Fire Risk Assessment – changes to BS8674 2025

What’s New

Competence Framework

It provides a clear framework for assessing and assuring the competence of individual fire risk assessors, not the process of conducting the assessment. 

Three Competence Levels

The standard introduces three levels of competence – Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced – to reflect the varying complexity and risk associated with different building types and occupancies.

Individual Focus

The framework applies to individual competence, a shift reflecting the personal liability aspects of recent legislation, such as the Building Safety Act 2022.

Why is it important? 

It aims to professionalise the fire risk assessors, leading to improved consistency and quality across the industry. 

Assurance for Duty Holders

Landlords, property managers, and business owners will have greater assurance in the competence of the professionals they appoint, reducing risks like invalid insurance and enforcement actions. 

Supports legislation

The standard supports the Building Safety Act 2022 and helps duty holders fulfil their legal responsibilities by clarifying the skills, knowledge, and experience.

Key Features

Focus on Skills and Experience

It outlines performance-based criteria for the knowledge, skills experience, and behaviours an individual assessor must possess. 

Excludes Specific Areas 

The standard deliberately excludes more specialised area like inasive inspections, fire engineering, and external wall construction assessments. 

Supports Training 

Training providers and academic institutions are expected to align their curricula with the new requirements, reshaping assessor preparation.