RICS launches new training programme to build fire safety capacity
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20 November 2020
Chartered building and building control surveyors can now further progress their knowledge in fire safety, by completing a new training course created to help speed up the assessment of properties covered by the government’s guidance on the fire safety of buildings with external cladding systems.
As part of the announcement made in line with Government, RICS launched the new training programme, in January 2021, with the course projected to take up to twelve weeks.
The programme was launched following Government announcements and ahead of the Fire Safety Act, which received Royal Assent in 2021 and has now been implemented, to increase the number of professionals who will be required to complete future mandatory fire safety checks.
The training programme is designed for chartered building and building control surveyors who already have a base knowledge to undertake external wall system assessments for low to medium risk residential buildings; increasing the number of professionals to support the current market demand. Buildings over 18m or those which require specialist testing will still require a qualified fire safety engineer to carry out the EWS assessments.
The course will ensure professionals can:
- Identify and interpret effective information required for inspections from stakeholders
- Undertake the inspection process and intrusive inspection processes
- Assess an external wall system including the materials, construction and their fire safety performance
- Understand the fire risk presented by external wall materials and systems
- Define the scope of work effectively through contracts and terms of engagement when taking instructions
- Identify the legal framework and key standards affecting fire safety, and legal liability
- Prepare a comprehensive report with recommendations in accordance with PAS 9980.
RICS said:
“We recognise the acute market shortage of fire engineers to carry out EWS1 assessments and welcome the Government’s support to upskilling other regulated professions, such as Chartered Surveyors, to create additional capacity in the market.”
Read more about the course and book your place
RICS will also work with Government and industry to address the ongoing concerns about the availability of professional indemnity insurance (PII) which will be an essential element to deliver the number of trained professionals across the UK.
Updated June 2022
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