The safety specialists helping duty holders face new rules
Iain Hoey
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Safety specialists become Fire Aware educators
Fire Aware has brought together safety specialists as Fire Aware Educators to support organisations across the supply chain as they respond to recent and upcoming fire safety legislation.
The organisation said these educators are drawn from members with expertise across different aspects of fire safety practice.
They are intended to help those with duties under fire safety law understand their responsibilities in a period of extensive regulatory change.
According to Fire Aware, the new educator role is aimed at designers, main contractors, domestic trades, material suppliers, building management, hotel and leisure operators, commercial and private landlords and local authorities.
Gavin Skelly, Fire Aware CEO, said: “At a time of increasing concern for the safety of the public who use our buildings and spaces, the fire safety industry is under increasing scrutiny and those with a duty of care should understand this is more than a job, it is a vocation.
“We believe there is enough legislation to ensure safety if they are understood and followed.
“We have specialists who can help guide anyone in the supply chain around some of this new legislation because it can be challenging given its complexity and scale.”
Legislative changes driving demand for guidance
Fire Aware highlighted that key changes under the Building Safety Act require data collection for information at defined stages of construction projects.
The organisation also noted recent amendments to Approved Document B.
It pointed to new regulations for Residential Evacuation Plans that are due to come into effect in 2026.
Fire Aware said its specialist members act as technical guidance experts for organisations needing support with these requirements.
The educators are expected to provide training on fire safety and management tailored to the roles and contexts of different duty holders.
Training is designed to reflect the needs of those working in design, construction, product supply, building management and property ownership.
Moral responsibility and culture in the supply chain
Fire Aware described itself as an expanding fire safety industry body with a focus on the moral responsibilities of those working in the fire safety supply chain.
The organisation said this focus covers designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders involved in building projects and occupied premises.
It aims to influence culture in the built environment by linking technical compliance with a declared duty of care towards building users.
Fire Aware plans to do this through a series of charters that set out how member companies commit to behave in their work.
The charters are intended to frame how members approach safety decisions, interactions with partners and service delivery.
Fire Aware described itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with a shared aim of working and trading to best practice standards in the interests of public safety.
Practical relevance for duty holders and specifiers
The introduction of Fire Aware Educators is directly aimed at designers, main contractors, domestic trades and material suppliers who need support in interpreting current fire safety legislation.
These educators may provide training and technical guidance at key points in the design and construction process, helping duty holders understand data collection duties under the Building Safety Act and changes to Approved Document B.
Building management teams, hotel and leisure operators and commercial and private landlords are identified as further groups that can access guidance on Residential Evacuation Plans ahead of the new regulations taking effect in 2026.
Asset owners and managers within the built environment can use the Fire Aware charters as a framework when commissioning work or selecting partners, aligning contractual expectations with declared duty of care commitments.
Local authorities and other public bodies engaging with Fire Aware members will be able to reference the same charters when assessing how suppliers intend to meet best practice standards.
