PartB announced as Headline Sponsor for FIRE Conference 2025

The annual FIRE Conference is developed and run by the Institution of Fire Engineers, the Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Sector Confederation and brings together key voices from the UK and international fire communities to explore and define the future of fire safety policy and practice.

PartB is an award-winning team of fire engineering specialists who work across the UK to resolve complex fire safety issues. Harbouring decades of combined experience, the PartB team members ensure that commercial, residential and corporate spaces meet current fire safety regulations.

Jamie Davis, PartB’s chief technical officer, commented: “We’re proud to sponsor the FIRE Conference. This event is instrumental in bringing organisations and people together to discuss how we can deliver better and workable fire safety solutions. The importance of future-proofing the built environment is highly significant to us and reflected in our growing consultancy services. Our most recent engineering-backed expansion, PartB Fire Testing, has been delivered in partnership with the Fire Protection Association.”

In a joint statement, the conference organising team added: “We’re delighted to welcome PartB as our Headline Sponsor. The company’s support will help us to deliver a dynamic and thought-provoking event that supports professional development and sector-wide collaboration.”

Built environment: future-proofing

Centred on the theme of ‘Future-Proofing Our Built Environment’, this year’s conference programme features high-impact plenary sessions, including reflections on key learnings from public inquiries such as Grenfell, as well as an international Case Study on the Moss Landing battery fire.

One panel session is set to examine the growing threat of wildfires across rural and urban interfaces and the potential for ultra-early detection technologies to mitigate emerging risks, while a second panel discussion explores how insights from other disciplines can strengthen fire engineering’s role in shaping a safer, smarter and more sustainable built environment.

Breakout sessions are going to provide more focused discussion on core topics. ‘What does successful residential engagement look like?’ is one theme. Sector experts will explore award-winning approaches to working with residents.

As part of this, Andy Fry (strategy, performance improvement and governance expert at tenant engagement specialist TPAS) will share national insights and Best Practice, while Nick Lacey (building safety manager at Wolverhampton Homes) is going to highlight recognised engagement initiatives. Importantly, resident Louise Lynch offers a vital first-hand perspective on what meaningful engagement feels like in practice.

Fire risk assessments

The ‘Competency in fire risk assessment’ session is sponsored by Consort Insurance and explores the current landscape of fire risk assessment qualifications, the challenges around defining and measuring competency and the steps needed to ensure consistent and high-quality practice across the sector.

‘Building safety challenges’ witnesses speakers unpacking the evolving regulatory landscape under the Building Safety Act 2022, with a keen focus on Gateways 2 and 3, while also providing an update on the latest revisions to PAS 9980, the Code of Practice for the fire risk appraisal of external wall systems.