below with those of reinforced concrete frame structures covered in my last article in Daedalus (edition 63). We have been able to design taller buildings using steel and reinforced concrete frames. By modifying the design of steel beams to span longer distances between columns, engineers have also facilitated the design of wider column-free spaces. I will deal with single-storey steel portal frame structures – commonly used in retail sheds, warehousing and other buildings – in a future article.
The columns and beams of the steel structural frame are often disguised internally and externally for architectural and weathering
Passive
Steel frame structures are used in many multistorey, non-residential buildings and offer many benefits as a construction method. But they also require the installation of passive fire protection materials to insulate structures from the effects of high temperatures, as Malcolm Thomas explains
protection
reasons, both within the depth of the external envelope of the building and internally on each storey. Identifying them can, therefore, take a little detective work.
In those residential blocks prescribed in PAS 9980, we are particularly concerned with assessing the risk of fire spreading over and within the external walls. On modern steel frame buildings for all purpose groups and uses, external walls can take a variety of forms, including rainscreen cladding system, external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), glazed façades, curtain walling and composite panels.
We need to understand the composition of the external walls throughout their depth – including the substrate or backing wall – and how it is supported on the loadbearing frame. This latter element can comprise concrete blockwork, brick, lightweight steel framing, timber framing and structural insulated panels (SIPs), with sheathing board and insulation. In older multi-storey buildings, the steel frame was enclosed behind stone and brick external walls.
Steel benefits
Why then do we use steel, how has it evolved and how are these buildings assembled? The mass production of steel began in 1855 with the Bressemer process; reliable, goodquality, mild steel then became available after 1880.
Some of the first rolled steel sections were used in the Ritz Hotel in London in 1906; behind the stone façade of the hotel, there is a loadbearing steel frame structure. The development of high-strength bolts in the 1950s eliminated the need for riveting for connections, and this was followed by perfecting the rolling of universal standard beams and columns in the 1960s.
The process for erecting the steel frame involves assembling pre-fabricated steel components on-site to create a structural framework. It typically begins with preparing the foundations, installing columns and beams, then connecting these components with bolts or by welding. This primary structure is then ready to receive the floors and typically a flat roof. Secondary components in multistorey frames will include the subframes in lightweight steel for external walls.
Appropriately sized columns and beams provide the load-bearing capacity of the steel structure. They give the necessary support for the entire framework, making their correct installation critical. From a visual inspection of the soffit of upper floors in older buildings conducted as part of the fire risk assessment, you might detect floors constructed of precast concrete slabs, troughs or beam, and filler block components with a cast concrete slab on top.
In modern times the central lift shaft/stair enclosure is designed in precast or cast-in-situ concrete and the steel frame is erected around it. Peripheral escape staircase enclosures may also be constructed within concrete walls.
Fire resistance capabilities
What then are the passive fire-resisting characteristics of steel frame buildings that we need to be mindful of?
Unprotected steelwork is usually deemed to have 15 minutes’ inherent fire resistance. The installation of passive fire protection materials is necessary to insulate steel structures from the effects of high temperatures.
Unprotected steelwork is usually deemed to have 15 minutes’ inherent fire resistance
Since the 1980s, a common solution adopted has been to use profile steel decking with a cast concrete floor. This deck provides a working platform without the need to have props below while the concrete sets. Speed of assembly and cost control are, of course, critical.
Until the late 1970s, concrete was by far the most common form of fire protection for structural steelwork; columns and beams were encased and therefore hidden in concrete. The mid-1980s saw the promotion of lightweight fire protection. Reactive materials such as thin film intumescent coatings are a common example, while non-reactive boards and sprays are an alternative design solution.
Thin-film intumescent coatings are mainly used in buildings where the fire resistance requirements are 30, 60 and 90 minutes, although some products can offer 120 minutes. Intumescent coatings are paint-like materials that expand when heated to form a char, with excellent insulating properties. They can be either water-based, which is mostly used on site, or solvent-based, which dominates the off -site market.
In England, the minimum period of fire resistance varies depending on the occupation and height of the building. For open-sided car parks, the minimum period of fire resistance is 15 minutes; for offices over 30m high with sprinklers, it is 120 minutes.
Residential block with steel frame expressed on glazed façade. The fire resistance of lightweight cladding to flank wall and top storey should be assessed
Steel frame structures
Fire regulations
Approved Document B classifies the use of a building into purpose groups, with specific minimum periods of fire resistance to be achieved by the building elements. The periods of fire resistance vary according to the use and the size of building. The larger the fire hazard a building presents, the greater the period of fire resistance required to protect the elements within the building.
The materials used to form the internal surfaces are also controlled to reduce the risk of fire growth and internal fire spread. Two properties of lining materials that influence fire spread are the rate of flame spread over the surface when it is subject to intense
Some of the first
rolled steel sections were used in the Ritz Hotel in London in 1906
radiant heating and the rate at which the lining material gives off heat when burning.
Insurers may require higher standards of fire protection for industrial and commercial buildings. Guidance is available, for example, from the RISCAuthority (FPA) to assist building designers and other professional advisors in reconciling the provisions of national legislation standards with the recommendations of the insurance
1
2 Steel frame building. Note the arrangement of columns, beams and profile steel floor decks. Mesh reinforcement and concrete slab will be cast on this base
3 Offices above retail. Apparent steel frame structure with glazed façade on upper floors. Flat roof may be cast concrete or other lightweight construction
industry. Guidance is provided regarding how fire protection measures can be used to augment passive protection.
Structural fire precautions forestall failure of the structure. This can be prevented by fire-protecting loadbearing elements in order to minimise the risk to the occupants, some of whom may have to remain in the building for some time (particularly if the building is a large one) while evacuation proceeds. This protection serves to reduce the risk to firefighters engaged on search and rescue operations, and the danger to people in the vicinity of the building who may be hurt by falling debris. It can also mitigate the impact of the collapsing structure on other adjoining buildings.
Steel skeletal frames have been used, and continue to be chosen, for educational, healthcare, leisure, commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Vertical compartmentation is achieved using reinforced concrete
floors and escape staircases are generally in concrete. Particular passive fire protection issues for risk assessors to address might be fire resistance provided to columns and beams, continuity of compartmentation behind spandrel panels at floor/external wall junctions, and the fire resistance of lightweight cladding systems and materials in all types of buildings.
Find out more about Malcolm’s IFSM-accredited one-day course ‘Essential building design and construction for fire safety professionals’ at ifsm.org.uk/events
Multi-storey office block with steel structural frame and prefabricated external wall panels, which give the appearance of external walls being brick built
Malcolm Thomas BSc (Hons), DipTP, MIFSM is a building surveyor, training consultant, IFSM council member and Skills sub-group chair
Apprenticeship update
Following on from the news provided in the president’s blog and the article by Alex Aiston on this subject in the last edition of Daedalus, Malcolm Thomas provides a brief update on progress towards a fire risk assessment apprenticeship
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) and IFSM are members of the Fire Sector Confederation and are leading on this exciting part of the industry’s efforts to invest in the future of the profession. This is particularly relevant as the government accepts that a system of mandatory accreditation to certify the competence of fire risk assessors by setting the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviour is necessary.
An apprenticeship scheme would establish a formal route into the fire safety profession, addressing a critical skills gap and ensuring future assessors are well trained and competent.
In line with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) requirements, we aim to bring together a diverse group of employers from across the fire safety sector. These will include those in housing, consultancy, public services and commercial risk management to act as trailblazers for the apprenticeship scheme.
IFSM is initially considering a scheme for 18+ year-olds, so that foundation-level apprenticeships can provide a career pathway into fire risk assessment as a recognised career.
There are a number of awarding bodies offering Level 2 and 3 courses
It is currently envisaged that a person aged 18+ entering the profession would sign up with a trailblazer organisation
for fire risk assessors, including ABBE, and these could form the backbone of the knowledge part of entry for foundation-level qualifications. BSI 8674 will detail all the knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours expected at foundation apprenticeship level.
It is currently envisaged that a person aged 18+ entering the profession would sign up with a trailblazer organisation for the apprenticeship scheme. They would either come in already with a Level 2 fire risk assessor qualification or immediately start the Level 2 knowledge base. Once an apprentice
joins the scheme, they would be eligible under the scheme to join the IFSM Fire Risk Assessors Register at Tier 1.
That apprentice would then spend three years with a trailblazer, acquiring the necessary skills, experience and behaviour. Progress would be signed off in a logbook. At the end of three years, the apprentice would have covered Level 3/intermediate/ Tier 2 of knowledge, skills, experience and behaviour.
They would emerge from their apprenticeship qualified and competent to carry out fire risk assessments of normal-risk buildings, and be eligible to join the IFSM Tiered Fire Risk Assessors Register at Tier 2, together with a regulated qualification through FireQual or similar.
IFSM and FIA, working with the Fire Sector Confederation, will submit an occupational route to IfATE, which works with employers to develop, approve, review and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications in England. We have also linked up with the Institution of Fire Engineers, which has indicated that it would like to be involved in this initiative. Grant funding from the government would be available to pay for apprenticeship training.
Fire safety legislation has seen significant upheaval in recent years. Andrew Fox provides an update on the key changes and their implications for professionals in the sector, with particular emphasis on social housing
Regulation overview
Fire safety legislation in England, and to some extent Wales, has undergone substantial changes in recent years, with new and amended legislation or regulations aimed at enhancing fire safety in residential buildings consisting of two or more domestic dwellings.
For those of you who are working, or have premises, in the devolved administrations of Scotland or Northern Ireland, the good news is that the legislation in these administrations remains the same, with no major changes currently (although Northern Ireland is currently consulting on the potential introduction of the Building Safety Act).
In Scotland, the primary fire safety legislation comprises the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. In Northern Ireland, it’s the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010. As the definition of ‘domestic premises’ differs in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, the majority of residential dwellings are outwith (a good Scottish term) the scope of this legislation, apart from facilities for the use of fire and rescue services in high-rise, residential buildings.
Returning to England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 has been amended by both the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022. Additionally, for England, we have a return to prescription with the introduction of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
Fire Safety Act 2021
The Fire Safety Act 2021 addressed perceived issues for blocks of flats, including building ‘structure’ (which doesn’t mean ‘structure’ – more on this later), flat entrance doors, external walls, cladding and attachments. It amended Article 6 of the Fire Safety Order, specifying that the act applies to a building’s structure, external walls, common parts and all doors between domestic premises and common parts. This includes doors or windows in external walls and anything attached to them, such as balconies.
The act has introduced the need for fire risk appraisals of external walls, similar to those detailed in the methodology in PAS 9980 (note this is not the EWS1 used purely by financial institutions), assisted by a risk-based prioritisation tool. It also emphasises the importance of flat entrance doors, which were (in most professionals’ opinion) always part
Fire safety legislation
of the Fire Safety Order, with about 15 to 20 references in the Purpose-Built Block of Flats Guide published in 2011.
Unfortunately, the act (exacerbated in England by the Fire Safety (England) Regulations) has led to the emergence of a new profession of ‘fire door inspectors’, advising wholesale replacement of flat entrance doors because they do not meet the requirements of a multi-faceted checklist relating to current standards for new fire doors.
Additionally, the act brought about several unintended consequences. One was that most fire risk assessors contracted by Responsible Persons (RPs), by virtue of not being competent in external wall construction or, primarily, finding it difficult to obtain professional indemnity insurance cover, are forced to exclude external walls from fire risk assessments (FRAs). This leads to significant unnecessary costs to housing providers for such specialist examinations.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require Responsible Persons to provide fire instructions in a comprehensible form
The term ‘structure’, in the context of building FRAs, refers to a visual inspection (to ensure that the building has no identifiable defects in compartmentation and that, for example, escape routes are adequately protected) rather than routine structural assessments. Intrusive surveys of buildings are likely to be required only if the fire risk assessor has serious concerns.
As the use of the term ‘structure’ is within the legislation, it is worth noting that the clarification of ‘structure’ was delivered in a speech to the House of Lords by the then fire minister Lord Greenhalgh (Hansard volume 806, House of Lords, 1 October 2020). This may be a useful reference if you are challenged on the interpretation at any time.
Article 50 of the Fire Safety Order 2005 was bolstered and specifies that proof of non-compliance with the order tends to be established by showing a failure to follow risk-based guidance produced under Article 50. The corollary is that following the guidance may be relied on as tending to establish that there was no contravention.
Note that Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (more on this later) further amended Article 50 and removed the words ‘risk-based’ and now states ‘any applicable guidance’.
As seems to be the way with legislation changes, there are, occasionally, unintended consequences. Let us take the example of a flat above a flat. Depending on the area of the country in which they are located, these are known as halfhouse flats, cottage flats or maisonettes.
Fire safety legislation
In some cases, the flat entrance doors are on different elevations and have their own path to the public path/ highway. As there are no ‘appurtenances’ (paths etc) used in common by the occupants, no FRA and no external wall assessment are required.
However, in other examples, the flat entrance doors are on the same elevation and share a path to the public highway/ path. As there are now ‘appurtenances’ used in common by the occupants, technically an FRA and an external wall assessment is required.
As a large number of housing providers’ funding is based on legal compliance, this brings into scope a significant number of extra premises, which may, in turn, be identified by external auditors as non-compliant, as they do not have the relevant assessments in place. Some housing providers that allow ‘right to buy’ may have noticed solicitors asking for these assessments already as part of the sale process.
The good news (if there is any) is that the Home Office Article 50 guidance A guide to making your small block of flats safe from fire is intended to be used for this size of premises.
This guidance contains an FRA checklist for small blocks of fl ats pro forma, which could be altered with the addition of some ‘not applicable’ boxes to form the necessary FRA, in a compact form. Other formats are available, but I struggle to see where any of the fi re hazards listed, apart from possibly combustible materials stored too close to the external walls, are applicable.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, made under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order, impose new duties on RPs, including in relation to areas brought within the Fire Safety Order by the Fire Safety Act.
These regulations were laid on 18 May 2022 and came into effect on 23 January 2023. They were designed to address some of the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and include 10 factsheets, which are available on the web, along with a guidance document on Gov.uk.
The regulations require RPs to provide fire instructions in a comprehensible form, covering evacuation strategy, fire reporting and other fire procedures. Landlords must provide this information to new and existing residents every 12 months. For blocks over 11m, annual checks of flat entrance doors (FEDs) and three-monthly checks of common parts fire doors are required.
Regulation 10 emphasises the importance of keeping fire doors shut when not in use, avoiding tampering with selfclosing devices, and reporting any faults immediately. The RP must provide this information to new residents and remind them periodically.
For residential blocks containing two or more domestic dwellings and which are of a height, to the highest occupied floor, of 18m or seven storeys or more, there are additional requirements.
The regulations are not risk-based, and it is not possible to remove the requirements through an FRA.
It is essential that housing providers understand that
The most important aspect of the flat entrance door is the self-closing device, which should be non-negotiable
the regulations must be complied with, and it is strongly recommended that records are kept, of sufficient detail, to enable the provider to prove when, for example, fire safety information was provided to an individual resident.
Returning to the checking of flat entrance doors and common area doors on blocks over 11m in height to the highest occupied floor, the intention of the regulations was that these checks be simple. The idea was it could be done by, for example, any staff engaging with a resident or maintenance staff carrying out other maintenance functions in a resident’s flat, such as gas servicing.
To this end, the Home Office produced a guidance document, again under Article 50, called A simple guide to fire doors for Responsible Persons: how to conduct routine checks and provide information to residents. This guide has a useful checklist and action plan, which housing providers may find useful.
The intention was not to have full fire door surveys completed (as part of the regulations) as the actual functional assessment of the door itself was intended to remain as the responsibility of the individual carrying out the FRA.
Remember though, the most important aspect of the flat entrance door is the self-closing device, which should be
Responsible Persons must provide relevant fire safety information to residents of premises with two or more domestic units
Fire safety legislation
housing provider needs to enforce the requirements of the lease up to and including legal action against the tenant/resident.
Finally, don’t forget that a lot of blocks over 11m do not have communal doors such as lobby doors, but they do have an understairs (landlord electrical supply) cupboard. This will, according to the regulations, require a quarterly check, even though it is, in some instances, rarely accessed.
Building Safety Act 2022
The self-closing device is the most important component of the flat entrance door
non-negotiable in blocks of this type; I have been to too many incidents where it has been missing and the door left open.
Interestingly, when drafting the fire door guidance with the great fire safety guru Mr Todd, I wanted to open the door to the width of my fist and then let it go to ensure that it closed fully into the frame. After a long discussion, it was clear that this could be open to interpretation. Consequently, the 15 degrees made it into the guidance, along with the door being held fully open.
It should be noted that Regulation 10 uses the term ‘best endeavours’ when referring to the checking of flat entrance doors on a 12-monthly basis. We get a lot of questions as to why this is not more specific. The reason returns to a previous statement in this article, namely that a large number of housing providers’ financial arrangements are based on legal compliance.
If it had been an absolute requirement (remember these are regulations) to check flat entrance doors at least every 12 months, this would have meant that some housing providers would continuously be in breach of the regulations due to residents not allowing access for a variety of reasons. ‘Best endeavours’ does not, as I understand it, mean you can send a couple of letters and then walk away, but our interpretation is that the
The only part of the Building Safety Act 2022 that I intend to cover is Section 156 which, effective from 1 October 2023, amended the Fire Safety Order. It now requires all premises and findings to be documented in any FRA.
Previously, this was for premises where five or more employees worked, a licence was in force or where an alterations notice was in force. The same applies to recording fire safety arrangements, providing additional information to residents and handing over fire safety information to new RPs. The necessity for competence in individuals appointed for carrying out FRAs will also be imposed, in the future, under Section 156.
The act also mandates the provision of information to residents of domestic premises, specifying that this applies to buildings with two or more domestic units. The RP must provide residents with comprehensible and ‘relevant fire safety’ information.
The ‘relevant fire safety matters’, or information needed to be provided to residents, are:
Risk to residents identified in an FRA
Preventive and protective measures
Name of RP and address for notices and other documents
Identity of person appointed to assist in carrying out an FRA
Identification of persons nominated to implement firefighting
Risks identified to RP by others
Any other matters specified in further regs
The amendment does not state at what frequency this information is required to be provided, but, as there was no ‘lead in time’ specified in the amendment, it is reasonable to assume that it had to be completed by the enactment date of 23 October 2023.
There is a lot of debate around what information should be provided, and I am not aware of any case law surrounding this. I interpret this as being the full FRA, and not a précis, as it clearly states preventive and protective measures. This leads me on to the protective measures; again, in the world that I work in, reviewing hundreds of third-party FRAs, I am not sure that all assessors are clear that an FRA should detail ‘what is provided’ as well as ‘what is needed’. In some instances, I am not even able to work out how many protected staircases are within a building.
In conclusion, these legislative acts and regulations aim to enhance fire safety in residential buildings across the UK. They emphasise the importance of thorough FRAs, proper maintenance of fire doors and clear communication of fire safety information to residents.
Andy Fox MIAAI, MSET, QTLS, IEng, FIFireE, MIFSM is director and head of specialist training at CS Todd & Associates
Membership benefits
IFSM is a professional body for individuals and companies working in the fire industry. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, joining the Institute offers numerous benefits
The Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) is a recognised body dedicated to promoting high standards in fire prevention, protection and risk management. Membership can enhance your career, offering access to resources, networking and ongoing professional development.
The great thing about IFSM is that applications are open to anyone, at any level, working within the fire industry. Whether you’re a fire risk assessor, facilities manager, fire alarm installer or involved in fire safety in any other capacity, IFSM membership provides the structure and support to help you grow and develop your expertise.
The following are just some of the main reasons people are joining IFSM:
A markrecognised of competence
One of the key reasons to join IFSM is that membership is recognised as a mark of competence. By becoming a member, you demonstrate that you have the qualifications, knowledge and experience at the level of membership you hold and pledge to meet the Institute’s high professional standards.
Members receive a digital downloadable certificate, can use the IFSM post-nominals and display the IFSM logo on their website, marketing materials or email signature, signalling your commitment to quality and professionalism.
IFSM has a range of memberships, many of which come with postnominal letters. These include:
Student (SIFM)
Technician (TIFSM)
Associate (AIFSM)
Member (MIFSM)
Fellow (FIFSM)
Life fellow (FIFSM (Life))
This is the highest grade of membership of the Institute and is by way of nomination only.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
CPD is essential for staying up to date in your profession. Through highly discounted technical events, workshops, trade shows, quarterly journals and online CPD events, IFSM helps you stay at the cutting edge of fire safety knowledge and practices. Additionally, IFSM strives to share valuable updates on industry news.
IFSM facilitates attendance at annual technical events that are CPD-accredited, online on-demand webinars, online access to presentations from IFSM technical meetings, and regular news bulletins.
IFSM also accredits training centres and courses. A full list of accredited providers can be found at ifsm.org.uk/training-courses
IFSM works closely with government bodies, regulatory authorities and industry leaders to represent the views of its members
Members’ library
Members can use their login details to gain access to the members’ library section of the website. This hosts numerous technical documents, presentations and 16 British Standard documents.
The Fire Risk Assessors Register
For those involved in fire risk assessments, IFSM membership offers the opportunity to be listed on the Tiered Fire Risk Assessors Register (TFRAR). This recognises the different levels of knowledge and competency that each individual holds ranging from entry-level assessors just starting out in their career (Tier 1) through to nationally accredited, highly experienced professionals (Tier 3).
The TFRAR will help you locate and choose a registered fire risk assessor, individual or company in your area with the requisite skills, knowledge, experience and insurance to carry out any fire risk assessment(s).
Access to affiliate members
Affiliate members are businesses and companies that are associated with the Institute, which offer a range of fire-related services to help your organisations. If your organisation operates in and around the fire safety space, you may decide to apply for affiliate membership. Find out more at ifsm.org.uk/affiliates
Ensure your voice is heard
IFSM works closely with government bodies, regulatory authorities and industry leaders to represent the views of its members. In an everchanging regulatory environment, having a professional body that advocates for you is crucial. IFSM ensures that your voice is heard, influencing policies and standards that impact the fire safety industry.
Joining the Institute is much more than a transaction; it’s an investment in your future. From enhancing your
professional reputation with a mark of competence to offering invaluable CPD opportunities, the benefits of membership go far beyond the tangible. No matter your level of experience or your role in the fire safety industry, IFSM is there to support you, advocate for you and help you achieve your career goals. If you want to take the next step in your fire safety career, becoming an IFSM member is a smart and rewarding choice.
NEXT STEPS
If you’re interested in joining IFSM, please get in touch through any of the below channels:
info@ifsm.org.uk
0330 355 1286
ifsm.org.uk
New and upgraded members and registrants
Congratulations to the following members and registrants
TFRAR
| Tier 3 Nationally Accredited Fire Risk Assessors Register
● Bradley Ashworth
● Colin Johnson
● Craig Baker
● Gavin Hill
● Gemma Marsden
● Iwan Jones
● Jason Redfearn
● John Convey
● Lee Wilkinson
● Lucy Witts
● Mark Bullard
● Robbie Wakefield
● Stephen Hipkiss
● Stewart Adamson
TFRAR | Tier 2 Competent Fire Risk Assessors Register
● Anthony Lydon
● Ben Martin
● Brent Murtagh
● Brett Beaumont
● Charles Hunt
● Christopher Gill
● Ciarán Connolly
● Clare Roberts
● Danny Burrows
● Darren Corke
● David Francis
● David Peters
● David Whitaker
● Dean Johnson
● Dominic Mackonochie
● Donn Houldsworth
● Edmond Hodaj
● Eric Doel
● Frankie Flannigan
● Gary Wilson
● Gerald Henry
● Harry Sutherland
● Ian Laurie
● Ian Robertson
● James Banks
● James Wallace
● Jamie Tooke
● Joe Gascoigne
● Johnson Kofi Oppong
● Jonathan Fisher
● Jonathan Roberts
● Julian Stanley
● Keith Morris
● Kerlan James
● Kevin Emery
● Lee Howells
● Mark Gillam
● Matthew Lee Lloyd
● Matthew Pearson
● Maxine Targett
● Michael Majekodunmi
● Nadeem Master
● Neil Draper
● Neil Turner
● Nicholas Aves
● Nikhil Greenwood
● Owen Fear
● Oyeniyi Oyewole
● Paul Barlow
● Paul Budden
● Paul Mason
● Paul McWaters
● Paul Smith
● Peter Fritzsche
● Richard Huckman
● Richard Notley
● Robert McIntosh
● Robin Evans
● Sam Digby
● Sean Delaney
● Simon Cruwys
● Simon Tate
● Simone Dolloway
● Stephen Pryce
● Stephen Saunders
● Steve Pratt
● Steven Newton
● Sukhdeep Singh
● Talha Patel
● Tanya Brough
● Tara Sweeney
● Thomas Joseph Fletcher
● Thomas Storey
● Uzair Patel
● Vivek Kannan
TFRAR | Tier 1 Entry Level Fire Risk Assessors Register
● Benjamin Wynn
● Brianne Haigh
● Chris Colborne
● Kamil Szwarc
● Lindsay Tannock
● Nathan Cockerell
● Samuel Varey
● Sheena Anne Porter
● Steven Naylor
● Tom Whitney
Member grade
● Aaron Bray
● Adam Boult
● Adam Harrod
● Adam Leeman
● Ajmal Chethikualth Muhamed Sagir
● Ajmal Khan
● Alasdair Anderson
● Altaz Ladhani
● Amanda Munns
● Amarjit Singh Mann
● Andrew Brownett
● Andrew Murphy
● Andrew Wright
● Andy Pyzer
● Anne Marie Pearson
● Anthony Arcari
● Anthony Bourne
● Antony Ford
● Ayoub Alhammadi
● Barry Harding
● Ben Letschka
● Bernie Higgins
● Brian Goulding
● Bridget Litchfield
● Charlie Brough
● Chris core
● Chris Kehoe
● Christopher Elliott
● Christopher Gill
● Christopher Zacharias
● Ciaran Connolly
● Coel Keith Waters-Parry
● Colin Mark Lethaby
● Craig Cowan
● Craig Leese
● Craig McClymont
● Damian O’Shaughnessy
● Daniel Gherghe
● Daniel McCartney Beattie
● Daniel Selby
● Daniel Simpson
● Darren King
● Dave Sillitto
● David Abbott
● David Bird
● David Clarke
● David Hanlon
● David Johnson
● David McCarrey
● David Miriam
● David Morris
● David Stancill
● David Willcocks
● Dean Charles
● Declan McAvoy
● Deepak Shirodkar
● Dexter Edmonds
● Divine Obenndip
● Dominic Haigh
● Easa Al Shehhi
● Ehi Akumabor
● Farrokh Azad
● Frankie Flannigan
● Gary May
● George Preston
● George Willis
● Gurpreet Gill
● Howard Batty
● Ian Allsop
● Ian Francis
● Ian Hill
● Ian Homewood
● Ian Kennedy
● Ian Robertson
● Ibrahim Saad Mubarak
Al Mansoori
● Ikenna Ogwogwo
● Jack Newell
● Jack Waite
● Jack Wellard
● James Dean Llewellyn
● James Lilley
● James Payne
● Jamie Yarwood
● Jason Donaldson
● Jason Seward
● Joe Taylor
● John Holroyd
● John Logie
● John Tindell
● John Yore
● Justin Aitken
● Justyna Zajaczkowska
● Katherine Gration
● Kawsor Ali
● Keith Wisdom
● Kenneth Williams
● Kevin Gutherson
● Kevin Harman
● Kevin Hazeldine
● Kyle Park
● Laurence Casey
● Lee Howells
● Lee Knight
● Leigh Cotterill
● Leon Stewart
● Linda Hunt
● Long Hang Yeung
● Luke Colwell
● Mahmoud Mohamed Hafez
Mahmoud Abowedn
● Mark Lewis
● Martin Pritchard
● Matthew Arnold
● Matthew Reeves
● Michael Burridge
● Michael Majekodunmi
● Michael Radcliffe
● Moses Etienne
● Neil Palmer
● Neil Patrick Fritzsche
● Neil Wood
● Neil Woodmansey
● Obo Wanogho
● Patrick Mellors
● Paul Hennessey
● Paul Huxham
● Paul Kelly
● Paul Martin
● Paul Thorpe
● Peter Allman
● Peter Rodrigues
● Phil Davies
● Philip Adams
● Philip Repman
● Philip Walker
● Rachel Nicklin
● Ranvir Sandhar
● Rebecca Morrissey
● Rehana Saloo
● Richard Betts
● Richard Devlin
● Richard Notley
● Robert Brown
● Robert McTague
● Robert Neil Griffiths
● Robin Whittington
● Roman Lyall
● Roy McHale
● Russell Orton
● Samantha Crawley
● Sarah Howell
● Satbinder Nar
● Sharon Connor
● Simone Dolloway
● Stephen Finney
● Stephen Lawson
● Stephen McLaughlan
● Stephen Pryce
● Steve Evans
● Steve Miller
● Steve Powell
● Steven Muir
● Stewart White
● Stuart Kennedy
● Sukhdeep Singh
● Thomas Barry
● Tim Sims
● Titus Daniel
● Trevor Sykes
● Trudy Clements
● Victoria Smith
● William Thompson
● William White
Associate grade
● Aaron Goult
● Abbie Dawson
● Adam Majapa
● Adam Sykes
● Akinola Gbagba
● Alan Fitzhenry
● Alyssa Williams
● Andrew Dryden
● Anthony Cain
● Anthony Crowley
● Ben Richardson
● Benjamin Towner
● Callum Smith
● Carl Francis Atkins
● Chi Voong
● Chloe Gallagher
● Christopher Power
● Claire Charles
● Claire Reeves
● Daniel Folkes
● Darren Feldman
● Diana Ellis
● Douglas Moore
● Eddie Adan
● Gareth Cairns
● Geena Varghese
● George Reid
● Harry Amondson
● Hussain Manjra
● Ian Davison
● Ian Laurie
● Ian Wilkinson
● James Armitage
● James Curtis-Davis
● James Paul
● Jamie Robinson
● Jason James
● Jodie Horwell
● John Barnacle
● John Lowe
● Karlene Roper
● Ken Lyon
● Kieran Duggan
● Ksymena Ball
● Lee Matthews
● Martin Norman
● Nicholas Ansell
● Obinna Vincent Mbaji
● Olorunleke Joshua
● Paul Anderson
● Peter Graham Shacklady
● Philip McDougall
● Reece Dickinson
● Richard Hyacinth
● Robert Tucker
● Robert Wakefield
● Robin Evans
● Sarah Dykes
● Selena Jaconelli
● Sheren Rose
● Simon Mellin
● Simon Plummer
● Stuart Haven
● Stuart Ing
Technician grade
● Adam Spiers
● Adam Williams
● Alex Skinner
● Amy Brown
● Andrew Arnold
● Andrew Hilton
● Andrew Lightfoot
● Anthony Walker
● Arundeep Punia
● Ashley Roberts
● Benjamin Howarth
● Carl Thomas
● Charlie Gillott
● Charlotte Waller
● Chris Colborne
● Christian Bruno
● CJ Brown
● Conner Elwell
● Daniel Adams
● David Adams
● David Cartmel
● David Clack
● David Roffey
● David Slater
● Dean Baker
● Demowe Demulder
● Dipseh Parekh
● Dominic Bruce
● Dovid Schauder
● Fred Allsop
● Gary Mckee
● Gerald Henry
● Greg Mintern
● Hazel Young
● Ian Anderson
● Ian Haydon-Bennett
● Ion Dulgheru
● Jack Roberts
● Jake Hayhoe
● James Kent
● Jason Bauer
● Jerry Akehurst
● Joseph Beesley
● Joshua Harries
● Justin Eveleigh
● Kelly Alton
● Lee Williams
● Leon Smith
● Lesley Russell-Dean
● Lindsay Trevor
● Mark Hamill
● Mark Roberts
● Maxwell Brace
● Mohammed Shahinul Amin
● Patrick Jordan
● Paul Nash
● Peter Loannides
● Philip Blomberg
● Philip Sosnowski
● Priya Bharath-Meades
● Ranjit Singh
● Stephen Midgley
● Stephen Sapp
● Tanya Brough
● Thomas Judd
● Tina Arnold
● Uzair Patel
● Valentina Ledina
● Victoria Sigrist
Student
● Alexandra Duffy
● Caroline Bruyneels
● Davide Q Pasqualicchio
● Ellie Leadon
● Finley Evans
● Jack McAlroy
● Matthew Abbott
Affiliates
● 1st Attendance Training Group Ltd
● Abbott Fire Protection
● Construction Solutions Management South Ltd
● AJ Fire & Security Ltd
● Ringley Ltd
● Bell Lancaster Fire & Security
● Shepherds Health & Safety Ltd
● Housing H&S Compliance UK Ltd
● Alpro UK
● Apex Risk Assessments Ltd
● Caldera FS
● Calfordseaden LLP
● Cataldo Training
● Cheshire Building Consult
● Comprehensive Fire and Security Solutions Ltd
● DC2 Fire Solutions Ltd
● DDR Consultants Ltd
● East Midlands Fire Risk Assessments
● Evolution Safety Solutions Ltd
● Fire Control Systems Ltd
● Fire Right Ltd
● Fire Services Group UK Ltd
● FWS Services Ltd
● HMO Letting Agent
● Homesite Group CIC
● Howarth Housing Group Ltd
● Imperial Compass
● IntegriFire
● JAD Consulting Risk Management
● Joint Inspection Team for Building Safety (Wales)
● Jones & Robertson Property Services Ltd
● Kings Fire Ltd
● Liberty Fire & Vision
● Madisons Group Ltd
● Norseal Ltd
● Protech Fire and Safety
● Pyro Sure Ltd
● Red 05 Ltd
● Redline Compliance Ltd
● Roothings Builders Ltd
● Safety Aide Ltd
● Scope2Property Services Ltd
● Sentinel Construction Compliance
● South Wales Safety Ltd
● Surrey Security Service Ltd
● UK Safety Assurance Ltd
● Unity Fire Ltd
● Vanguard Fire Protection Ltd
● WSG Fire Safety Consultancy Ltd
Upgrades
● Andrew Cropley
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Bethany Kirkham
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Billy Khatib
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Brandon Essom
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Danny Moore
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Glenn Leach
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Greg Precious
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● James Buckley
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Jamie Lanahan
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Jay McDonagh
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Matt Cartwright
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Michael Wynn
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Phil Gardner
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Phillippa Bowyer
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Reece Hopkins
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Richard Claydon
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Rizwan Tanveer
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Robert McDonagh
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Robert Wallman-Durrant
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● Ross Farrell
Tier 1 to Tier 2
● Sam Davis
Tier 2 to Tier 3
● William Smith
Tier 1 to Tier 2
Could you feature in ‘60 seconds with’? Email
QPeter Fritzsche
With a background in carpentry, a second career as a fire safety consultant in the family business beckoned for Peter. Three years in, he’s still loving learning
How did you first get into the industry?
Through my father, Neil Fritzsche, who spent 38 years with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and has been running his own fire risk assessment business for the past 13 years. About three years ago, he asked me to join N2 Enterprises, with the long-term plan of taking over the family business once I had received the appropriate training.
Q
Why did you feel this was the career you wanted to pursue?
At first, I didn’t! I’d spent 24 years as a self-employed carpenter and was used to working with my hands. I was also worried I might never gain the knowledge needed to carry out a thorough fire risk assessment.
But over time, I found that the more I engaged with the academic and technical aspects of fire safety, the more I enjoyed the challenge. Fire risk assessment requires a broad understanding of many different elements. One of the most valuable has been my knowledge of building construction and materials, something my background in carpentry has helped with immensely.
Q How has your career developed to date?
Over the past three years it’s taken me through a range of training courses, with each one building my knowledge and confidence. Most recently, I registered with IFSM on its Tier 2 Fire Risk Assessors Register (TFRAR). As part
of this registration, I completed the Level 3 FireQual qualification in fire risk assessments for medium-risk premises. I’m proud to be one of only six people in Lincolnshire listed on the TFRAR.
QWhat is your current role?
Carrying out fire risk assessments and fire strategy work, as well as supporting the day-to-day running of our family business.
QCan you run me through a typical day?
I often start very early, catching up on email correspondence with clients. Once that’s done, I get my kids ready for school and drop them off before heading out for the day’s assessments. That usually involves a few hours of driving, meeting clients on-site and gathering all the data and evidence I’ll need to compile my reports.
Later, I head to the office to begin piecing together the reports. I usually finish up around 5pm so I can spend time with my wife and children. In the evening, I’ll often log back in and catch up on anything that wasn’t completed during the day.
Q
What’s the oddest situation you’ve encountered?
I was carrying out a fire risk assessment on wind turbines located 30 miles off the coast of Grimsby. Just getting to the site involved a week’s worth of training courses, a safety briefing, boat transfer and climbing the turbine structure itself. Once inside the nacelle, we had to consider fire safety in a confined space suspended over the sea, with evacuation relying on abseiling using a Milan device. I had to critically assess a reported two-minute evacuation time against the burn rates of materials in the nacelle.
It was one of the most extreme and challenging environments I’ve ever had to assess.
Q What gives you the most pleasure from your career?
Developing a deep understanding of the subject. The learning never stops, and I really enjoy that aspect. There’s also a real sense of achievement that comes from being able to off practical solutions for people’s properties or businesses.
nments I’ve ever ro p here’s also a real for
Q How would you like your career to develop in future?
I’d like to continue progressing through further qualifications and specialist training. I’m due to start a Level 4 course in high-risk fire risk assessments later this year, and I hope to go on to complete a Level 5 qualification next year. I’m also keen to attend courses covering Approved Document B and BS 9999, among others.
Q What piece of advice would you have for your younger self?
Don’t put yourself in a box. Be openminded to change, have confidence in your abilities, and trust your own opinion of yourself. I’d also say work hard, but don’t forget to take time off It’s important to recharge and enjoy life outside of work too.
Q What do you get up to outside of work?
I still feel a strong connection to woodworking and bushcraft. I make bushcraft knives, axes and longbows, and enjoy wild camping in local woodland. It’s great to be able to use the tools I’ve crafted in my own workshop out in the wild.
Professional recognition
Gain credibility for your commitment to maintaining the highest fire safety standards within your business.
Stay informed and compliant
Join our mailing list for access to webinars, training, industry insights and fire safety updates, including our exclusive quarterly Daedalus Newsletter.
Logo & website link
Increase online visibility with your logo and a direct link to your website on the IFSM website.
User-friendly profile
Keep your profile updated, download certificates and purchase tickets to events and industry workshops at a discounted rate.
Networking opportunities
Connect with a dynamic network of experts fostering valuable contacts and potential collaborations.
Marketing opportunities
Take advantage of discounted advertising rates and the opportunity to submit articles, boosting your organisation’s visibility and thought leadership.
