BB7 Fire Safety Engineering, based in Chatham, Kent, is the first company to gain approval under the fire risk assessment quality assurance scheme (FRACS) run by Warrington Certification.

The assessment included on-site evaluation, audit of office processes, examination of employee competence and an appraisal of quality management systems.

Ben Bradford, BB7 director, said that a number of their clients had previously employed consultants but were left “counting the cost” of incompetency.

“We’ve demonstrated competence and we are committed to maintaining it. The FRACS scheme logo on our literature is further evidence of our expertise in this field and demonstrates to our customers and potential customers that we take quality seriously.

“This assessment also helped us to look at our own internal systems through an independent, approved body. Managers and owners of buildings need to plan their fire risk assessments effectively and if they can call on assessors who are certificated to schemes such as FRACS, then it gives everyone more reassurance.”

Simon Ince, manager, personnel certification schemes at WCL, emphasised how third party approval for fire risk assessors is becoming increasingly important. “By holding this certification, the approved company is demonstrating diligence and best practice and offering the responsible persons for buildings the transparency and reassurance they need.

“Too many fire risk assessors are operating at a poor standard and the responsible person has no easy way of identifying those who do have the technical expertise to complete a life safety fire risk assessment.”