At Peak, we view the introduction of BS 8674 as a significant step in the right direction for addressing fire risk assessor competence. We’re eager to see the final standard and are encouraged by the development of a framework that will help elevate the entire industry.
One of the most pressing challenges within our sector is the lack of consistent support available to fire risk assessors. Many work as subcontractors or in isolation within larger internal teams, making mentorship, shadowing, and collaboration difficult to implement effectively. However, we believe it's up to all organisations—whether they employ assessors directly or contract them externally—to take an active role in nurturing, supporting, and enhancing their teams. This is particularly critical at the foundation level.
Here are some of the initiatives we’re implementing to ensure our assessors continue to excel:
Creating tailored competency roadmaps: Each of our assessors has a customised development plan to ensure they are consistently progressing and expanding their knowledge base.
Increasing the frequency of shadowing and joint site visits: We believe in hands-on learning. More opportunities to work alongside seasoned professionals are being created to improve skill transfer and confidence.
Strengthening our quality assurance processes: We’ve enhanced our QA procedures to ensure assessors receive regular feedback and benefit from lessons learned, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Investing in ongoing professional development: We offer internal and external training opportunities, ensuring our whole team stays at the forefront of industry standards and best practices.
Building a culture of collaboration: We actively promote collaboration within our teams, creating an environment where assessors feel supported and have access to technical guidance and peer-to-peer learning.
Facilitating access to mentorship programs: We have formalized mentorship initiatives to connect less experienced assessors with seasoned professionals for guidance and growth.
Utilising technology to streamline learning: Digital tools and platforms are integrated into our processes to enable assessors to access resources and training anytime, anywhere. We are thankful to RiskBase for supporting our ambitious plans for software utilisation.
By taking these steps, we are not only supporting our assessors but also playing our part in raising the standards for fire risk assessment across the industry.
We are proud of our SP205 Life Safety Assessment accreditation which has provided us a structured framework for delivering quality services however we believe in being at the peak.
If you would like to talk to us about your requirements, how we deliver our services or perhaps you want to join our team reach out to us info@peakfire.co.uk