The document discusses national competency registers for the fire sector. It describes the fire sector federation and its 15 workstreams, including the Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council which the author chairs. The Council established common competency standards and criteria for fire risk assessments and maintains a register of accredited certification schemes. The document argues that third party certification provides confidence by assessing installer competency and workmanship quality. It emphasizes the importance of an audit trail from building design through occupation to ensure fire safety accountability over the building's lifecycle. National registers could help complete the picture by compiling premises information including third party certification details.

1. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Iain Cox
Former CFO RBFRS
BAFE Director
Chair: Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council

2. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Failure is Obvious
Success is Subdued

3. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
What is the ‘fire sector’?
According to the Fire Sector Federation:
“Membership of the Fire Sector Federation is open to any
organisation able to demonstrate a legitimate interest in
the built, natural, fire and rescue service
or national resilience environments.”

4. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Currently the Federation has 15 workstreams
• All Party Parliamentary Fire Safety & Rescue Group
• Cost of Fire
• Enforcement
• Fire Investigation
• International Issues
• International Liaison
• Marketing
• National Policy
• Procurement of Goods and Services
• Research and Statistics
• Technical Guidance
• Technology
• Workforce Development
• Competence & Accreditation
• Built Environment Issues & Affairs

5. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
I currently chair a working group within one workstream
- The Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council
• All Party Parliamentary Fire Safety & Rescue Group
• Cost of Fire
• Enforcement
• Fire Investigation
• International Issues
• International Liaison
• Marketing
• National Policy
• Procurement of Goods and Services
• Research and Statistics
• Technical Guidance
• Technology
• Workforce Development
• Competence & Accreditation (Dennis Davies)
• Built Environment Issues & Affairs

6. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council
• Predates the Federation
• 29 Organisations in working group (over 40 attendees)
• Industry action over industry concerns
• 2 publications
Competency Criteria 21/12/11
Guide to ‘dutyholders’ 01/02/13
• Available on Federation website (and elsewhere eg ASFP)
• Register is in the Guide
(Currently 5 registered schemes BAFE, IFPO, IFSM, IFE & Warrington – update due soon)
NB – Federation currently has a work group establishing
Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Managers

7. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Principles of FRACC Scheme
• Market driven – not mandatory
• Common standards underlying various certification schemes
• An accepted professional framework – set by the industry
• Recognises current practices: Modern Methods of Construction, etc.
• Equivalence - or at least interrelation - between different schemes
• Underpinned by relevant QA processes - UKAS
• Benchmark for other sectors training requirements

8. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
FRACC – appendix H1: Passive Fire Protection
• 11/2 pages A4 – a syllabus not a course
• Structure, cavities, glazing, doorsets, dampers, ductwork, shafts
stairwells, seals and linings, etc.
• It’s an appendix to a guide written to assist/inform the ‘dutyholder

9. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Why Third Party?
AD B
Recommends third party accreditation of materials and
workmanship to “provide confidence”.
PFPF
“A Guide To Product & Installer Certification”
Installer certification schemes typically require:
• Assessment of the installer company’s management systems
• Ongoing evaluation of the competency of the installing staff, in terms
of practical skill and underpinning knowledge
• Ongoing inspection of a proportion of on-site operations.
A Register is a list of those who can provide Third Party Accreditation
Of Competence – held by those who set the standards

10. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
ASFP – “Ensuring Best Practice For Passive Fire Protection In Buildings”
Third Party Schemes scheme should include:
• Verification of the skills and training of management, designers and estimators
• Suitable materials to be used in accordance with approved details
• Operatives and supervisors to be trained and certificated
• Random inspection of sites to monitor the quality of work
• Provision of a ‘Certificate of Conformity’ for completed work
• Provision of an audit trail
• UKAS accreditation for the scheme

11. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Audit Trail is key:
RIBA – building lifecycle
Initial Design
Fire Planning During Construction
Fire Risk Strategy On Completion
Fire Risk Assessment
Occupation
Documentation/Reassessment
Lifecycle Phases 1 to 4
Lifecycle Phase 5
Lifecycle Phase 6
Lifecycle Phases 7 to 10

12. National Competency Registers for the fire sector

13. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Regulation 38 (formerly 16B)
The person carrying out the work shall give fire safety information
to the responsible person not later than the date of completion of
the work, or the date of occupation of the building or extension,
whichever is the earlier.
Fire safety information means information relating to the design
and construction of the building or extension, and the services,
fittings and equipment provided in or in connection with the building
or extension which will assist the responsible person to operate
and maintain the building or extension with reasonable safety

14. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Regulation 38
Provides the ‘Audit trail’ that is necessary to allow
proper management of safety functions using appropriate
Third Party Certification, with Registers provided by professional
bodies to assist specifiers and clients to access the appropriate
contractors and providers.
An audit trail allows accountability.

15. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
It’s all about the building and how people use it
“If the designer doesn’t know how can the builder,
if the builder doesn’t know, how can the owner,
if the owner doesn’t know, how can the occupier,
and if the occupier doesn’t know how can the
Fire Risk Assessor?”

16. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
A ‘National’ Register?
• Will not be mandated
• Essentially industry driven
• Regulation 38 is a requirement – information is premises specific
• Database of premises information – including TPC details?
• Elements exist already BAFE/AFSP/PFPF
• Change is coming - Construction Products Directive/BIM/etc
A jigsaw is easier to complete if there is a big picture to follow!

17. National Competency Registers for the fire sector
Thank you for your attention