Hi, For your info, the following document is now available. “A document setting out criteria against which the competence of a fire risk assessor can be assessed is now available. Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors, published by the cross-industry Fire Risk Assessment Council, sets out the criteria that could be used by professional bodies and third party certification bodies to register or certificate fire risk assessors, and by organisations providing fire risk assessment services” Link: http://www.info4fire.com...4a9ef4&groupId=10606

Thanks firesefetybod. You beat my email from infoforfire. I suppose thie criteria is now almost a "requirement"? Cheers

Seems to be to be a document issued by organisations with a vested interest. Fire safety seems to remain an area for 'jobs for the boys' If having such criteria, then why not introduce such specific training/competence for all of the other safety legislation, CoSHH, DSEAR, CDM etc etc. I have seen some pretty poor DSEAR assessments in my time, which is directly related to fire safety - yet I see none of the safety bods are up worried about that?? As it stands this is not official guidance or law, so I don't see much changing in the way many fire risk assessors operate. Indeed, from some of the 'official' fire risk assessment guidance documents published on various county fire service websites, the standard of fire risk assessment could be quite low, if these documents were used. Yet the fire service would then have the audacity to issue improvements notices etc etc. Even in the document under discussion, there appears to be difficulty in defining 'competence' (page 4) Quote Competence does not necessarily depend on the possession of specific qualifications, although such qualifications might contribute to the demonstration of competence. In the context of the above paragraph, knowledge can be obtained by academic study, training, working alongside others, short courses, continuing professional development or any combination of these. Education is likely to involve formal education of a relatively academic nature, often culminating in a qualification. Training involves training of a practical nature, often given on the job. It is not implied that education, training and experience in the principles of fire safety need each be extensive, provided that the combination of each results in adequate knowledge. Moreover, a high level in respect of any one of these might compensate for a lower level in another. It is essential that the level of competence be sufficient to allow the fire risk assessor to identify correctly the significant risks (especially combined risks) and to draw up a list of appropriate actions to address them. So in practice this will change little, as I would bet that most current fire assessors would be able to argue that they are competent given such wide and broad definitition of 'competence'

Yes they do, and to an order of magnitude greater than the numbers killed in fires in the workplace. But then there are little or no controls in the home, the occupants are often of mixed ability and asleep at the time of the fire. Just because houses are relativley small in comparison to workplaces it does not automatically follow that they are simple or subsequently low risk.