BS 8674:2025 Explained — The New British Standard for FRA Competence
BS 8674:2025 is the first British Standard to define what a competent fire risk assessor actually looks like. Here is what it changes, who it affects, and how to check yours measures up.
What BS 8674:2025 is
BS 8674:2025 is the British Standard "Framework for competence of individual fire risk assessors". Published by BSI in August 2025, it replaced the IFSM Tiered Competency framework as the formally recognised yardstick for individual assessor competence.
For the first time, BS 8674 sets out what an FRA assessor must demonstrably know, do and behave — and matches that competence to the type of building they are working on.
The three tiers
BS 8674 defines three competence levels:
- Foundation — simple low-risk premises (single-occupancy commercial, small offices, retail under 2 storeys)
- Intermediate — most commercial and managed residential premises, including HMOs
- Advanced — higher-risk and high-rise residential, complex healthcare, listed buildings, mixed-use
Each tier is defined by SKEB criteria — Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours.
Who it applies to
BS 8674 applies to the individual assessor, not the organisation. So even a large fire safety consultancy is only as compliant as the specific person on your site that day.
It works alongside, but is distinct from:
- BAFE SP205 V6.0 — the organisational scheme (in force 31 March 2026)
- NFRAR — the IFSM-administered register of individual assessors, which describes itself as aligned to BS 8674 (the standard itself names no register)
The two operate at different levels: a register or certification scheme evidences the individual on site; BAFE SP205 evidences the organisation. Ask about both — and be clear which one a firm is actually claiming.
How to check your assessor
Three quick questions to ask any fire risk assessor before they walk on site:
- "Are you on the NFRAR register, and at what tier?"
- "Can you show me your current CPD record aligned to BS 8674:2025?"
- "Is your tier appropriate for my building type and complexity?"
If the answer to any of these is uncertain, the FRA you receive may not be defensible.
Why this matters in 2026
The Fire Safety Act 2021 widened what the assessment must cover, and section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (in force since 1 October 2023) requires the Responsible Person to record the assessment in full, including the identity of anyone engaged to assist with it. Article 18 of the Fire Safety Order has always required that assistance to come from a competent person — appointing someone who cannot demonstrate competence does not discharge the duty, and the record now shows who was appointed.
Every MetroFire FRA assessor is NFRAR-registered, competency-checked against BS 8674:2025, and matched to the risk profile of your specific building. Book an FRA.
