Is it on the way?

[Bobbins]

This suggests a shift towards a National Register, is it on the way and more importantly, when will it arrive?

http://http://www.info4fire.com/news-content/full/institute-advises-members-to-go-for-fire-risk-assessor-certification

[colin todd]

is a single register in the intrests of the registrants?

[Nearlybaldandgrey]

Probably not Mr Todd.

What it will be though is easier to manage and for those trying to source a risk assessor, a single place to look.

[jokar]

But then who will be registered, the Company or the assessors or both?

[colin todd]

Assessors. This is person certification in effect. BAFE are now progressing a company third party certification scheme, the draft of which was prepared by the FIA and is based on other BAFE schemes like SP 203. THis will be able to be operated by any UKAS accredited tpcb, thereby facilitating competition amongst CBs, which is very healthy for companies and clients alike.

[Bobbins]

Colin, what is the time scale for the Bafe/FIA scheme and how will that link in to the new national register?

What is the difference between company and persons certification?

Who will run this National register, the proffessional bodies or an end user body?

I have read that RICS have offered to run it.

As Baldyman says it will be easier to monitor and should provide a good tool for the RP. Why isn't it in the interest of the registrants to be on a single national register like the gas safe one?

Sorry to ask you questions, but you do seem to know more than most, or at least have more opinions than most.

[kurnal]

Bobbins the fundamental difference between the gas safe register and any register of fire risk assessors is that the Government saw fit to make the gas safe register a statutory requirement whereas they had no appetite to create a similar statutory  requirement in respect of fire risk assessors.

We in the industry cannot change the Law but we are very influential in driving the creation of national registers for assessors- being driven in particular by the FIA.  

It could be seen as presumtuous to state that there will be a single register. There may be several registers and provided all  registers are accredited to the same standard by UKAS that would be a healthy situation. At the moment only one of the current registers has made progress with  UKAS accreditation but others may follow I hope.  

The FIA are also taking things further as Colin says, they have developed a draft third party certification scheme for companies offering fire risk assessments  in partnership with BAFE which is currently being developed.  

Member companies would be registered under an accredited company scheme covering quality, insurance, ethics and business standards, and would employ assessors who are on one of the National registers.

Competent companies employing the services of competent staff.  Timescale- difficult to predict but certainly faster than it would take the civil servants and politicians to change the Law.

[hammer1]

I was at a fire passive protection seminar this morning with Sir Ken Knight a speaker, and to be honest it seemed he is not to keen on a national register.

It also seems IFSM are joining up with Warrington 3rd party accredited UKAS scheme and will put their members through this process.

[kurnal]

I was at a fire passive protection seminar this morning with Sir Ken Knight a speaker, and to be honest it seemed he is not to keen on a national register.

It also seems IFSM are joining up with Warrington 3rd party accredited UKAS scheme and will put their members through this process.

There is a huge cost difference between the current IFSM register and the warrington scheme. I wonder what will be the status of IFSM members on their current register if they move into a partnership with warrington?

[Bobbins]

I was at a fire passive protection seminar this morning with Sir Ken Knight a speaker, and to be honest it seemed he is not to keen on a national register.

It also seems IFSM are joining up with Warrington 3rd party accredited UKAS scheme and will put their members through this process.

Hammer you surprise me I thought Sir Ken was all for improvement of the profession.

If not this, then what will bring up the standard and drive out the cowboys?

Have CFOA or Sir Ken got anything that will help improve the profession?

No, they never do provide the answers, probably as they can’t put their own house in order.

I wonder what the new minister for fire thinks!

[kurnal]

I was at a fire passive protection seminar this morning with Sir Ken Knight a speaker, and to be honest it seemed he is not to keen on a national register.

It also seems IFSM are joining up with Warrington 3rd party accredited UKAS scheme and will put their members through this process.

Hammer you surprise me I thought Sir Ken was all for improvement of the profession.

If not this, then what will bring up the standard and drive out the cowboys?

Have CFOA or Sir Ken got anything that will help improve the profession?

No, they never do provide the answers, probably as they can’t put their own house in order.

I wonder what the new minister for fire thinks!

I am sure Sir Ken is well aware of all developments and is supportive of moves within the industry that are gathering  at some pace. After all Sir Ken is Chairman of the Management Council of Warrington Fire Certification "Certifire"- his name  appears on most of the certificates they issue. But note another recent change- if you look at the Exova website you will find that since achieving UKAS accreditation their website is now clearly stating that the FRACS scheme for fire risk assessors is operated in partnership with RICS or in other areas of the site - by RICS.  Presumably to demonstrate  independence and transparency from their own consultancy organisation.
Dont get me wrong I personally do not support the principle of monopolies in this or any field and hope that we soon have a choice of UKAS accedited schemes. But I feel that to claim that little is being done is unfair to say the least. I guess that  until now had Sir Ken pushed what was then the  Warrington FRACS scheme some of us may have accused him of a lack of impartiality?

http://www.warringtonfire.net/1/default.html

[hammer1]

Sir Ken did say the Industry seem to be moving forward themselves on this process. The reluctance of a single national register comes from they do not want joe bloggs on the small retail shop thinking they can only choose risk assessors  from a single national register to do a FRA. This goes against the principles of the legislation and obviously legislation was set up not to be geared this way, amongst other things the financial burden.

However when it comes to high risk more complex issues/buildings, having a few UKAS type registers will ensure the RP knows they will be getting competent persons.

The only problem with this is when does the RP decide when he/she is not competent enough as this is all down their perception of what is complex/high risk.