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With the RRFSO came the definition of the Responsible Person, the person who was ultimately responsible for the correct provision of fire safety measures at a premise. The onus is upon them to prove compliance by recording the formal risk assessment, its findings and its subsequent methods and measures for reducing risk. These measures, such as portable extinguishers, if required would need to be sourced and installed correctly. That the systems and equipment functioned correctly was of the utmost importance.

"Fire-fighting and fire detection
13. -(1) Where necessary (whether due to the features of the premises, the activity carried on there, any hazard present or any other relevant circumstances) in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons, the responsible person must ensure that-

(a) the premises are, to the extent that it is appropriate, equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms; and

(b) any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment so provided is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs"

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

3^rd Party Schemes
The RRFSO's phrasing of the requirement for appropriate equipment leads to an ambiguity as to what can be considered "appropriate". In the aftermath of a fire where life has been lost, it is surely the fear of any responsible person that the equipment they provided or commissioned may not have been fit for purpose. The answer to this worry has been the rise of 3^rd party accreditation and certification schemes.

3^rd Party accreditation / certification is a process whereby a product or service is tested to meet performance levels which experience and investigation have decided are equal to or beyond a reasonable level of performance in their proposed task.

If the product / service passes the testing it is awarded the right to claim conformance to the relevant accreditation / certification scheme and in many cases bear the scheme branding or logo on promotional material or even the product itself.

Now when faced with the eventuality mentioned, that of a fire disaster where loss of life has occurred, a responsible person can rest assured that in the ensuing investigations it will come to light that his duty was fulfilled by contracting or purchasing products and services that had been 3^rd party assured to be reputable, excellent quality and fit for task.

How to build a system of excellence
Generally there is a hierarchy to accreditation / certification schemes which is representative of the relationship between the parties involved in its formation. At the top will be an originator, a professional body or association who may or may not be directly involved in the industry in question, whose experience and knowledge on the subject matter is beyond reproach. A prime example of such a body would be the British Standards Institute (BSi) who produce a range of technical documents on a myriad of subjects for many industries. This best practice advisement body will as a function of their creation produce technical documents and standards for relevant products and services.

In some cases, these standards may be comprehensive and refined enough from which to build an accreditation / certification scheme. Sometimes however another layer to the hierarchy is added. A similar professional body may take rawer data and technical documents and structure them into a working scheme. In the fire industry, a prime example would be BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment). Many of their schemes build upon and refine the work of other professional bodies whilst others originate entirely from themselves.

Finally at the last stage of the scheme creation process is the certifier and auditor.

This entity deals with the administration and accrediting / certifying of interested parties. They are responsible for reviewing and approving applications, occasionally auditing the work of those registered under their schemes to ensure standards and update schemes as developments in best practice occur. In the Fire Safety Industry a prime example would be NSI. The National Security Inspectorate are a not for profit organisation who run a series of accreditation schemes with many being built upon the best practice guidance of BAFE.

A chink in the armour
Most of what has been talked about so far is the accreditation or certification of products and services for which a requirement has arisen as a function of the formal risk assessment, but what about the risk assessment itself? It has become increasingly apparent since the inception of the RRFSO that, with regards to who should carry out a risk assessment, the defined term of "competent" person has left many people unsure as to what constitutes competency in risk assessment.

Risk assessment itself is the logical process of the review of risks and dangers and the subsequent proposals on how to reduce said risks. Since the RRFSO, many companies offering different courses in risk assessment have appeared which has led to confusion over how to know which is the best to choose and ultimately gives "competency".

With no as yet established body (although several fledgling associations) who is clearly viewed by all as an authority, an individual wishing to undergo training or looking to review the credentials of an assessor has to use their keen judgment to ensure a reputable course or assessor.

Assessing Assessment and Assessors!

Risk assessment has to draw upon knowledge and experience from all areas of fire safety in order to be conducted adequately. Fire engineering principles, evacuation modelling and knowledge of equipment maintenance regimes are examples of some of the concepts (even a base understanding) that are required to help correctly conduct an assessment. If you are interested in training or are looking to procure the services of a risk assessment professional I leave you with some considerations when reviewing details of qualifications and accreditations

1. Is the awarding body reputable?

Are they somebody who has been established for many years with a reputation for excellence?

2. What duration is the course?

How long is the training course and within the framework of the courses where does it stand (Is it an entry level course)?

3. What topics does it cover?

When comparing it to other offerings does it seem to cover the many subject matters comprehensively?

4. What is the reputation of the course?

Word of mouth is often a good indication of the worth of a course or qualification check with fellow professionals for recommendations.

ABBE Level 3 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment - This Certificate has been designed to cover the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and is available from approved ABBE assessment centres. The ABBE certificate is a nationally recognized qualification approved by the Government regulator Ofqual.

For all your products and service ensure that the provider is reputable and committed to quality and service, check for 3^rd party accreditation or certification of products and services and ensure that you have taken all "reasonable" precautions. In the event of a fire there is no second chance

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