In short: the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service advises duty holders to be satisfied that their fire risk assessor is competent, and suggests choosing an assessor from a list maintained by a professional body, or a company certificated by a UKAS-accredited certification body. You remain legally responsible for the assessment whoever carries it out. The Scottish Government has committed to legislate to strengthen assessor competency.
Registers and schemes SFRS points to
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's advice on choosing a competent assessor lists professional registers for individuals and certification schemes for companies. It notes that it has not assessed and does not endorse any individual or company in these schemes.
| Register or scheme | Type |
|---|---|
| Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) | Professional body register of individual fire risk assessors |
| Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) | Professional body register of individual fire risk assessors |
| Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO) | Professional body register of individual fire risk assessors |
| BAFE SP205 | UKAS-accredited certification scheme for fire risk assessment companies |
| IFC Certification (IFCC 0099) | UKAS-accredited certification scheme for fire risk assessment companies |
| Warrington Certification (FRACS) | UKAS-accredited certification scheme for fire risk assessment companies |
Our lead assessor, Raj Chall BSc, is listed on the Institution of Fire Engineers fire risk assessor register and has 15 years of experience in the fire safety industry.
The new competence standard
BS 8674:2025 sets out a framework for the competence of individual fire risk assessors, covering the knowledge, skills and experience expected for different levels of building complexity. Certification schemes such as BAFE SP205 have been revised to align with it. It is not a legal requirement, but it gives duty holders a clearer benchmark for what competence looks like.
Questions to ask before you book
Which register are you on?
Ask for the register and check the listing yourself on the register's website.
Who will actually visit?
Some firms subcontract visits. Ask whether the person who visits writes the report.
Have you assessed premises like mine?
A care home or a high-rise block needs more experience than a small shop.
Which law and standard will you use?
The answer should be the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, plus PAS 79-1 or BS 9792 as appropriate.
Can I see a sample report?
A good report is specific, with photos, a risk rating and a prioritised action plan.
What does the price include?
Ask whether the site visit, travel and the written report are all in the fee.
Warning signs of a poor assessment
- English law in a Scottish report. A report that names the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 as the governing law for Scottish premises was not written for Scotland.
- Generic content. The Scottish Government's guidance says a generic risk assessment will not be sufficient. If the report could describe any building, it does not describe yours.
- No site visit, or a very short one. A remote or questionnaire-based assessment cannot see a wedged fire door or a blocked exit.
- No priorities. A long list of actions with no ranking or timescales does not tell you what to do first.
- Selling the fixes. Be cautious if the assessor's action plan leads straight to a quote for work from the same company.
Frequently asked questions
Do fire risk assessors need to be qualified in Scotland?
Not by law at present. The Scottish Government has committed to strengthening fire risk assessor competency and the requirement on duty holders to hire a competent assessor through legislation, following consultation. Until then, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service recommends checking professional registers and UKAS-accredited certification.
Am I still responsible if my assessor gets it wrong?
Yes. The duty holder remains legally responsible and accountable for fire safety, even when external help is used. That is why choosing a competent assessor matters.
Is there such a thing as a licensed fire risk assessor in Scotland?
There is no statutory licensing scheme for fire risk assessors in Scotland. Competence is demonstrated through professional registers, such as the Institution of Fire Engineers register, and UKAS-accredited certification schemes.
Sources
- SFRS advice on fire safety: choosing a competent fire risk assessor, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- Fire risk assessment, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
- A BAFE perspective on BS 8674:2025, BAFE
- Response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, Scottish Government
- Institution of Fire Engineers
Written and reviewed by Raj Chall BSc, lead fire risk assessor at Fire Risk Scotland, listed on the Institution of Fire Engineers fire risk assessor register. Last reviewed 12 November 2026. This page is general guidance, not legal advice.