Fire risk assessors need mandatory accreditation, says FPA’s Howard Passey in response to Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Iain Hoey
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Grenfell Tower Inquiry highlights failures in fire risk assessments
FPA, Senior Technical Consultant Howard Passey has commented on the crucial role of fire risk assessors (FRAs) in light of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report.
The inquiry exposed serious shortcomings in fire risk assessments at Grenfell Tower, where assessors failed to identify critical hazards, including the flammable cladding, faulty fire doors, and inadequate evacuation plans for vulnerable residents.
Passey emphasised that these failures raise concerns about the entire profession: “The assessments carried out for Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) failed to identify critical fire hazards, such as the flammability of the external cladding system, inadequate fire door performance, and the lack of adequate evacuation strategies for vulnerable residents.”
He voiced support for the inquiry’s recommendation for a mandatory accreditation system to ensure fire risk assessors’ competence.
The need for better regulation of fire risk assessors
The inquiry report calls for a standardised, mandatory accreditation system to certify fire risk assessors.
Passey pointed out that despite years of industry efforts to introduce competency standards, the government had previously resisted prescriptive regulations.
However, after the Grenfell disaster, the push for stricter controls has gained momentum, with new legislation such as the Building Safety Act 2022 and updates to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Passey stated: “Even before the devastating Grenfell Tower fire of 2017, the industry had made numerous efforts to engage government officials in designing regulatory requirements that would introduce ‘mandatory minimum standards of competence for training and accrediting fire risk assessors.’”
Developing competency standards for fire risk assessors
The fire safety industry has been actively working to improve fire risk assessor competency.
Organisations like the Fire Sector Federation (FSF) and the British Standards Institute (BSI) are developing a framework for assessing competency, which includes a tiered system for different building risks.
These efforts aim to ensure that fire risk assessors are properly trained and certified, particularly for high-risk buildings.
Passey explained: “The FSF has since, with BSI, been developing the framework into a British Standard as part of the BS 8670 Built Environment – Core criteria for building safety in competence frameworks.”
Concerns over fire risk assessors’ responsibilities and liability
Passey also raised concerns about the increasing responsibilities placed on fire risk assessors.
He questioned how much accountability should rest on individual assessors, especially given the complexity of modern buildings and the need for specialised knowledge in areas like fire engineering.
He noted that some tasks, such as assessing smoke control systems, might require input from a fire engineer rather than an FRA.
“There is an undue expectation that FRAs will be able to analyse the construction of an external wall, be an expert on the installation of fire doors, and even understand the individual needs of vulnerable residents when considering evacuation strategies,” Passey said, highlighting the need for clearer guidelines on the scope of an FRA’s responsibilities.
Fire risk assessors need mandatory accreditation, says FPA’s Howard Passey: Summary
Howard Passey, Senior Technical Consultant for the Fire Protection Association (FPA), has highlighted the crucial role of fire risk assessors (FRAs) in light of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report.
The inquiry revealed failures in the fire risk assessments conducted at Grenfell, raising questions about the competence of FRAs.
Passey voiced support for the inquiry’s recommendation for mandatory accreditation and standardised competency standards.
He also pointed to ongoing efforts by industry organisations to improve the certification and training of FRAs.
However, Passey raised concerns about the growing responsibilities placed on FRAs, calling for clearer guidelines on their role and liability, particularly for high-risk buildings.
