BIFM acts on fire safety accreditation

The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) has announced plans to develop a new certified accreditation and training suite for professionals in charge of fire safety.

Responding to the publication of the final report by Dame Judith Hackitt on building regulations and fire safety, the BIFM said it intends to make sure facilities managers have access to high-quality training to certify their competency.

And in the spirit of Dame Judith’s report, which called for more collaboration between professional bodies, the BIFM said it was keen to work with trade groups to ensure a joined up response.

The chair of the BIFM’s Life Safety Working Group, Rob Greenfield, said: “Given the vital role that facilities managers can and do play in ensuring high standards of life safety in buildings, it’s important to strengthen the competency of those involved.

“My experts group will lead work to develop a dedicated accreditation programme for a specific FM standard as a first step in ensuring that FM best practice plays a part in the response to Hackitt.”

And the BIFM’s Chief Executive, Linda Hausmanis added: “We are fully behind Dame Judith’s proposals to strengthen competencies in building management and across the wider construction and built environment professions.

“As the leading professional body for facilities management, I am keen to ensure that BIFM leads the way in setting and upholding fire and system related professional competencies for facilities managers; and that the Institute contributes fully in ensuring coherence across the piece.”

Earlier this week, SHP Online reported that the British Safety Council had voiced its concerns over the final report by Dame Judith.

The Council said while it welcomed many of the report’s recommendations it also had several concerns, particularly around the practicalities of creating a joint authority to oversee fire and building safety.

In particular, it said such an authority would require joint working across three Whitehall departments at a time when resources are already stretched.

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