British Standards Institution publishes BS 8674 for fire risk assessors

This British Standard supports the professionalisation of fire risk assessors by establishing three defined levels of competence – ie Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced (more of which anon) – in order to reflect the complexity and risk associated with different building types and occupancy levels.

The document doesn’t outline the fire risk assessment process itself (which is addressed in standards like PAS 79-1 and BS 9792), but instead focuses on what knowledge, experience and behaviours an individual must have to be deemed competent to carry out such assessments on an effective basis.

BS 8674:2025 Built Environment – Framework for Competence of Individual Fire Risk Assessors – Code of Practice is intended for a wide range of stakeholders across the built environment:

*individual fire risk assessors who need to demonstrate and maintain competence

*‘Responsible Persons’ under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Safety Act 2022 who are legally obligated to ensure those whom they appoint to conduct risk assessments are competent to do so

*employers, duty holders and building owners/managers seeking assurance that assessments are being carried out by qualified professionals

*certification and accreditation bodies assessing individuals against competency benchmarks

*training providers and academic institutions developing curricula to prepare assessors for real-world demands

*professional and Trade Associations that want to ensure their members meet recognised industry standards

BS 8674:2025 is applicable across multiple sectors, including residential, commercial, public venues, care homes, education and healthcare facilities. According to the BSI: “Anywhere that fire safety and building occupancy intersect.”

Assessing individual competence

BS 8674:2025 provides recommendations for assessing individual competence in undertaking general fire risk assessments for life safety purposes in occupied buildings. Specifically, it covers:

*a competency framework for non-invasive (ie visual, non-destructive) fire risk assessments

*the interpretation and use of relevant building records and historical fire safety documentation

*criteria aligned with BS 8670-1:2024 focusing on life safety measures within buildings

*as stated, performance expectations across three defined levels of competence

Foundation (appropriate for new entrants to the discipline who are assessing simple, low-risk buildings with minimal occupancy such as small offices or shops)

Intermediate (aimed at assessors tasked with looking at buildings of moderate complexity and broader usage types such as public venues or mid-rise residential properties)

Advanced (intended for highly experienced professionals working on high-risk and complex environments such as large residential tower blocks, care facilities and public entertainment venues)

The scope of this British Standard is limited to individual competence and does not extend to invasive or destructive inspections that may be required for more detailed evaluations. It also excludes fire engineering activities and the design of specialised fire safety systems.

Additionally, the British Standard does not address the competence of organisations, nor does it provide criteria for performing conformity audits or compliance assessments related to building design or maintenance procedures.

For clarity, another area outside of its scope is the fire risk appraisal of external wall constructions, which is comprehensively covered in PAS 9980.

Legal compliance

Importantly, BS 8674:2025 supports legal compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022, which requires individuals appointed to carry out fire risk assessments to be competent.

The document provides measurable and verifiable benchmarks for competence, helping to reduce risk and ensure quality and consistency in fire risk assessments. Further, it enhances public safety by ensuring that fire risk assessments are conducted by individuals with the necessary training, knowledge and experience.

What’s more, BS 8674:2025 helps to develop career pathways and recognition for fire risk assessors by aligning their skills with industry-recognised standards. It assists organisations in selecting, contracting and auditing fire risk assessors based on an objective framework, while also building trust among residents, clients and enforcement authorities that fire safety is being managed competently and professionally.

Ultimately, BS 8674:2025 contributes to a safer built environment by reducing the variability in assessor qualifications and elevating the standards of fire risk assessments across the industry. It supports consistent practice and career development and lays the foundation for the profession’s future regulation.

Critical juncture

The move comes at a critical juncture as the the Fire Safety Act 2021, the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 continue to reshape the construction and fire safety landscapes.

The Government has previously signalled its intention to require independent third party certification of fire risk assessor competence, further reinforcing the likelihood of a regulated profession in times hence.

Alex Norris (Minister for Building Safety and Fire, has welcomed the British Standard’s publication, stating: “The introduction of BS 8674:2025 marks a significant step forward in the collective effort to make buildings safer for residents. By improving safety and accountability, it helps to ensure that a tragedy like Grenfell Tower is never going to be repeated. It also reflects a clear commitment to implementing the Public Inquiry’s recommendations.”

Norris concluded: “A clear and consistent benchmark for fire risk assessors will help to raise standards of competency across the profession. I’m grateful to the British Standards Institution and all of the Technical Committee members who’ve been involved in making this happen.”

In collaboration with regulators, Government and industry stakeholders, a Fire Sector Confederation-led Working Group played a key role in shaping BS 8674, which follows on from years of work to raise professional standards and support the need to build capacity and capability within the fire risk assessor profession.

Dennis Davis, competence director at the Fire Sector Confederation, noted: “The publication of BS 8674 is a significant achievement for the profession and a vital step in the right direction towards building a safer future. It gives all stakeholders confidence that competence can now be clearly demonstrated against a professional framework for independent verification.”

*Copies of BS 8674:2025 are available on the BSI’s website