BS 8674:2025 Built Environment – Framework for Competence of Individual Fire Risk Assessors – Code of Practice now released

The British Standards Institute (BSI) has published the long-awaited standard setting out a framework for the assessment of fire risk assessor competency. Designed through industry-wide collaboration to reduce the variability of fire risk assessor qualifications, offer consistency across the sector, and support the professionalisation of fire risk assessors, this new standard will help to drive and improve industry-wide standards.

The standard introduces three defined levels of competence. Each level will demonstrate that an assessor will have the skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours to work on assessing increasing levels of complex buildings, occupancy types, and risk.

The three levels are:

  • Foundation – New entrants and those assessing simple premises, such as small offices or shops
  • Intermediate – Those assessors requiring greater experience, responsible for medium complexity buildings such as public venues or mid-rise residential properties
  • Advanced – Highly experienced professionals working on complex, high-risk buildings including hospitals, residential towers, and large public spaces.

In the accompanying overview, however, BSI explains that this standard is applicable across multiple sectors, including residential, commercial, public venues, care homes, education, and healthcare facilities – “anywhere that fire safety and building occupancy intersect.”

Giving his response to the release, FPA chief executive Dr Gavin Dunn said: “We are very pleased to see the publication of the BS 8674 standard. It is the next piece in the puzzle towards a competent fire safety workforce and provides clarity for both fire risk assessors and their clients as to what is expected.

“Whilst there is still some further work to come from government regarding the follow up timings, the information is there in the standard for those working in the fire risk assessment space to get their staff trained and their organisations accredited.

“This is a vitally important step forward for the industry and there is no longer an excuse not to act on this now.”

The publication of this standard sees the government take significant strides towards meeting one of the recommendations made in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, namely to “establish a system of mandatory accreditation to certify the competence of fire risk assessors by setting standards for qualification and continuing professional development and such other measures as may be considered necessary or desirable”.

The government response in March 2025 had already made it clear that the intention was to “legislate to make it a mandatory requirement for fire risk assessors to have the competence to perform this critical role independently verified by a UKAS-accredited Certification”.

As reported by the Fire Sector Confederation, Building Safety Minister, Alex Norris, welcomed the new standard, saying:

“The introduction of this new standard marks a significant step forward in the collective effort to make buildings safer for residents. By improving safety and accountability, it helps ensure that a tragedy like Grenfell is never repeated, and it reflects a clear commitment to implementing the Inquiry’s recommendations.

“A clear and consistent benchmark for fire risk assessors will help to raise standards of competency across the profession and I’m grateful to the British Standards Institution and all committee members involved in making this happen.”

Dennis Davis, Competence Director at the Fire Sector Confederation and leader of the fire risk assessor competency working group said:

“The publication of BS 8674 is a significant achievement for the profession and a vital step towards building a safer future. It gives all stakeholders confidence that competence can now be clearly demonstrated against a professional framework capable of independent verification.”

You can find details of the new BS 86474:2025 standard here.