As part of its continuing education campaign, ASFP Ireland (ASFPI) is working with the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) to present a Technical Session on Demonstrating Competency in Fire Risk Assessment. The event, at the Carlton Airport Hotel, Dublin on 20 November, will include input from a range of industry experts.

It has been over a year since the residents of the Priory Hall Apartment Complex in Dublin were evicted from their homes as a result of fire safety breaches perpetrated by the building developers and while work continues to improve regulatory control and enforcement to ensure such an incident cannot be repeated, ASFP Ireland (ASFPI) has been working with designers, contractors, fire prevention officers and legislators to raise awareness of the vital role of fire protection systems, particularly passive fire protection (PFP).

Simon Ince of Warrington Certification will present an insight into the UK experience with fire risk assessment. He will describe the learning curve following the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; the need for a recognised standard; and the long and protracted route that led to the development by the UK Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council of the Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors. This is now to be adapted for use in Ireland, with the addition of a new Appendix (B4).

Other speakers will include ASFPI chairman David O'Reilly, who will discuss the current regulatory context in Ireland and the IFE's Brian Burke, who will provide the Irish fire safety practitioner's perspective.
Promoting excellence in the design and installation of fire protection products through high quality and technical expertise is a key aim of the ASFPI. Since April 2012, the Association has been organising training courses in PFP installation and risk assessment.

Responding to demand for more comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment training, leading to competency certification, ASFPI plans to introduce further courses designed to assist in this process.

Further information on ASFPI training courses and the IFE Technical Session is available from www.asfpireland.ie