Posted By Messy Shaw
I keep reading (on various threads and on many fire consultant websites) that fire risk assessments need to be conducted by 'competent persons'.

Whilst I have no problem with that view - indeed I totally support that aspiration- where does it say that in the RR(FS)O 2005????

There is multiple use of the term competent person throughout the RR(FS)O and a useful definition. But I cannot see where it relates to conducting a FRA.

The only possible article is Article 18 (safety assistance) where it states:-

"18. —(1) The responsible person must, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in undertaking the preventive and protective measures."

However, this must surely relate to a time after the FRA has been completed, as only a FRA is able to determine those 'preventive and protective measures'.

Any views?????

Posted By Richard Hammer
Carrying out a FRA is all part of the process in highlighting and undertaking preventative and protective measures. Paragraph 6 and 7 are the exemptions from Article 18 of the Order.

If you have a small office 1 or 2 storey, you may have vast experience of that property and knowledge. You can use the official guidance publications to assist you in carrying out the FRA. You also have HSE websites and other BS documents to assist you. Attending a training course will aid you.

'sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable him/her properly to assist in undertaking the preventive and protective measures'.


So yes you do need to be competent, but the environment of your workplace will dictate (and the insurance guys) to what level of competence will be required.

Posted By Bob Shillabeer
In short yes you need to be comp[etent. That is to understand the whol;e process and be able to reach a sound judgement of the level of risk to which anyone in the workplace can be exposed. That does not mean you must employ a company to do it. That is a myth driven by the commercial interest of such companies. Take for instance a small office on one floor with a suitable emergency exit within the required disyance leading the safe asembly point, the risk would be low provided the premises is adequately managed, it may burn down but no one will get killed. Isn't that the main point of the RRRFSO?

Posted By Swis
competence is a MUST. Not only in FRA but i any other RAs.

Posted By Bob Y
The simple answer is 'yes' of course they have to be. Mike makes the simple point, would you let someone that isn't competent do it? What confidence would you have in any assessment that wasn't done bu someone that was competent to do it. The assessment would probably not stand up to scrutiny but more importantly would not identify and manage the risks that it needed to.