IFSEC Global provides readers with a guide to the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM), a professional body in the fire safety sector, its role and the benefits of joining.
What is the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and what is its mission?The Institute of Fire Safety Managers is a professional body of highly respected individuals and companies who all share the same objective; “To raise the awareness of fire safety at a local, national and international level, promoting fire prevention, fire protection and reducing the risk from fire as far as reasonably practicable”.
Members benefit through technical conferences, training events and communication with 100s of other likeminded fire professionals.
Anyone in a fire safety role is welcome to apply. Members mostly consist of roles such as:
Membership grades also incorporate students and aspiring fire professionals.
Defined by the IFSM as a person employed to monitor and control management of fire safety, with specific reference to controlling the risk from fire to people, property, and the environment.
Roles:
The IFSM has many types of membership and course accreditation. Standard membership is split into 7 grades:
1. Student
Every person applying for the grade of Student shall satisfy the Council that they are engaged in part time or full-time fire safety management employment or are studying within the fields of fire safety and fire engineering. Students can apply here.
2. Technician TIFSM
Every person who wishes to apply or transfer into the grade of Technician shall satisfy the Council that they meet the requirements set out in the ‘Rules and Regulations for Entry to Grades of Membership’. Technician Membership (TIFSM) Grade may be available to all persons who meet the following requirements:
3. Associate AIFSM
Every person who wishes to apply or transfer to the grade of Associate shall satisfy the Council that they meet the requirements set out in the ‘Rules and Regulations for Entry to Grades of Membership’. Associate Membership (AIFSM) may be available to persons who are engaged in fire safety management or a related position, or where the person has a responsibility for fire prevention advice or fire safety in either an advisory or enforcement role.
4. Member MIFSM
Every person who wishes to apply or transfer to the grade of Member shall satisfy the Council that they meet the requirements set out in the ‘Rules and Regulations for Entry to Grades of Membership’. The Member (MIFSM) Grade may be extended to eminently qualified persons who, in the opinion of the Membership Committee, hold appropriate/equivalent qualifications.
5. Fellow FIFSM
Membership as a Fellow (FIFSM) is only by election at an Annual General Meeting.
6. Life Fellow. FIFSM (Life)
This is the highest grade of membership of the Institute and is by way of nomination only. Nominees for election to Life Fellow (FIFSM (Life)) will not normally be below the age of 60, and will have served and represented the Institute at the highest level on many occasions over the years. They will also have made a significant contribution to the recognition of the Institute at both national and international level.
7. Affiliate Member
This is a grade that carries no post nominals and is meant for businesses or companies who wish to be associated with the Institute. It will be expected that an Affiliate Member will have at least one corporate member of the Institute within the organisation that is applying for the grade. The Affiliate member will have the right to use the logo specifically designed for Affiliate members on its corporate administrative features.
TFRAR stands for Tiered Fire Risk Assessors Register and is a register that recognises the different levels of individual competencies at which a fire risk assessor should operate at. TFRAR is a system set up by the Institute to recognise those levels from a base entry level through to the highest recognised via third party accreditation.
The UK Government recommends that Fire Risk Assessments will generally be carried out by suitably qualified/competent fire professionals and TFRAR is a new competence register for Fire Risk Assessors.
Tier 1 will be for those people who wish to make a start at a career in Fire Risk Assessment and will be the ‘beginners’ level. This may be an individual who has successfully passed the Level 2 Accredited Fire Assessors Course recently launched by the IFSM which is sufficient, to enable the completion of Fire Risk Assessments on simple, less complex buildings. Tier 1 registrants will benefit from the TFRAR mentor scheme to help them develop & progress to tier 2.
Tier 2 is for those Level 1 Fire Risk Assessors who have been working within the fire industry completing Fire Risk Assessments, but who have been mentored for a period by a Tier 3 fire risk assessors. They will also have completed an examination held by the Institute and if successful, will be deemed competent to carry out fire risk assessments on buildings that range from simple and less complex to those that are of medium complexity and normal risk.
Tier 3 will be the already existing NAFRAR which will be available for those Fire Risk Assessors already on NAFRAR, as well as those who wish to carry our Fire Risk Assessments on high risk and complex buildings and who are eligible to register through a process that has recognised their achievement at the highest standards and levels of competency for fire risk assessors that is available. This means that their experience and competency has been successfully examined and tested by an independent third-party accreditation/certification scheme.
Currently, there are two active schemes providing third party accreditation which are accepted by NAFRAR. The first is the Warrington Certification Ltd. FRACS scheme and the second is the BAFE SP 205 Scheme. The FRACS scheme accommodates both individuals and companies who wish their fire risk assessors to be individually certified as competent. There are two FRACS schemes available, one for individuals and one for companies who offer fire risk assessments.
Information, application fees and application forms are available from the Warrington Certification website or enquiries about applications should go directly to: [email protected]
BAFE SP 205 is a scheme that is for companies employing several fire risk assessors and directly focussed on fire risk assessors who are sole traders (as their own registered company). IFSM members who are looking for a UKAS accredited scheme to certificate their company’s activities, the BAFE scheme SP205 is one which can be considered. There are two Certification Bodies delivering this scheme (NSI and SSAIB) and they will each have a scale of charges, dependant on the work required.
Members should remember that NAFRAR is a scheme for individual assessors who have proved their own competence. This can be done through the BAFE SP205 ‘company’ scheme either by a person being a ‘Nominated Person’ for an organisation applying for the scheme or as an individual tested as a ‘Validator’ under the scheme. At the present time, the scheme does not issue certificates of competence to individuals but the Institute will accept written proof from any of the certification bodies that a named individual has been tested for his/her competence as a Validator or Nominated Person. For the latter, once certified, the member can apply directly for entry onto NAFRAR.
In line with the aims and objectives of the Institute, the ‘course accreditation/approved centre’ scheme provides both members and prospective members with an opportunity to have their courses and facilities assessed and accredited by a recognised and highly regarded professional organisation. Once accredited the course or centre may be advertised as meeting the standards of the Institute in terms of quality, content, and methods of tuition.
The IFSM runs events and workshops for all fire professionals (members receive a discount on all events).
Its next event is at Silverstone Race Circuit and is a Tech-Meeting and AGM. See the full list of upcoming events, here.
The IFSM has created a document for training companies/centres looking to become approved or accredited by the Institute of Fire Safety Managers – available here.
Find out more about the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM).
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