FPA moves Fire & Risk Management journal to a members-only digital edition

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

FPA journal digitisation for members

The Fire & Risk Management (F&RM) journal has launched in a fully digitised format, available exclusively to members.

The Fire Protection Association (FPA) announced the online version is accessible via its website.

The digital edition includes integrated audio and video content.

It also includes advanced search functionality across all issues.

The FPA said the online edition includes a centralised hub where members can access feature articles, membership spotlights and news items from every issue.

Aisha Farooq, Deputy Editor of F&RM, said: “After over a year of planning, designing, and creating online content, we are thrilled to unveil this new digital experience for our members.

“Our goal was to make the Fire & Risk Management journal more accessible, interactive, and user-friendly, reflecting the way professionals consume information today.

“This is a significant step forward in our commitment to supporting fire safety professionals with the tools and resources they need to stay informed and resilient.”

Website accessibility changes

The FPA said it has added the Recite Me Assistive Toolbar to its website alongside the journal’s digital change.

The release put the figure at an estimated 1 in 4 people facing challenges online due to disabilities, learning differences, visual impairments or language barriers.

The toolbar is available across the whole FPA website, including the digitised F&RM journal.

The FPA said the toolbar includes screen reading support and reading aids.

It also includes customisable styling options for fonts, colours and layouts.

The release said it provides translation and text-to-speech, with on-demand translation into over 100 languages and 65 text-to-speech voices.

Ross Linnett, Founder and CEO of Recite Me, commented: “It’s inspiring to see the FPA leading by example in supporting online visitors.

“The internet should be for everyone, and by providing assistive tools online, the FPA is helping to create a more inclusive digital world where nobody is left behind.”

January 2025 special issue made free to access

The FPA said it has made its January 2025 special issue, Fire Safety Journey of a Building, freely available to access to mark the journal launch.

The release said the issue follows on from the FPA’s year-long Know Your Building campaign in 2021.

The special issue sets out a fire safety journey for a fictional tower called the WRaP building, described as a place for Work, Rest and Play.

The release said it uses the RIBA Plan of Work as a basis.

It is structured around building design and planning, the construction phase and use and ongoing maintenance.

The FPA said each stage is examined by experts from across the built environment.

Simon Brand, the FPA’s Editor and creator of the special issue concept, said: “Our fictional building – the WRaP – was born because we wanted to demonstrate that the journey to a fire safe building is one that begins at the very conception of a building, touches upon multiple roles and professionals, and runs throughout its entire lifespan.

“Each of our contributors helped bring this concept to life within their individual fields of expertise which enabled us to cover the building’s entire fire safety journey and illustrated how interlinked the stages to a fire safe building are.”

The release said upcoming issues of F&RM will cover AI and fire safety, suppression and research and testing.

ASFP to establish supported branches in Australia and New Zealand

by Associations and OrganisationsBreaking NewsPassive

ASFP franchise agreement for New Zealand and Australia

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has agreed to grant Paul Ryan the rights to operate fully supported franchise branches in New Zealand and Australia.

The agreement follows a year of consultation between the parties.

The new branches will follow the operational model used in Great Britain and Ireland, adapted for the New Zealand and Australia markets by members of the respective branches.

The arrangement is intended to support stakeholders across the design and construction chain, including principal designers, contractors, engineers, product and certification bodies, installation trades, post occupation service providers carrying out remedial and retrospective work and those signing off completed buildings or works.

Training, technical groups and publication plans

The ASFP confirmed that the branches will provide training courses online, with face-to-face provision planned at a later stage.

There will be a progressive transition of information from the ASFP in Britain to the new branches.

Initial membership uptake is expected to be high, enabling the formation of ASFP Technical Groups (TGs).

This is expected to lead to the adaptation of some of the association’s ‘Colour Book’ publications for the local markets.

Paul Ryan said: “Having spent most of my career in the passive fire protection profession in Britain, the Middle East and finally New Zealand, I know how important passive fire protection is to the overall design and construction application.

“If it’s not designed right, it won’t be procured and installed correctly.

“It has taken a lot of commitment, time and effort to reach this agreement, with a few wobbly moments along the way, but we all wanted the right thing to happen in the right way for the greater good.

“It’s going to be exciting times evolving the ASFP in new markets, but I know I have the full backing and support from the team in Britain.

“This is a great moment for passive fire in New Zealand and Australia, with design, construction, and occupant safety the ultimate winners.”

Mike Ward, Managing Director of the ASFP, said: “This is a monumental moment for the global passive fire protection community.

“Many designers, engineers, principal contractors, testing and certification members, and product manufacturers operate outside of Britain and Ireland.

“By creating a global passive fire community, it supports those members as well as new members who may use those products and services, or have their own.

“It closes the circle of the relationship and creates continuity in the language of best practice.

“We hope to set up additional ASFP branches in other parts of the world, and we truly believe this is just the start.

“Beyond this, we are looking at how ASFP can engage and collaborate with our passive fire peers around the world.

“We may have different standards and code, but best practice is a universal language.”

Sharon McClure of Avesta Scotland, Chair of the ASFP, said: “As Chair of the ASFP, you always want to leave a legacy of your Chair-ship behind.

“The team have worked really hard in bringing this together – the ASFP team and my predecessor Clive Miles can be really proud of themselves as I am of them.

“I am certain there are some great times ahead.”

NFCC welcomes finalised three-year fire service funding settlement

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

NFCC and the finalised settlement

The Government has finalised a three-year funding settlement for fire and rescue services that includes a strengthened funding floor for 2026/27 backed by an additional £15 million for standalone Fire and Rescue Authorities.

In a statement, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) welcomed the revised settlement and said it improved on the provisional position set out before Christmas.

The deal will deliver an increase in core spending power next year.

The extra funding is expected to be directed towards services judged to be most at risk where funding inequities have been greatest.

What changes for authorities

The NFCC explained that the settlement confirms several reforms affecting how services are funded.

Standalone fire and rescue authorities will be able to raise council tax precepts by up to £5 per year for a Band D property.

Authorities that apply the full £5 increase will receive at least an uplift in core spending power through the strengthened funding floor.

The higher floor follows sustained advocacy from Fire Chiefs, local parliamentarians and representative bodies who highlighted operational and cost pressures.

Earlier proposals had raised the prospect of real terms reductions after a decade of cuts and further lobbying sought additional headroom to reflect inflation and rising costs.

Because the uplift depends on authorities adopting the full £5 flexibility, the NFCC is urging them to use the option in full.

For county council run fire and rescue services, funding arrangements are more complex and depend on local decisions to achieve a comparable level of protection.

What the NFCC says still needs addressing

Garrigan said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to strengthen the funding floor with the provision of an additional £15 million – a clear improvement on the provisional position and a reflection of sustained, constructive engagement between NFCC, government, local MPs and representative bodies.

“After a decade of cuts, services were facing further real terms reductions.

“The reforms announced before Christmas were welcomed, but we were clear they did not go far enough in recognising unavoidable pressures and rising demand.

“The Government has listened, and this revised settlement offers greater stability and capacity to protect the public.

“This is an important step forward, but long term underinvestment – particularly the loss of almost £1bn in capital funding, a significant reduction in firefighter numbers and the previous disinvestment in the central co-ordination of the sector – must now be addressed.

“Securing sustainable investment for the future is the next priority.”

Government data cited by the NFCC shows fire and rescue services in England responded to 642,170 incidents in the year to September 2025, a 28% rise over the past decade.

Wholetime firefighter numbers have fallen by 25% since 2008, equivalent to around 11,000 posts.

Services are simultaneously dealing with more complex risks linked to climate change, new energy technologies and an expanded civil resilience role.

The NFCC says ageing estates, outdated infrastructure and historic financial pressures continue to constrain progress.

The council is pressing for a longer term investment strategy to ensure services are properly equipped to protect communities.

The NFPA Standards Council: Who are the people shaping global fire and life safety standards?

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

What is the NFPA Standards Council?

Most NFPA standards never make headlines, but they influence decisions made every day in buildings, industrial facilities and fire grounds around the world.

Behind those documents is the National Fire Protection Association Standards Council, the body responsible for overseeing how NFPA standards are developed, interpreted and maintained.

Appointed by the NFPA Board of Directors, the 13-member Council provides governance for the standards process, appoints technical committee members and serves as the final appeals authority when questions or disputes arise.

Meeting three times each year and presiding over the annual NFPA Technical Meeting, the Council is responsible for ensuring that standards are developed in accordance with NFPA Regulations and Rules.

It appoints members to NFPA Technical and Correlating Committees and serves as the final appeals body for issues related to standards development.

Together, the Council brings decades of experience from engineering, enforcement, manufacturing, research and the fire service – a breadth of perspective designed to support balanced, consensus-based standards.

Leadership grounded in global fire engineering

Chairing the Council is James R. Quiter, whose career has spanned more than four decades at the forefront of fire protection engineering.

Recently retired as a Principal at Arup, Quiter previously led the firm’s 300-person Los Angeles office and remains affiliated with the company.

Widely recognised for his expertise in performance-based design and US codes, he has chaired multiple NFPA correlating committees and currently leads the NFPA High Rise Building Safety Advisory Committee.

His work with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, including contributions to guidance on very tall buildings, reflects a career focused on translating engineering theory into practical safety outcomes.

Code enforcement and public administration expertise

From a municipal perspective, Anthony C. Apfelbeck brings more than 35 years of experience in building and fire codes.

As Director of the Building and Fire Safety Department for the City of Altamonte Springs, Florida, he oversees everything from construction plan review to investigations and code enforcement.

His career began in the fire service and has expanded into technical committee work, professional education and executive leadership – a combination that reflects the real-world challenges of applying codes consistently and effectively.

Engineering practice and complex risk environments

Industry engineering practice is represented by figures such as Tracey D. Bellamy, Chief Engineering Officer at Telgian Corporation.

Bellamy’s work focuses on fire protection engineering and life safety consulting for large construction projects and hazardous materials facilities.

His experience reflects the growing need to address complex risk profiles across diverse occupancies and industrial environments.

Similarly, Michael A. Crowley of Coffman Engineers brings more than 40 years of consulting experience, with a particular focus on healthcare occupancies and life safety systems.

A former president of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Crowley continues to work with architects, facility managers and owners globally, helping translate standards into operational safety.

Standards development from the inside out

Several Council members have spent significant portions of their careers embedded directly in standards development.

Guy R. Colonna, a former NFPA engineer and staff liaison, worked for more than three decades on documents addressing maritime fire protection and industrial hazards.

Since retiring from NFPA, he has remained active through consulting and technical committee participation, bringing historical knowledge of how standards evolve over time.

Raymond A. Grill, principal of Ray Grill Consulting, also represents this long-term engagement with NFPA’s technical process.

With more than 40 years in fire protection engineering, Grill has chaired and served on numerous NFPA committees, particularly those related to life safety, sprinklers and emergency communications.

Fire service and operational leadership

Operational fire service experience is represented by Randy J. Krause, Fire Chief of the Port of Seattle Fire Department.

Krause’s career includes service in the US Air Force, private-sector industrial fire protection and leadership at one of the country’s busiest aviation hubs.

His long-standing involvement with NFPA occupational health and safety committees reflects the importance of aligning standards with responder realities.

Catherine L. Stashak, now an engineer with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, also brings frontline fire service experience.

After two decades with the Des Plaines Fire Department, she moved into regulatory and technical services, where her work now supports rulemaking, code interpretation and engineering review across a wide range of fire and life safety issues.

Science, testing and certification perspectives

The Council also includes members whose careers are rooted in testing, certification and research.

John A. LeBlanc, a senior engineering specialist at FM, has spent four decades developing property loss prevention guidance and supporting special hazard standards.

His work bridges chemical engineering, fire protection engineering and practical loss prevention strategies.

At UL Solutions, Dwayne E. Sloan serves as Technical Director for the Built Environment Division.

Over 37 years, his focus has included reaction-to-fire testing, exterior wall assemblies, ventilation systems and building materials.

His involvement across UL, NFPA and ASTM committees highlights the interconnection between testing, certification and code adoption.

Electrical safety and systems expertise

Electrical systems and power reliability are represented by Alan Manche of Schneider Electric.

With more than 30 years in the electrical industry, Manche has worked across product design, certification and standards development.

His long involvement with the National Electrical Code and emergency power system standards reflects the critical role of electrical safety within the broader fire protection landscape.

Industry association and system design insight

Rounding out the Council is Victoria B. Valentine of the American Fire Sprinkler Association.

A licensed professional engineer and Fellow of SFPE, Valentine has spent over two decades working with non-profit associations on professional qualifications, training and codes and standards development.

Her background in fire sprinkler systems and risk assessment adds a systems-based perspective to the Council’s work.

IFE sets out Apprenticeship Week plans plus Edinburgh graduate lecture details

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsFire EngineeringTraining

Apprenticeship Week campaign and sector resources

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has set out plans to support National Apprenticeship Week by spotlighting apprentices and promoting sector resources.

In a statement, the IFE said it will use the week to raise awareness of opportunities in the fire sector and share apprentice experiences, including how IFE Student membership has supported development.

The IFE said each day will focus on a different resource, including CPD, events, networking opportunities and a pathway to professional registration.

The organisation said 2026 is the third year it has celebrated apprenticeships.

Ellie Leadon, IFE Student member and a Design Engineer at BB7, said: “An apprenticeship offered the best of both worlds – the chance to gain practical experience while continuing my studies and earning throughout the programme.

“The combination of working on live projects, learning directly from experienced peers, developing both technical and personal skills, and gaining direct insight into the fire engineering industry made an apprenticeship the ideal route for me to gain experience and prepare for a long-term career. “

Events announced alongside the campaign

The IFE has also announced the return of its Graduate Lecture event, scheduled for 13 May at Edinburgh University.

The organisation said the day will showcase research from graduates and include networking opportunities for students to meet employers from across the sector.

IFE CEO Steve Hamm commented: “The IFE is proud to take part in this annual campaign and celebrate up and coming talent.

“As a professional body, it is paramount that we advocate for diversity and support individuals in their professional development.

“The modern apprenticeship pathway not only ensures a more dynamic and inclusive workforce but actively encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences to contribute to the fire sector.”

The IFE also said its Elevate webinar series will continue as a free resource for early career professionals covering topics from across the sector.

The organisation said further information on both events is available on its events page.

The IFE said its Apprenticeship Week campaign on LinkedIn runs from 9 to 15 February 2026.

Networking and awards: ASFP’s Intersec Dubai highlights

by Associations and OrganisationsEventsFeatured NewsMiddle East - EventsPassive

ASFP commentary on Intersec Dubai

A blog post by Mike Ward sets out how Intersec Dubai featured ASFP member networking and technical sessions.

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) published the reflection from managing director Mike Ward following the three-day event.

Ward described Intersec Dubai as an opportunity for the association and its members to explain what the ASFP does and why it aims to influence professional practice in passive fire protection across design and construction.

He also highlighted presenting an award at the Intersec awards and attending the UK Trade & Industry reception at the British Embassy to represent ASFP members.

Member engagement and the ASFP pavilion

The blog post described the event as a chance for ASFP members to engage with each other, procure products and services and grow their professional network.

Ward wrote that year-on-year growth has increased the size of the ASFP’s membership and increased demand for member networking opportunities.

He said designers, engineers and authorities described the ASFP pavilion as a space for deeper discussions about topics such as future project designs, without what he described as sales pressure at other stands.

Presentations and panels in the Intersec fire theatre

The ASFP commentary described a full day of presentations and panel sessions led by ASFP representatives in the Intersec fire theatre.

Paul McSoley, ASFP Consultant, presented a systematic approach to passive fire design and described how legal duty holders can work collaboratively to manage building risk conditions and arrive at compliant system designs through structured and transparent decision-making.

Andrew Taylor, ASFP’s Head of Technical, examined the relationship between Construction Product Regulations and UK Building Regulations and described how CE and UKCA marking show product performance and compliance within the wider building safety and regulatory context.

The post also described a panel chaired by Taylor and McSoley on improved passive fire protection and building safety, with contributions from Celine Abadie of Jotun, Jamie Rogers of CLM Fireproofing, David Campbell of Emirates Safety Laboratory and Will Cotterill of Fire Compliance Plus.

Further sessions described in the post included a presentation by Hannah Mansell, ASFP Consultant and Fire Door Specialist, on specification, installation and compliance for stakeholders involved in fire door safety management, and a presentation by Kate Milford, ASFP Competence Specialist, on training, third-party certification and competence across design, installation, inspection and maintenance.

The programme also included a panel moderated by Mansell and Milford titled From Laboratory to Lifetime Service: Passive Fire Protection – Competence, Innovation, and Global Accountability, with contributions from Elliott Brown of Fire Door Inspector Inspectors, Campbell and Taylor.

Ward’s post also urged ASFP members to collaborate with the association through exhibitor space or workshops at next year’s show.

NFPA names Schneider Electric’s Alan Manche to Standards Council

by Americas - Featured NewsAssociations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsPeople

NFPA Standards Council appointments effective January 1, 2026

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board of Directors has appointed Alan Manche, vice president of external affairs at Schneider Electric, to the NFPA Standards Council for a three-year term.

NFPA announced that the appointments and re-appointments officially began on January 1, 2026.

Read more: What is the NFPA Standards Council?

Council membership changes and member responsibilities

Anthony Apfelbeck, Dwayne Sloan and Victoria Valentine were each re-appointed to a second three-year term.

Michael Crowley’s appointment was extended for two years.

James Quiter was re-appointed as chair for a second three-year term.

The NFPA Standards Council has 13 members appointed by the NFPA Board of Directors.

The Council oversees NFPA standards development activities.

The Council is responsible for ensuring compliance with the NFPA Regulations.

The Council also serves as the appeals body over matters related to standards development.

Manche has more than 30 years of experience in the electrical industry, including roles in product design, testing, product certification and industry standards development for electrical products and systems.

In his current role at Schneider Electric, Manche is responsible for company strategy and participation in trade and industry associations, standards organisations and conformity assessment.

He has also played an active role in the enforcement and electrical inspection community.

Manche serves on several NFPA Committees, including NFPA 70, National Electrical Code Code-Making Panels and Correlating Committee, NFPA 110/111, Emergency Power Systems and NFPA 70B, Electrical Equipment Maintenance, where he previously served as chair.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

He is a licensed professional engineer in Kentucky.

He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Miami University.

FIA publishes Environmental Guidance Legislative Overview for fire protection sector

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsResearchSustainability

Environmental guidance legislative overview replaces earlier fact file

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has published a new Environmental Guidance Legislative Overview, replacing the withdrawn Fact File 36 from 2009.

The FIA described the document as a high-level guide to current UK environmental legislation that may affect fire protection companies.

The FIA said the overview is intended to raise awareness rather than provide an exhaustive list of legal duties.

The document focuses on England and Wales, with the FIA noting that different regulatory regimes apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The FIA stated that responsibility for compliance rests with individual companies.

What the guidance covers for fire protection companies

The FIA explained that UK environmental law has changed substantially since 2009, particularly following Brexit.

The document outlines three elements of the current framework: retained EU regulations amended for UK use, new UK domestic regulations, and separate devolved regimes in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The guidance points to the Environment Act 2021 as a starting point for understanding the current framework.

The FIA organises the overview around climate change controls, sustainable design requirements, pollution permitting, waste management regimes, and chemical product restrictions.

The climate change section includes ozone-depleting substances rules, describing bans on halon in new systems and licensing for certain critical uses under DEFRA.

The overview also summarises duties under the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2015 as amended in 2020, including leak checks for stationary fire suppression systems containing F-gases, record keeping for gases charged, recovered or destroyed, and certification requirements for individuals and companies.

The sustainable design section summarises the Eco-design for Energy-Related Products Regulations 2021 and references the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation 2024/1781, describing an expectation that manufacturers consider impacts across sourcing, manufacture, transport, use and end-of-life recovery.

For construction products, the overview describes the Construction Products Regulations 2022 and states that since 1 January 2023 either CE or UKCA marking is acceptable for new products placed on the UK market.

The pollution permitting section summarises the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 and describes that certain activities require an environmental permit, with conditions based on Best Available Techniques and covering emission limits, monitoring, accident prevention and site restoration.

The waste section summarises WEEE rules, stating that many fire products such as smoke detectors and control panels fall under Category 9 and that obligated producers must label products, fund end-of-life collection and recycling, and report annual tonnages to the Environment Agency.

The overview also summarises hazardous waste rules, including that certain firefighting gases such as HFC 227ea and HFC 23 are classified under European Waste Catalogue code 14 06 01 and must be accompanied by consignment notes with records retained for three years.

The packaging section describes the UK Extended Producer Responsibility scheme and references the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40, outlining tighter targets around recycled content, material labelling and reuse.

The chemical restrictions section includes RoHS requirements for electrical and electronic equipment, UK REACH registration conditions for substances used in fire products, and PFAS controls including that certain PFAS are already banned under the UK POPs Regulation with deadlines for removing and disposing of legacy foams.

The guidance outlines Environmental Product Declarations as standardised independently verified documents, stating they are not currently mandatory in Great Britain for fire safety products while referencing EU requirements such as the EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 digital battery passport and carbon footprint disclosure from 2026 or 2027 for certain batteries.

The overview briefly outlines the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism starting on 1 January 2027 and lists the product groups it will apply to, including aluminium, cement, fertiliser, hydrogen, and iron and steel.

The document also lists official sources of further information including GOV.UK, DEFRA, the Environment Agency, the Scottish Government, SEPA, and DAERA.

It also includes an Annex A diagram mapping how different environmental regulations intersect with stages of a product lifecycle from raw material extraction through to recycling and disposal.

The FIA’s overview frames environmental regulation as more complex than in 2009 and sets out how overlapping regimes can affect fire protection companies, with compliance remaining the responsibility of individual organisations.

US funding law boosts 9/11 health programme and fire service grants

by Americas - Featured NewsAssociations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsHealth and Safety

One 9/11 law, two fire service impacts

The US government has been funded through Sept. 30, 2026 under a 2026 funding package signed into law by President Donald Trump.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) said the package advances priorities including protecting health care for 9/11 responders through the World Trade Center Health Program and increasing fire service staffing and equipment grants nationwide.

9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding fix

The IAFF said the legislation includes a fix to the World Trade Center Health Program.

The package incorporates key components of the IAFF-backed 9/11 Responders and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act.

The IAFF said this corrects the programme’s funding formula and supports long-term solvency.

Kelly said: “Fire fighters who responded to the terrorist attack at Ground Zero answered the call without hesitation.

“‘Never forget’ means making sure these brave men and women have access to the healthcare they need to combat the long-term illnesses they’re facing due to their service on 9/11.”

Slevin said Congress is upholding its promise to 9/11 responders by fully funding the WTCHP.

Slevin said: “The WTC Health Program is critical for the thousands of first responders already diagnosed with 9/11-related illnesses – and for all those who will be diagnosed in the years ahead.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of September 11th, New Yorkers – and all those who rushed to Ground Zero – now know this vital program will continue to be there for them.”

Fire service grants and other provisions

The IAFF said the bill increases both the Assistance for Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programmes by 5.5%.

The IAFF said this makes more than $342 million available nationwide as departments face staffing shortages.

Departments can use the funds to hire additional fire fighters and acquire new apparatus.

Departments can use the funds to better protect communities and fire fighters on the job.

The bill includes a $1 million increase for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s National Fire Fighter Cancer Registry.

The bill includes a two-year extension for Medicare Ambulance Extender Payments.

The bill includes the IAFF-endorsed Honoring Our Living Donor (HOLD) Act, which improves income replacement for living organ donors who are temporarily unable to return to work while recovering from their surgery.

What ASFP’s conflict avoidance Gold Status means for members

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

Conflict avoidance requirement added to ASFP membership

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has received Gold Status Signatory recognition from the Conflict Avoidance Coalition and made the Conflict Avoidance Pledge a condition of ASFP membership.

The ASFP said the recognition reflects its work to promote collaborative working and reduce contractual disputes across the passive fire protection sector.

The pledge commits signatories to collaboration, tackling issues early and using cost-effective mechanisms to prevent disputes escalating.

Gold Status recognition and conference sponsorship

As of this month, the Conflict Avoidance Pledge is a condition of ASFP membership.

Mike Ward, ASFP Managing Director, said: “The award of Gold Status by the Conflict Avoidance Coalition recognises the importance ASFP places on collaborative working and early engagement to prevent disputes before they arise.

“By making the Conflict Avoidance Pledge a condition of membership, we are sending a clear message that better behaviours, openness and proportionate contractual measures are essential to improving outcomes for the industry as a whole.”

ASFP will also be a key sponsor of the Conflict Avoidance Coalition’s second conference later this year.

What the Conflict Avoidance Pledge is

The ASFP described the Conflict Avoidance Pledge as an early intervention process in construction and engineering projects intended to resolve emerging issues between the parties involved without using dispute resolution processes such as adjudication.

The Conflict Avoidance Coalition Steering Group comprises over fifty organisations.

It is involved in driving the process forward and encouraging procuring authorities to include a provision for CAP in contracts.

The Steering Group’s work spans sectors including transportation, rail, nuclear, water and utilities, power, civils, health, education, defence and commercial projects.

Organisations can find more information via the Conflict Avoidance Coalition website.