BAFE SP205 V6.0 — Why Your Fire Safety Provider Needs It in 2026
BAFE SP205 V6.0 became the in-force life-safety FRA scheme on 31 March 2026. It is now the de facto organisational standard for fire risk assessment providers. Here is what it actually means for your contract.
What BAFE SP205 V6.0 is
BAFE SP205 is the third-party certification scheme for organisations providing fire risk assessment services. Version 6.0, in force from 31 March 2026, is the most demanding revision the scheme has ever seen.
Unlike NFRAR (which certifies individuals) and BS 8674 (which defines individual competence), BAFE SP205 certifies the organisation — its quality systems, supervisory oversight, audit trail, and continuing competence regime.
What V6.0 changed
The headline changes in V6.0:
- Mandatory annual technical audits of at least 10% of FRAs delivered
- Documented supervisory review of every FRA before issue
- Compulsory linkage to BS 8674 individual competence framework
- Tighter rules on subcontracting (no daisy-chain FRA delivery)
- Requirement for organisational CPD programme tied to NFRAR
Most importantly, the scheme is now referenced directly by major insurers, Local Authority procurement frameworks and the Building Safety Regulator.
Why it matters to you
If you are a Responsible Person — particularly for an HRB or any post-Grenfell residential — your FRA contract is exposed to scrutiny from:
- The Fire Authority
- Your insurer
- Your lender (if borrowing against the asset)
- The Building Safety Regulator (for HRBs)
The cleanest way to evidence due diligence on assessor competence is to use a BAFE SP205 V6-certified provider with NFRAR-registered individuals. Anything less leaves you arguing the toss.
Common misunderstandings
A few things BAFE SP205 V6 is not:
- Not a legal requirement — it is a third-party scheme. The legal requirement is "competent person".
- Not the same as BAFE SP203-1 — that is the scheme for alarm system installers.
- Not free — providers pay annual fees and audit costs, which is one reason cheap providers cannot afford to hold it.
How to verify a provider's claim
Anyone can claim BAFE SP205. You can verify a provider's certification:
1. Ask for the BAFE certificate number 2. Cross-check on the BAFE website's register 3. Confirm the scope and certification expiry
MetroFire's FRA team operates to BAFE SP205 V6.0 procedures with full NFRAR-registered assessor coverage. Read more about our accreditations.
