The built environment sector is undergoing the most significant transformation in building safety for a generation

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the recommendations of the Hackitt Review, the Building Safety Act introduced a new regulatory framework supported by an extensive programme of secondary legislation. These reforms have fundamentally reshaped how competence is viewed across the construction industry and have led to the establishment of the Building Safety Regulator, responsible for overseeing building safety and driving improvements in both individual competence and organisational capability.

Alongside these legislative changes, third-party certification bodies such as BM TRADA have updated and expanded their fire certification schemes, including changes associated with the transition to the EN 13501 fire classification system. Whilst these updates primarily relate to certification schemes and product classifications, they have prompted many organisations to review how they evidence the competence of installers, supervisors and managers involved in passive fire protection.

The result is a significant cultural shift. Increasingly, clients, principal contractors, certification bodies and regulators expect organisations to demonstrate that individuals have the appropriate skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours (KSEB) to undertake their role safely and competently. Equally important is an organisation’s ability to maintain robust systems, supervision, quality assurance and ongoing competence management.

For many employers, this has raised important questions:

• Do our current qualifications still provide sufficient evidence of competence?
• Do we have the right occupational qualifications for specialist roles?
• Are our competency records robust enough for audit?
• What additional training or evidence may now be required?
• How can we demonstrate competence to clients, principal contractors and certification bodies?

Passive Fire Competency Matrix

Understanding the BM TRADA Changes & Where Workforce Skills Support Can Help

Why are clients talking about having to “re-do qualifications”?

Following the Building Safety Act, the Grenfell Inquiry and wider construction product reforms, the passive fire industry has moved towards a much greater focus on demonstrating competence rather than simply claiming experience.

At the same time, BM TRADA has introduced new and updated Q-Mark fire certification schemes to support the transition to the EN 13501-2 classification system.

This has prompted many certified companies to review:

• installer competency
• management competency
• training records
• qualifications
• evidence of experience
• quality management systems

This does not automatically mean everyone needs another NVQ.

Our role is to establish exactly what evidence is missing before recommending a solution.

If you would like to find out more about how Workforce Skills Support can help, please contact us.