A new scheme for third party certification of companies providing fire risk assessment services has been launched for consultation by BAFE.
BAFE SP205 sets out requirements to be met by companies and other organisations seeking to provide fire risk assessment services.
SP 205 requires each scheme member – from a large company to a self-employed individual – to register one or more named persons, who will be responsible for the accuracy and quality assurance of every fire risk assessment completed. The professional competence of the named person(s) will be audited by a UKAS accredited third party certification body licensed to administer the BAFE scheme.
There will also be audits of the organisation’s administrative and quality processes. Auditing will be based on a combination of quality checks on completed fire risk assessments and periodic review of the individual’s personal competence, says BAFE, using the guidelines being developed by the fire risk assessment competencies council.
“To be relevant to the end user and attractive to the regulators/enforcers, this scheme should offer a significant benefit," the document reads. "A certificate of conformity issued under a scheme in which all parties have confidence provides that benefit. This scheme requires that certificated organisations will certify their fire risk assessments in accordance with this scheme.”
SP205 has been designed to encompass different scales of companies and the different relationships that may exist between a risk assessment company and its client, BAFE said.
Stephen Adams, BAFE general manager, added: “We expect a wide range of comments for what we believe will be an important step forward for the fire industry”.
View SP205 here. Download a comment form from here.
BAFE is to exhibit at International Firex from 16-19 May, at Stand A11 in Hall 3.
