S
Skills
Inspection, risk analysis, reporting, communication and recommendations.
Fire Risk Assessor Competence Guide
BS 8674 Fire Risk Assessor Competence Guide
Professional competence combines skills, knowledge, experience, behaviours, appropriate qualifications, judgement, continuing development and the ability to work within an appropriate scope.
The framework
What is BS 8674:2025?
BS 8674:2025 is a framework for judging whether an individual fire risk assessor has the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours appropriate to work at Foundation, Intermediate or Advanced level.
It is not a qualification or statutory licence
Qualifications may be aligned with competencies within BS 8674:2025. They do not automatically provide certification, accreditation or unrestricted competence.
SKEB
Four dimensions of competence
K
Knowledge
Fire, construction, law, escape, protection, behaviour and guidance.
E
Experience
Relevant premises, practical assessment and applied professional judgement.
B
Behaviours
Integrity, objectivity, caution, clear records, boundaries and CPD.
Competence progression
Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced
Foundation
Core knowledge and application in relatively straightforward contexts. Level 3 supports this development.
Intermediate
Greater technical understanding, practical capability and reporting. Level 4 supports this development.
Advanced
Complex work, higher responsibility and advanced judgement, still within defined boundaries.
Professional capability
What competent practice requires
Technical capability
✓ Understand construction, use and occupancy
✓ Identify hazards and people at risk
✓ Assess active and passive protection
Professional judgement
✓ Evaluate risk and existing controls
✓ Communicate proportionate findings
✓ Recognise limitations and refer work
Terminology
Qualification ≠ Competence ≠ Certification ≠ Accreditation
A qualification confirms assessed achievement. Competence is effective application in practice. Certification is third-party confirmation against a scheme. Accreditation formally recognises the competence of a conformity-assessment body.
Specialist boundaries
General competence does not cover every specialist service
BS 8674 does not itself establish competence for FRAEW, invasive inspection, fire engineering or every specialist industrial hazard. Appropriate referral is part of competent practice.
Frequently asked questions
BS 8674 and competence
Is BS 8674 a qualification?
No. Qualifications can be aligned with competencies within the standard.
Does Level 3 or Level 4 make me BS 8674 certified?
No. These qualifications support competence development; certification is separate.
Is Advanced competence unrestricted?
No. Advanced assessors still need suitable experience and must respect specialist boundaries.
Does BS 8674 cover FRAEW or fire engineering?
Not automatically. These require their own appropriate specialist competence.
Develop competence that matches your scope
Choose a pathway that reflects your starting point, intended work and building complexity.