Mandatory fire risk assessor certification: what's coming

Why this is happening

Anyone can currently call themselves a fire risk assessor. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended a system of mandatory accreditation to certify fire risk assessors' competence, and the government accepted it. In March 2026 it launched a consultation on how to regulate the profession in England.

What the consultation proposed

The consultation ran for 12 weeks, from 26 March to 18 June 2026. Its main proposals:

• Make fire risk assessor a regulated profession, with a legal definition
• Introduce mandatory competence requirements, through certification and accreditation
• Require certification bodies to be accredited by an independent body – the consultation noted that only two UKAS-accredited bodies currently certify fire risk assessors
• Use a single, tiered competency framework – possibly foundation, intermediate and advanced – based on BS 8674
• A mandatory code of conduct, including declaring conflicts of interest
• A central register of competent assessors, with CPD and periodic recertification
• Enforcement powers, including suspension and sanctions for working above one's certification level or using false credentials
• Career routes, including apprenticeships and a route for existing experienced assessors

Which buildings will be covered first?

No final decision has been made. The government's initial position is that, at a minimum, higher-risk buildings – at least 18 metres or 7 storeys with two or more residential units – should require a regulated assessor, with priority given to premises with the greatest life-safety risk. Whether responsible persons can still carry out their own assessments for lower-risk premises was left open.

When will it happen?

Legislation will be introduced "when parliamentary time allows". The consultation set out three ways to implement it: all at once with a longer transition, phased by assessor competence level, or phased by building risk. No date has been set.

How to check an assessor's competence now

You don't need to wait for fire risk assessor certification to become law. When appointing a fire risk assessor, ask:

1. Are you third-party certificated by a UKAS-accredited certification body, or on a recognised professional body register?
2. What experience do you have with this type and height of building?
3. Which standard will you follow? For housing, BS 9792:2025.
4. How do you handle issues beyond your competence – external walls, complex compartmentation, engineered fire strategies?
5. What professional indemnity insurance do you hold?
6. Can I see an anonymised sample report?
7. Do you have any conflicts of interest – for example, also selling remedial works?

Since 1 October 2023, responsible persons have had to record the name of anyone they appoint to carry out or review their fire risk assessment, so competence choices are visible to regulators and residents.

What the tiers might look like

The consultation suggested a tiered framework based on BS 8674 – possibly foundation, intermediate and advanced. While the detail isn't settled, the principle is that the assessor's certified level should match the complexity and risk of the premises. A simple office would need a different level of competence from a high-rise block of flats with a complex evacuation strategy.

What this means for organisations with many buildings

• Map your portfolio by risk, so you know which buildings are likely to need the highest-level assessors first
• Review your contracts with fire risk assessment providers – do they require third-party certification and evidence of competence?
• Keep records of who assessed each building and their credentials, as the law already requires the assessor's name to be recorded
• Watch for conflicts of interest, such as assessors who also sell remedial works – the proposed code of conduct would require them to be declared

Our fire risk assessments are carried out by competent, certificated assessors, and our How we work page explains how we match assessors to buildings.

Sources

• GOV.UK – Fire risk assessors profession consultation
• FSM – MHCLG launches consultation on mandatory fire risk assessor certification

This guide is general information based on the law and guidance in England as at 8 November 2026. It isn't legal advice – for advice on a specific building, get in touch.