Fire risk assessment and consultancy specialist MAF Associates has unveiled three key appointments, strengthening its office and technical teams. The firm claims its gearing up for demand for its services expected to grow as enforcement of the Fire Safety Act 2021 begins, PAS9980 is unveiled, and the Building Safety Bill passes into law.

The frontline team has been boosted with the hiring of Mark Wells as facade project manager and Ben Mason as fire risk assessment manager, while Trudy Pickard joins the team at MAF Associates’ Leicestershire head office as client services coordinator.

Mike Fox, founder, and managing director of MAF Associates said: “…2021 was a relatively quiet year as we waited for legislation to be passed and guidance to be published, we can expect 2022 to be a busy one, which is why we wanted to ensure we had the right people in place to meet demand. With new legislation coming into force and rapidly evolving government policy on the issue of defective cladding, our surveying and fire risk assessment teams are going to be very busy, so it was vital to find people with the appropriate skills and experience.

“One thing that has become clear since Grenfell is that the UK does not have enough professionals to meet demand for all of the inspections and surveys that are required, especially when it comes to external inspections and cladding in particular. We take pride in being one of the few companies that can offer a full range of internal and external fire risk assessments, and the latest additions will further enhance that capability.”

Wells, an industry veteran, has joined the company after spending a decade in the Middle East. He said: “After working in the Middle East for a decade, and subsequently on projects as diverse as the Abu Dhabi F1 Circuit and the Walkie Talkie in the City of London, I have found my skills to be in unprecedented demand over the last five years. I am pleased to be joining the MAF Associates team, where there is a clear mission to support bringing all UK buildings up to the proper fire safety standards, while also offering the training and support to bring more people into the industry.”

Fox launched MAF Associates in 2010, initially focusing on the provision of expert witness services for insurers and construction companies. Before founding MAF Associates, he had worked for three decades in the construction sector, including posts with roofing, cladding and building products companies.