Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (): Today, the Ministry for
Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a public
consultation on proposals to establish a fire risk assessor (FRA)
profession with consistently high levels of competency, where
trust is rebuilt, and where a strong, diverse pipeline of talent
ensures improved standards of fire safety.
Context
Fire risk assessments are a fundamental part of the fire safety
regime established under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)
Order 2005. This legislation requires Responsible Persons (RPs)
to make a suitable and sufficient assessment to help make sure
hazards are identified and the right fire precautions are
delivered to keep people safe in the buildings where they live,
work, and visit.
RPs can currently undertake this assessment themselves, or
appoint someone, commonly known as an FRA, to assist them.
Competent and professional FRAs therefore play a critical role in
keeping people safe.
Despite this vital life-safety role, FRAs are not currently
recognised as a regulated profession. There is no single
professional body, no agreed definition of the role, no defined
career pathway, and no specified training or qualifications.
While many FRAs are highly competent, we want to see an FRA
profession with consistently high and demonstrable standards of
competency across the board. Further, we want these proposals to
rebuild trust in the FRA profession so that those who rely on
their expertise, whether occupying, buying or selling, can feel
confident in the fire safety of their homes or other premises.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry (‘the Inquiry') Phase 2 report
identified serious shortcomings in the fire risk assessments
produced by the FRA for Grenfell Tower, including failures to
identify critical fire safety hazards and to verify that
previously identified risks had been addressed. In response to
Recommendation 26 in the Inquiry's Phase 2 report, government
committed to introduce mandatory certification for FRAs.
Consultation
The consultation we have launched today is an important step in
delivering Recommendation 26 of the Inquiry's Phase 2 report and
fulfilling our commitment to introduce mandatory certification
for FRAs.
We have engaged stakeholders across government, the devolved
governments, and industry to secure their initial contributions
to our plans and help shape the future of a profession that can
consistently deliver its vital fire safety role.
The consultation can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fire-risk-assessors-profession(opens
in a new tab) and will remain open for 12 weeks until 18 June
2026. We encourage as many responses as possible, to make sure
future measures strengthen confidence in the FRA regime and so
that those undertaking this critical work are appropriately
competent, supported, and accountable. Following the
consultation, government will carefully consider the responses
received and set out next steps in due course.
This work forms part of a wider programme to implement Inquiry
recommendations and improve fire and building safety, including
proposals for the establishment of the Single Construction
Regulator, recent publications on the fire engineering profession
and ongoing work to develop a new strategy for the built
environment professions.
Further, a consultation was launched today on improving
proportionality and safety outcomes in the higher-risk building
(HRB) control regime which can be found here: https://consult.communities.gov.uk/higher-risk-buildings/redefining-category-a-building-work-consultation(opens
in a new tab)
This is launched alongside the announcement of a £70m Building
Professional Workforce Programme to address shortages of capacity
and capability in two safety-critical professions: building
control and fire engineering. The funding for fire engineering
will contribute to our response to the Inquiry recommendations on
increasing education for fire engineers.
A separate statement has been laid providing further detail on
these announcements.
