The conversation around competence in fire safety has shifted – permanently.
Following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower and the subsequent recommendations of the Phase 2 Inquiry report, the government and regulators have highlighted a significant and systemic competence gap within the fire safety industry. Fire risk assessments, in many cases, have lacked the depth, rigour and accountability required to properly manage life safety risk. The industry has struggled with inconsistent standards and unclear definitions of competence, where the quality of an assessment often depended more on the individual assessor’s personal approach than on a unified professional benchmark.
BS 8674:2025, published in August 2025, provides a structured, nationally recognised framework that supports the ongoing shift of a fire risk assessment from a generalist task to a professionalised discipline. For building owners and Responsible Persons (RPs), we discuss the importance of understanding this framework.
Why BS 8674:2025 Matters
Under the Building Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety Act 2021, Responsible Persons must ensure that appointees for Fire Risk Assessments are competent. BS 8674 provides a clear structure for evaluating competence: Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Behaviours (SKEB).
- Skills: The practical ability to apply knowledge effectively in real-world settings.
- Knowledge: Theoretical understanding of fire dynamics, legislation, and safety systems.
- Experience: Evidence of time spent and tasks performed within specific building types.
- Behaviours: The professional and ethical conduct required to make high-stakes safety decisions.
For building owners and Responsible Persons, understanding this framework is no longer an administrative choice; it is a critical component of fire safety management and legal compliance.
The Three-Tiered Framework
BS 8674 introduces a three-tiered structure, aligning assessor capability with building complexity: Foundation Level (low risk), Intermediate Level (moderate risk), and Advanced Level (high risk).
On the surface, this looks like a simple progression model. In reality, it introduces something the industry has historically lacked, a requirement to match assessor capability to building risk.
1. Foundation Level
This tier is the entry point for professionals focusing on low-complexity environments with standard fire safety arrangements.
- Scope: Simple, conventional buildings such as small shops, offices, or premises under 11 metres with low occupancy (typically under 60 people).
- Focus: Core principles of fire safety and identifying obvious hazards in low-complexity settings.
2. Intermediate Level
This is where most professional assessors will operate. It covers “moderate-risk” premises where risk factors increase due to layout, occupancy, or integrated fire protection systems.
- Scope: Buildings up to 18 metres, hotels, larger schools, and mid-rise residential blocks.
- Focus: A deeper understanding of fire spread, complex fire safety systems, and the nuances of multi-occupied buildings.
3. Advanced Level
Reserved for highly experienced professionals, this level covers high-risk or complex environments, including those relying on engineered fire strategies or housing vulnerable occupants.
- Scope: Hospitals, high-rise residential towers (over 18m), large public venues, and buildings with specialised fire engineering solutions.
- Focus: Complex fire dynamics, advanced fire suppression, and the ability to make high-stakes professional judgements in high-pressure environments.
If an assessor operating at a Foundation level is carrying out assessments on complex residential buildings, healthcare environments, or large multi-occupancy sites, that is no longer just poor practice, it is indefensible.
Professionalism and Accountability
BS 8674:2025 is more than a technical manual; it introduces professional accountability and ethical responsibility.
The standard includes a mandatory Code of Conduct covering integrity, conflict-of-interest management, and a strict duty to work within one’s limits. If a project exceeds an assessor’s defined competence level, they are professionally obligated to escalate it.
This removes a long-standing grey area where previously an assessor could operate beyond their capability with limited scrutiny. If you appoint an assessor whose competence does not align with your building, the liability does not sit with them alone, it sits with you.
For fire safety firms, this marks a shift towards defined career pathways. Staff development and “career mapping” are now regulatory necessities rather than optional extras. This professionalisation is supported by independent verification from UKAS-accredited bodies. Organisations such as BAFE (SP205 scheme) and the IFE (Institution of Fire Engineers) are aligning their registers with these BS 8674 levels. Assessors are also encouraged to utilise the National Fire Risk Assessor Register (NFRAR) created by the IFSM (Institute of Fire Safety Managers) to demonstrate their tiered competence to the market.
Practical Advice for Compliance
- For Responsible Persons: Stop asking for “a fire risk assessment.” Start asking, “At what level of BS 8674 competence do you operate?” Using a Foundation level assessor for a complex care home is now a significant legal liability.
- For Fire Risk Assessors: Perform an honest gap analysis of your SKEB. Investing in regulated qualifications that map to the Intermediate and Advanced levels is the only way to future-proof your career.
BS 8674 doesn’t introduce new legislation, but it does define what good looks like.
A defensible approach now means:
- Aligning the complexity of the building with the competence level of the assessor
- Using assessors operating under recognised third-party certification schemes
- Ensuring competence is evidenced, not assumed
- Treating fire risk assessment as a professional service, not a tick-box exercise
How Global Technical Services (GTS) Supports Your Compliance
At Global Technical Services (GTS), we have pre-emptively aligned our operations with these rigorous standards. We operate on the basis that competence must be demonstrable, structured and externally validated.
All our fire risk assessors operate under recognised third-party certification schemes and are regularly audited under the BAFE SP 205 Scheme to ensure absolute competence and alignment with evolving industry standards.
More importantly, we align assessor capability with building complexity, ensuring that the level of expertise applied is appropriate to the level of risk.
Our methodology remains strictly in line with BSI PAS 79, ensuring your reports are both compliant and practical. For multi-site clients, we offer an online portal to track and manage outstanding actions across your entire property portfolio, ensuring that “competence” translates into “safety” in real-time.
For more about our Fire Risk Assessment team and services, visit: globaltechnicalservices.co.uk
