Back in November 2020 UK Fire featured an article discussing FireQual, the specialist Awarding Body for individuals working within the fire-protection industry. One year on Nic Preston, Director of Qualifications, provides an update on how FireQual has developed so far.
FireQual continues to grow from strength to strength, establishing quality methods to clarify an individual’s knowledge and skills for multiple disciplines within the fire and life safety arena. The latest to be made available is the Fire Marshal qualification at SCQF Level 5. This is intended to provide individuals with knowledge of the hazards and risks associated with fire in the workplace, how fire risk is controlled in the workplace, the principles and practice of fire safety management at work and the role of the nominated person. It is crucial that any person appointed responsible for fire safety within a building has the appropriate knowledge to put into practice. We believe the fire marshal qualification helps clarify this, as individuals will be able to demonstrate they have undertaken the necessary learning to develop their confidence within this role.
FireQual have also recently announced the development of a fire-door installation qualification. Having witnessed a growing demand for this area and reflecting on the core messages of relevant reports, FireQual will be looking at how core practical competencies of individuals can be accurately assessed for multiple skills within the fire-protection arena. The capability of individuals working within this sector was a clear focus of both the report led by Dame Judith Hackitt, Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, published in May 2018 and the later Setting the Bar: A new competence regime for building a safer future report, published by the Competence Steering Group (CSG) in October last year. FireQual endeavours to be part of the solution to demonstrate an individual’s knowledge and skills with regulated qualifications.
At the time of announcing the fire-door installation qualification development I commented: ‘The provision of high-quality qualifications to support the development of the knowledge and skills of those technicians who install fire doors helps contribute to the raising of best practice within the fire safety sector.’ FireQual is currently accepting input from those within industry and further afield which will be presented to the development group for consideration. If you would like to contribute your thoughts, please visit the FireQual website. This input is crucial from varied representatives from the fire sector, from individuals installing these firestopping measures to the Fire and Rescue Services and enforcement teams assessing the quality of measures implemented to mitigate risk.
FireQual in its first year of operation succeeded in providing multiple regulated qualifications available to the fire-protection sector. These are available to review on the FireQual website, alongside the approved training centres that deliver them (these centres can also be approached to enquire what training they provide in conjunction with the FireQual qualifications). The FireQual qualifications currently include awards in fire detection and alarm system theory, fire risk assessment and certificates/diplomas available for Fire Safety Enforcement Officers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
For more information, go to www.firequal.com
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