Formal accreditation or licensing should be mandatory for all engineers, architects, consultants and fire risk assessors undertaking work that has an impact on fire safety, according to a new report by Arup.
The report outlines a framework of changes for tackling some of the systemic industry challenges identified during the Grenfell Tower disaster inquiry, published earlier this month, on which Arup advised.
Alongside mandatory accreditation, the report recommends setting specific competency requirements for those involved in fire safety work.
This would define the minimum qualifications, training and years of experience appropriate for particular roles and responsibilities, such as chartered engineer.
It also recommends that it should be a requirement that registered chartered engineers or consultants responsible for fire safety should have formal involvement and oversight of construction and commissioning of high-rise residential buildings.
This would include the formal sign-off and recording of their acceptance that the as-built meets the fire safety strategy or design intent.
The report also urges that a registered chartered fire safety engineer should be a requirement for the design and construction of high-rise residential developments or new works in such buildings.
