MODULE information
Here's what you need to know
Stay up to date with the new BS 8674:2025 Built environment – Framework for
competence of individual fire risk
assessors – Code of practice. This free course provides a concise and practical overview of the key changes introduced in the new standard.
What you will learn:
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An understanding of the three new levels of competence introduced by BS 8674.
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Insight into the seven categories of competency requirements that must be met at each level.
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How the Standard defines building risk profiles, and how these link to different levels of assessor competence.
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A breakdown of Annex B, covering the specific skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours expected of assessors.
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The role that qualifications can play in supporting competence, and why they are not the whole picture.
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How the NSA Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment aligns to the new British Standard.
This module is for individuals or organisations who are interested in fire risk assessor competency.
These individuals or organisations might include:
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Fire risk assessors
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Persons or organisations needing to appoint a fire risk assessor
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Responsible persons under the Fire Safety Order
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Employers or building owners/managers
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Training providers
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Professional trade associations
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Anyone needing to understand changes in fire risk assessor competency
National Safety Academy qualifications are designed to take you on a learning journey. This course is fully online and self-directed, with instant access to the learning materials.
You can navigate through the course content in your learning portal online.
To support your learning, you'll also have access to:
When the need arises to extend a fire alarm system, several key principles must be followed. Firstly,
all new work must comply with the requirements of BS 5839-1:2025, regardless of whether the existing parts of the system were installed to an older standard. Secondly, a
competent person with a thorough understanding of fire alarm system design must assume responsibility for the entire extension project.
It's also important to consider the scale of the extension. If the planned addition is substantial, perhaps similar in size to the original system, it might be more practical and economical to consider installing a
completely new fire alarm system. This is particularly relevant if the existing system is aging or utilises outdated technology.
For addressable or networked systems, careful attention must be paid to cable compatibility. Using incompatible or older cable types to extend circuits can lead to disruptions in communication or even system failures. If the original cable type is no longer available, it might be necessary to undertake the more significant task of rewiring the entire circuit.
Following any extension, recommissioning of the entire system is essential. This process ensures that the new additions haven't negatively impacted the functionality of the existing system. Key aspects of recommissioning include checking the battery capacity to ensure it can still adequately support the expanded system, verifying signal strength in radio-based systems to guarantee reliable communication, and confirming the cause-and-effect programming to ensure the extended system integrates seamlessly with the existing operational logic.
Finally, a formal "Extensions or Modifications" Certificate must be issued and meticulously kept as part of the system's permanent records.
