New ASFP technical guidance for fire safety professionals
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) will launch several new and updated technical documents at the Fire Safety Event at the NEC from 28th to 30th April 2026.
These free documents will be available in hard copy format at Stand G120 with representatives on site to answer questions regarding the content of each Colour Book.
Distribution is limited to 100 copies per publication on a first come first serve basis with a limit of one copy per person.
The Green Book – Fire Door Systems: Guidance on specification, application and management – Volume 1 is a new publication scheduled for launch on 28th April at 11.00am.
This document brings together guidance on the specification and management of fire door systems for residential and mixed-use commercial buildings.
Technical author Hannah Mansell (ASFP Consultant / ADOORABILITY) and technical group chair Damian Ward (Checkmate Fire Solutions) will be the primary representatives on site for queries.
The ASFP Clear Book: Fire-Resistant Glazing covers the design and maintenance of glazed fire resisting systems including internal partitions and external curtain walling.
Inspecting passive fire protection and partition standards
The 2nd Edition of the Guide to Inspecting Passive Fire Protection (PFP) for Fire Risk Assessors contains updated text to assist with inspections under fire safety legislation.
Niall Rowan (ASFP) will launch this edition on 29th April at 11.00am to help assessors verify that PFP supporting means of escape is adequate.
The Purple Book – Fire Resisting Partitions: A guide to internally framed non-load-bearing partitions has been updated to its 3rd Edition.
This version includes references to the removal of BS 476 as a means for satisfying Approved Document B and other statutory guidance documents.
It provides guidance on partitions fitted with services that impose loads such as fire dampers and penetrating services.
Rowan will also lead the launch of this document on 29th April at 1.30pm.
Updated Grey Book volumes for fire and smoke dampers
The ASFP Grey Book Volume 1 focuses on fire dampers in accordance with BS EN 15650 and provides practical advice for manufacturers and installers.
This 3rd Edition is intended to ensure dampers function as intended by current regulations and will launch on 30th April at 12.00pm.
The Grey Book Volume 2 is a new publication covering smoke control dampers in accordance with BS EN 12101-8.
It serves as a guide for designers and inspectors to ensure the use of dampers that have been fire tested for specific applications.
Technical group chair Darren Webster (Fire Safe Duct Work) and technical group convenor Andrew Taylor (ASFP) will be available for technical queries regarding both Grey Book volumes.
The launch events take place next to the Passive Fire Conference stage during the three day exhibition.
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has revised its Guide to Passive Fire Protection for Fire Risk Assessors, with updates reflecting legislative and regulatory changes following the Grenfell Tower fire.
ASFP published the revised guide in an article dated 7 April 2026 by Niall Rowan, ASFP’s Technical and Regulatory Affairs Officer.
The guide was first published in 2012 after a certification body asked ASFP to produce simple passive fire protection guidance for fire risk assessors applying for certification under its scheme.
It was written for those carrying out Type 1 fire risk assessments and became one of the association’s largest publication downloads.
The revised version keeps the same three-part structure.
It includes a general and regulatory section, a methodology section covering different types of passive fire protection and annexes with further information, links to third-party guidance and an example checklist.
ASFP guide reflects legislative changes
Rowan wrote that the main changes in the revised guide arise from the Grenfell Tower fire on 14th July 2017 and the legislation that followed.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 (England & Wales) brought flat front doors into the scope of fire risk assessments under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
It also clarified that where a building contains two or more sets of domestic premises, the fire risk assessment should include an assessment of the building’s external wall system.
Recommendations from Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry led to the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
Those regulations mandated quarterly checks on fire doors in common parts of buildings and annual checks on flat front doors where possible, along with premises information boxes in blocks of flats containing building plans.
The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a new regulatory regime for higher risk buildings, which the source material defines as buildings over 6 storeys and 18m high plus some other categories.
ASFP said these changes meant the revised guide now contains enhanced checks on fire doors, procedures for evaluating external walls and a new annex on external wall construction.
Type 1 assessments remain the main focus
The guide is aimed at fire risk assessors carrying out Type 1 fire risk assessments, described in the source material as the most common type for multi-occupied buildings.
These assessments focus on communal areas such as hallways, stairwells and escape routes and are non-destructive visual inspections.
The source material states that assessors are still expected to look above ceiling tiles on escape routes and above fire doors at corridor ends where they can.
Where significant passive fire protection shortfalls are identified, the guide recommends further inspection by specialists or a full invasive fire risk assessment such as a Type 2 or Type 4 assessment.
It also includes material on improving the competency of fire risk assessors and explains procedures used in undertaking assessment of external walls from the Fire Sector Confederation.
External envelope work begins with TG14 first meeting
The first meeting of TG14 – ‘Passive Fire Protection and the External Envelope’ brought together specialists from multiple disciplines, according to a blog post by Paul McSoley shared by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).
Participants included designers and engineers, facade experts, penetration seals, cavity barrier and fixing specialists, plus testing, certification and installation representatives.
The day opened with a call from Mike Ward, who said the next logical step towards industry-wide competence in passive fire protection sits within the void between the faced and the building structure.
Discussion centred on definitions, typologies and testing interfaces
Following work on the ASFP Green Book – fire doors and the ASFP Clear Book – fire resistant glazing, Hannah Mansell told the group that facades are a natural area to simplify and that a similar approach should be applied to external systems as the Design Guide for internal passive fire protection nears completion.
The discussion was framed around how a facade should be defined and what passive fire protection means in that context.
Mansell said: “While I recognise I am not a facade expert, part of my objective for the first session was to break down facades into typologies.
“For example, is the facade external to the building structure, or is it recessed within it?
“If so, what are the next natural steps in identifying the principles of each one?
“To go even further, how many common approaches of facade are there in each location, and how do we determine the approaches for how passive fire protection is applied from a cavity barrier, a door, a window or even a flue discharge?
“What about the wall junctions from the internal compartments that separate room space, and what type of building safety risks could they contain?”
McSoley wrote that the ASFP Purple Book – fire-resisting partitions approach to internal substrates may provide comparators for the work on external substrates.
He wrote that passive fire protection systems are either applied as a weight to the wall substrate or supported from the slab, with installation usually specific to partition-type systems or rigid structures.
He added that the difference with external walls is that they become a non-standard supporting construction, and that testing and determining interfaces will be a key part of TG14’s work.
Next meeting to compile feedback and map facade types
McSoley wrote that the group’s next steps will involve breaking system types down and applying the colour book approach to external substrates.
He added that the next meeting should be better placed to compile feedback from the day and identify facade types and common interface principles that form a whole system.
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.
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.
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.
ASFP appointments add training and technical capacity
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has appointed Nathan Hassall as Training Officer and Akim Makumbi as Technical Associate.
In a press release, the ASFP said the appointments were intended to strengthen its training and technical functions for the passive fire protection sector in a post-Grenfell context.
Training role focused on course delivery and development
Nathan Hassall joins as Training Officer with more than a decade of industry experience across site-based and management roles.
The ASFP said Hassall began his career as an apprentice carpenter more than 10 years ago and has spent the last five years working in construction management.
Hassall said: “I’m thrilled to join the ASFP as a Training Officer.
“My goal is to support individuals and organisations in navigating the complexities of our industry by promoting clarity and best practice.
“I look forward to delivering our core curriculum while also developing and refining new courses to ensure our training remains world class.
“I’d like to thank the ASFP for this opportunity and my professional network for their ongoing support.
“I’m excited to play an active role in the future growth and success of the passive fire protection sector.”
Technical role focused on compliance, quality assurance and standards alignment
Akim Makumbi joins the ASFP Technical Team as Technical Associate, where he will support membership events and technical groups with specialist guidance in Passive Fire Protection and Fire Protection Engineering.
The ASFP said Makumbi brings experience from roles across the intumescent and protective coatings sector, construction, project management and mechanical engineering.
Makumbi said: “I am excited to join the ASFP as Technical Associate.
“My core mission in this new chapter is to help bring more awareness and bridge the technical skills gaps with other niche & innovative industries in line with fire engineering products & systems, construction, quality assurance, and compliance.”
The ASFP said the appointments were intended to support members through technical leadership and practical training.
Intersec 2026 has announced new show features for its 12 to 14 January 2026 return to Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE.
The organisers said the 27th edition of Intersec will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
They said the new elements include Passive Fire Day, the Control Room Innovation Theatre and the co-located FCIA–NFCA PFPCON ’26 Dubai.
The organisers also announced invitation-only Executive Roundtables and an Innovation Trail for exhibitor showcases.
Intersec 2026 will be supported strategically by the General Command of Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) and the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA).
The organisers said the event will host over 1,200 exhibitors from more than 60 countries across five sectors: Homeland Security & Policing, Cybersecurity, Commercial & Perimeter Security, Fire & Rescue and Health & Safety.
They added that over 50,000 visitors are expected across 65,000 gross square metres of exhibition space, which they described as the largest edition in the show’s 27-year history.
Passive Fire Day set for 14 January
The organisers said Passive Fire Day will take place on 14 January in collaboration with the Association for Passive Fire Protection (ASFP).
They described the programme as aiming to position passive fire as a professional discipline within the built environment.
The organisers defined passive fire protection as built-in measures intended to contain fire and smoke, protect escape routes and maintain structural integrity.
They said examples include fire-resistant walls and floors, fire doors, fire stopping and cavity barriers.
They added that passive fire protection differs from active systems such as alarms or sprinkler systems because it does not rely on activation or human intervention.
The organisers said senior ASFP representatives and industry collaborators will lead presentations and panel discussions on early engagement in design, regulatory alignment, fire door specification and installation and competence across the passive fire supply chain.
Dishan Isaac, Show Director of Intersec at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “Passive fire protection underpins the safety of the built environment, yet it has historically been treated as a technical afterthought rather than a professional discipline.
“By integrating Passive Fire Day and PFPCON ’26 Dubai into Intersec, we are creating a platform that brings competency, standards and accountability into sharper focus, while encouraging earlier engagement and stronger collaboration across the entire construction and life-safety value chain.”
PFPCON ’26 Dubai to run alongside
The organisers said the FCIA–NFCA PFPCON ’26 Dubai will run from 12 to 14 January 2026 as a co-located event with Intersec 2026.
They said it is presented by the Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA) and the National Fireproofing Contractors Association (NFCA).
The organisers said the event will bring together experts, innovators and practitioners to advance standards, competency and collaboration across the passive fire sector.
Control room theatre focuses on performance
The organisers said the Control Room Innovation Theatre will be delivered in partnership with the International Critical Control Rooms Alliance.
They described the theatre as a thought-leadership platform focused on control rooms and operations centres.
They said the agenda will include how cognitive control rooms are emerging, with AI and advanced data analytics used to support faster decision-making in high-pressure situations.
They added that sessions will examine integrated command centre operations and approaches to reduce organisational and sector silos during complex incidents.
The organisers said the programme will also address the role of operator wellbeing in control room performance and workforce empowerment.
Executive roundtables and Innovation Trail added
The organisers said Intersec 2026 will introduce invitation-only Executive Roundtables bringing together senior leaders from government, industry and technology.
They said the sessions will be compiled into post-event white papers intended to translate discussion into strategies, standards and future-facing innovation.
They listed roundtable topics as Redefining Crisis Management for Critical Infrastructure Protection, delivered by PwC Middle East, plus Governing the Blue: Intelligence-led Security for Gulf Maritime Boundaries and Defending the Digital Backbone: Securing National Infrastructure in the Era of AI and Hybrid Threats, both led by Kearney.
The organisers also announced the Innovation Trail as an interactive feature highlighting exhibitors presenting products and solutions across security, safety and fire protection.
Isaac said: “What unites these new features is a shared focus on people, performance and preparedness.
“Whether through professionalising passive fire, strengthening health and safety competence, or rethinking how control rooms support decision-making under pressure, Intersec 2026 is designed to help industries respond to growing complexity with clarity, capability and collaboration.”
Where this affects passive fire competence
Passive fire-protection contractors, fire door specialists and fire-stopping installers can use Passive Fire Day and PFPCON ’26 Dubai as focal points for updates on competence, standards and supply chain expectations described in the programme.
Architects, building services engineers and fire engineering consultants involved in early-stage design can track sessions focused on earlier engagement in design and regulatory alignment, as outlined by the organisers.
Facility managers and procurement teams responsible for built environment life safety can monitor the event’s passive fire content because it centres on specification and installation topics, including fire doors and cavity barriers.
Emergency and disaster response managers running control rooms and operations centres can follow the Control Room Innovation Theatre sessions covering AI-enabled decision-making, integrated command centre operations and operator wellbeing.
Organisations with responsibility for security, safety and fire protection governance can review the planned post-event white papers from the Executive Roundtables, which are intended to translate the discussions into strategies and standards.
Updated BS 8524 publication for fire curtains confirmed
The Association For Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has commented on the republication of the BS 8524 series for active fire curtain barriers, following release by the British Standards Institution (BSI) on Friday 21 November 2025.
The ASFP said the revised suite updates the UK’s standards for the design, specification, testing, application, installation and maintenance of active fire curtain assemblies.
It said the update followed an extended delay linked to concerns about scope overlap with a related BS EN designated product standard, which it said have now been resolved.
The series has two parts, comprising Part 1 on product specifications and performance requirements and Part 2 on a code of practice covering application, installation, commissioning and maintenance.
Where the fire curtain standard applies
The ASFP said BS 8524-1:2025 sets requirements for the design, testing and classification of active fire curtain barrier assemblies.
It said performance criteria cover reliability and durability, fire resistance, smoke containment, force-gauge resistance and the performance of control devices and ancillary equipment.
The ASFP said the standard applies to active fire curtain barrier assemblies made of any material, intended to provide fire resistance in most end-use applications.
It said the standard does not apply to barriers forming part of a building’s structure.
It also said it does not apply to theatre or proscenium textile curtains, fabrics for curtains, drapes and blinds, smoke barriers or operable fabric curtains used in retail settings for pedestrian access.
Scope clashes and EN 16034 clarified
The ASFP said industry debate has continued over the interaction between BS 8524-1 and the harmonised European Standard EN 16034, which it said is designated in the UK as BS EN 16034.
It said the redrafting work sought to address the scope clash and differentiate applications where each standard is appropriate.
The ASFP said BS 8524 includes testing requirements that it described as unique and more stringent, including cycle testing and independent ‘hot’ motor testing.
It said these elements are not covered within EN 16034, except in specific cases such as pedestrian door set applications installed in shopping malls where it said the EN standard is a legal requirement.
The ASFP added that the revised BS 8524 references ISO 21524, which it described as a new international standard for fire curtains, including updated test methods for features such as vision panels.
Certification route and UKAS accreditation
The ASFP said a lack of UKAS-accredited third-party certification schemes has been a challenge for compliance since the withdrawal of previous bodies in 2023.
It said UL has now achieved UKAS accreditation to certify products to BS 8524-2013 and is accepting new applications.
The organisation described this as an important step for consistent, independent verification of product performance.
Mike Ward, Managing Director of the ASFP, commented: “The release of the 2025 versions of the BS 8524 series marks a pivotal moment for the fire safety sector.
“After a prolonged period of confusion and inconsistency, the industry now has a clear and robust framework for the specification and testing of active fire curtain barriers.
“This update strengthens alignment with international standards, restores a vital third-party certification pathway, and provides the clarity that manufacturers, installers, regulators, and ultimately end users have urgently needed.
“The ASFP strongly welcomes this revision and encourages all stakeholders to adopt and apply the updated requirements without delay.”
What this means for specification and compliance
Fire engineering consultants, architects and building services engineers may need to check which end-use applications fall under BS 8524-1:2025 versus BS EN 16034, based on the differentiated scopes described by the ASFP.
Manufacturers and installers of active fire curtain barriers may need to align product testing, installation, commissioning and maintenance practices with the republished Part 1 and Part 2 requirements.
Standards and certification bodies, along with procurement and specification teams, may also need to factor in the UKAS-accredited certification route referenced by the ASFP, including UL’s ability to certify products to BS 8524-2013 while new applications are accepted.
Mike Ward, Managing Director of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, reflects on fifty years of the ASFP advancing competence, clarity and collaboration across the built environment
Passive fire protection often slips from view when project decisions are set.
It sits beside alarms, pumps and vehicles, yet its success depends on choices that begin at concept and run through design, installation and inspection.
In this extended conversation, Mike Ward, Managing Director of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, sets out how the ASFP is centring competence, earlier engagement and usable guidance, and why that now includes a defined platform at Intersec.
Why passive needs its own platform
Ward begins with a clear observation about how passive fire has been presented at large shows and inside multi-topic project teams.
“Last year we took a bit of a fact-finding trip and then met with Messe Frankfurt,” Ward says.
“My point to them was that on the fire side of Intersec everything gets mixed together.
“You can have a small sprinkler stand next to NAFFCO’s big airport fire engines, next to a box that goes ping, next to a tube of something that claims to solve all ills on a construction site.
“Passive fire is different from boxes that go ping or tanks painted red.”
The platform ASFP sought is about timing and responsibility: “It’s about bringing the passive sector into the design and construction conversation far earlier,” Ward explains.
“Using the new golden thread tools linked with BIM brings the sector front and centre in its relationship with the principal designer and principal contractor.”
ASFP has confirmed plans for Intersec in Dubai that reflect this approach.
The association will lead a Passive Fire Protection zone within the UK Pavilion, positioned near the Fire Safety Theatre, with a programme focused on practical design decisions and clear routes to evidence.
The intention is to make passive fire visible as a defined set of responsibilities and to point visitors to content they can apply on live projects.
Competence, the register and the Pass Mark
Professionalisation in practice starts with role clarity and proof of knowledge.
The ASFP pathway maps expectations across manufacturers, installers, testers, certifiers and designers, then sets out how competence is demonstrated and recorded.
“This is about bringing together the competency framework for manufacturers, installers, testers, certifiers and designers so they can evidence competence through a framework and register,” Ward says.
“That links to more robust schemes here and tracks through to the ASFP Pass Mark.
“The Pass Mark is an independent mark run by ASFP that sits above standard membership.”
The structure is designed to support duty holders, clients and contractors.
It simplifies selection, helps designers understand that specifications can be delivered as drawn, and builds a consistent record along the golden thread so approvals and maintenance stand on firm ground.
“The goal is for the passive sector to be seen as professional, to be brought into the design and construction conversation earlier, and to use golden thread tools linked with BIM so the sector is front and centre alongside the principal designer and principal contractor,” Ward says.
“There’s a whole story to tell here.”
Guidance that supports daily decisions
A framework is only useful if teams can reach for documents that work under time pressure.
ASFP has advanced a pipeline of publications that shift attention to early planning and whole-system thinking.
At the centre is the Green Book for fire doors, drawn from TG10 and set out to treat door sets as systems through the life of a building, not as isolated products at handover.
The approach encourages early engagement with users, mapped responsibility across disciplines, and digital records that support inspection and maintenance.
It recognises the range of door types and components now in use and the way poor specification or reactive upkeep can turn essential assets into liabilities.
Closing the gaps at interfaces
Some of the most persistent problems appear where trades meet.
The space behind the façade is a frequent source of uncertainty because duties overlap and change as products are substituted.
ASFP is convening a new technical group to examine this zone alongside façades, windows and fit-out specialists.
The scope includes movement, junctions and the downstream effects when a product is swapped without checking its neighbour.
Guidance will include straightforward details and a focus on recording decisions so inspectors and future maintainers can see what was installed and why.
“We’re entering the external envelope space and creating a new technical group for passive measures behind façades,” Ward says.
“We’ve got the Centre for Window Technology, FIS and several members engaged.
“The first meeting is planned for the end of January.
“It’s a missing piece in passive – the space between inner walls and the outer wall.
“What does that look like from a passive fire point of view?”
Ward’s stance on materials is direct: “We just want to make sure it works.”
People, culture and outreach
Competence also relies on people, wellbeing and entry routes.
The ASFP Academy now spans Awareness, Introduction, Diploma and Foundation levels, with new courses in development to address gaps.
Work is underway with SFJ Awards on an independent assessment service that can provide credible evidence of competence, beginning with design and specification then expanding to other roles.
The association has launched a mental health pack that sets out simple, practical steps employers can take, encourages open conversation and signposts to specialist support.
The Young Leaders Group features in Council activity, reflecting the need to attract new entrants.
ASFP has joined Climate Action for Associations to embed sustainability aims in its operations and in the guidance it promotes.
The communications approach mirrors how people learn and share now.
ASFP TV and short-form clips translate theatre sessions and site lessons into two-minute explainers that can be watched on a phone and used in toolbox talks.
“I’m handing the reins of social media over because I’m old and no one wants to see old people on social,” Ward says.
“If you go to TikTok and search ‘everything PFP’ you’ll see our channel.
“Others are starting to do similar things, which is fine.
“How people consume information is different from ten or twenty years ago.
“It takes three times the effort to stay ahead of the pack, but we’re happy for people to follow.”
Reece Goodman has returned as PR and Membership Engagement Officer to drive this activity, oversee the EverythingPFP channel and develop member-facing content that supports recruitment and outreach alongside the Young Leaders Group.
The calendar provides a rhythm that runs from regional rooms to international halls.
Through the year ASFP has appeared at national trade shows with theatre activity, paired its AGM with a London technical seminar, and run regional days including Scotland and London.
Webinars and Academy sessions support those who cannot travel, and the ASFP Awards Lunch will round out the year.
On awards, Ward sets out what they represent.
“The ASFP is proud to represent all those in the passive fire community who look to evidence their commitment to improving quality, standards, and competency within the built environment by virtue of their membership of the association,” Ward says.
“The pinnacle of this is those members who put forward their nominations for the ASFP awards, knowing their nomination will come under scrutiny, but having the confidence in themselves to put it forward all the same.
“Whether being shortlisted or winning, the mere confidence and commitment to apply is what makes the ASFP awards such a great event.
“The quiet, meaningful morality of ASFP members is the loudest voice in the industry; this one fact alone is never lost on me, thank you to all those who applied, good luck to all nominees on this, the fiftieth anniversary of the ASFP.
“It’s going to be a very special event indeed.”
Those touchpoints lead into the Intersec plan.
ASFP will lead the Passive Fire Protection zone within the UK Pavilion near the Fire Safety Theatre and run theatre content focused on competence and early design decisions, supported by a show brochure and daily media.
Rather than presenting passive as a catalogue of products, the programme concentrates on decisions that change day-to-day work.
Ward’s team expects short interviews on the stand and in the theatre to run across social channels during the show so the message reaches people who are not on site.
“We’ll run a full ASFP TV social media campaign across the three days,” Ward says.
“Reece is coming to do on-stand interviews with exhibitors, film at the theatre, talk to presenters and panellists, and speak with Emirates Safety Laboratory.”
The pavilion set-up follows the same logic of clarity and access.
ASFP will host a small pavilion of exhibiting members, each with its own branding, promoted by Messe Frankfurt as the ASFP pavilion, with an ASFP stand integrated with or adjacent to the space.
The third day includes a full programme in the Fire Theatre on professionalising passive fire.
Sessions will include the latest work on competency frameworks, the forthcoming ASFP Design Guide, and the Green Book for fire doors.
Panel sessions will include employers from exhibiting members so visitors can hear directly from teams applying these approaches in practice.
A longer horizon sits behind the show plan.
“This is baby steps for the first one,” Ward says.
“We have a five-year plan with Messe Frankfurt to develop passive as a distinct consideration – not siloed, because everything is interdependent, but visible.
“Unless you break it out and shine a light on it, it gets lost in the noise.”
Asked what readers should take from the year ahead, Ward returns to first principles:
Early involvement creates clarity.
Role-based competence gives confidence.
Documents that show tested detail reduce friction from concept to sign-off.
“Bringing the passive sector into the conversation earlier is what changes outcomes,” Ward says.
“The calendar is set up to keep that message in front of designers, contractors and clients throughout the year.”