A new register of fire risk assessors which will recognise certification schemes that have UKAS accreditation has been launched by the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM).

The Nationally Accredited Fire Risk Assessors Register of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (NAFRAR) will recognise applicants who have been certificated by any scheme that is accredited by UKAS, or which follows BS EN ISO 17024 and BS EN 45011. This includes the Fire Risk Assessors Competency Scheme run by Warrington Certification, for which IFSM has negotiated a special rates for its members.

IFSM secretary general, Bob Docherty, said the institute recognised that the time had come to start moving towards a more professional and competency-based fire risk assessors register.

“We are the first professional body in the fire sector to take action to provide [a register] which contains the names of fire risk assessors who have been through a process which is accredited by an independent, nationally recognised accreditation body, to provide third party type accreditation/certification, preferably by UKAS.

“The UKAS link is important for us in the promotion of a national independent register, as it signals government support.”

The new register will be open for applications on 1 December and from that date, no further applications to join the current IFSM register will be accepted. Members of the current register will be invited to apply to the new register until 31 December 2013, at which point the current register will be closed.

In June a cross-industry body published a draft document, Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors setting out criteria that could be used by professional bodies and third party certification bodies to register or certificate fire risk assessors and organisations providing fire risk assessment services.