Raising the bar of competency

[edit] Personal take on a prevelant theme

I’ve delivered a number of webinars throughout my career, most of which have been on innovation in fire safety, person-centred fire strategies and designing for the future.

Despite exploring a wide range of topics and sitting alongside various panellists from across both the fire safety and housing sectors, there is one theme that remains prevalent throughout every discussion and that is about raising the bar of competency.

[edit] Qualification verses competency

In an attempt to set an example in my own organisation, my co-founder and I have both recently completed a Level 5 Diploma in Fire Engineering Design. This is a qualification aimed at building control officers, approved inspectors and the wider fire safety sector including assessors, engineers and managers.

Underpinning nearly all UK building regulations is fire engineering, so it was really important for us to ensure we as fire suppression specialists have a good understanding of the key principles.

While this qualification has enhanced our knowledge, we know that competency is not just having a qualification. Competence requires a constant building and development of knowledge, ability, training and experience. And in my view, to be competent you also need the know-how and courage to question the assumptions of our predecessors and look for new solutions in an ever-changing landscape.

As a result, in a world where technology leads and regulations follow, it can take a great amount of time and people (with the relevant skills and competencies) to overcome their own pre-established beliefs, understand improved outcomes and adopt new technologies - like the systems developed by my own company.

[edit] Installer audits

With this in mind, we’ve rolled out a number of initiatives to improve and demonstrate competency including with our own approved misting system installers.

In the coming months, on our website prospective and existing customers will be able to see the date of each installer's last audit, as well as the trained personnel certificates they’ve achieved from completing our learning management modules. Some modules require our installers to upload a video of themselves demonstrating that they are able to fulfil the technical requirements as part of the assessment.

Taking this approach will allow us to closely monitor and keep our installers up to date with further training as and when needed.

[edit] Risk profiles

Although many buildings will be built in a likeness of one another – especially if constructed by the same developer – the individuals living in them, and their needs, will always vary. Particularly in social housing schemes, where homes are provided for a wide range of people with disparate needs.

A report by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) titled “Fire fatalities in Scotland and recommendations to help reduce them” is a significant and helpful piece of research in highlighting the characteristics of those who are most vulnerable and at risk of injury or fatality in the event of a fire.

Using this research and our experience in the fire safety sector, we’ve created seven risk profiles to demonstrate the personas of vulnerable individuals who may need further preventative solutions in place.

The approach that should be taken when exploring new fire safety technologies should be about considering whether it is fit for purpose and the person it is intending to protect.

Unless professionals have the required competencies, as well as the knowledge and courage to know when they don’t, the unintended outcome of prescriptive guidance is that new, innovative and potentially more effective solutions will be overlooked.

Article written by William Makant, co-founder and CEO of fire suppression specialist, Plumis

--Plumis