Fire Aware calls for duty of care-led cultural change in fire safety

by Featured NewsIndustry CommentSafety

Fire Aware and duty of care

Fire Aware has called for cultural change in fire safety through a duty of care across multiple sectors.

In the recent commentary piece, Fire Aware says everyone involved in the design, construction, maintenance and letting of the built environment should understand an obligation to fire safety, including businesses outside fire specialisms.

It also references Dame Judith Hackitt, who led the Grenfell Inquiry, and her calls for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours.

The commentary adds that the new independent Building Safety Regulator has been created to “promote competence and higher standards.”

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “We have many members who are not directly connected to fire safety but still accept they have a duty of care for public safety.

“People can get hurt through a fire incident even if it is by the actions of people way outside of the fire specialisms.

“Committing to the moral and ethical values of being fire safe is more than a job.

“It’s a way of life and a vocation.

“Our members are all of the same mind and we are moving towards raising the bar of standards, competence and commitment to fire safety of the public.

“Ultimately, we are talking about protecting people.”

Sectors highlighted and the proposed approach

The commentary highlights hospitality and healthcare as sectors it describes as particularly vulnerable to fire risk.

It links hospitality risk to the number of bars, restaurants and hotels trusted to protect customers.

It links healthcare risk to protecting vulnerable and elderly people, including those who cannot look after themselves in the event of a real fire.

Fire Aware says it is focusing on the moral responsibility of those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

It says it aims to influence member company behaviour through a moral code of conduct delivered via a series of charters.

Fire Aware describes itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors, with a shared aim to work and trade responsibly to best practice standards in the interests of general public safety.

Fire Aware backs BSR drive to raise competence across fire safety

by Featured NewsHealth and SafetySafety

BSR and Fire Aware’s position

Fire Aware has announced support for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as part of its campaign for cultural change across the fire safety industry.

The position was set out in a Fire Aware statement on its work with the regulator.

The organisation noted that the BSR became a formal standalone arm’s length body in January, operating under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after transferring from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Fire Aware added that it is advising member organisations across multiple sectors on engagement with the regulator.

Gavin Skelly said: “We fully endorse the move towards cultural change.

“We must remember – those who hold a duty of care at all levels are working in a vocation, and not just a job.

“We are working with our members to improve the standards of our buildings old and new and to improve the competence of those working within them who hold a duty of care.

“The essence of the BSR’s aims are aligned with our own.

“Fire Aware would support this requirement and direct any of its members involved in the Gateway system to help the regulator achieve its goal, similar to that of Fire Aware’s mission, to primarily uphold public safety.”

Skelly also commented that all parts of the supply chain across multiple sectors should adopt the same vocational approach to duty of care.

Charters and duty of care

Fire Aware described its campaign as focusing on the moral responsibility of those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

The body said it intends to introduce a moral code of conduct through a series of charters aimed at shaping how member companies behave when upholding their duty of care.

Fire Aware characterised itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with a shared aim to work and trade responsibly to best practice standards in the interests of public safety.

The organisation’s stance links its internal charter programme with the regulator’s expectations for those submitting safety cases to the BSR.

Fire Aware sets out cultural change aims in plain terms

by Featured NewsIndustry CommentSafety

Cultural change across sectors is Fire Aware’s focus

Fire Aware has published commentary calling for cultural change across multiple sectors it describes as vulnerable to fire risk.

The organisation is focusing on property and construction, plus hospitality, healthcare, the public sector and retail.

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “Fire Aware crosses the boundaries of sectors that have responsibilities for end-user safety.

“This is not just about construction companies.

“We are working with any organisation that wants to show the public that they are responsible and are committing to only delivering the safest outcome for their staff, clients and customers.”

Sectors highlighted for responsibility in buildings

Skelly cited sectors with particular responsibilities for people who work and move about in their buildings, including hospitality covering bars, restaurants and hotels.

Healthcare was also identified as a focus, with reference to protecting vulnerable and elderly people, including those who are ill or cannot look after themselves in the event of a real fire.

Skelly added: “Working in this industry is a vocation, not a job, and should be treated as such.

“All parts of the supply chain across multiple sectors should work with the same vocational approach, not just those who are qualified to do so.

“The legislation being introduced is robust and also quite complex.

“The guidance and support we offer will help navigate the relevant parts for our members and for anyone else wishing to tap onto this knowledge and intelligence.”

Charters and a moral code of conduct

Fire Aware described its work as focusing on the moral responsibility of those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

It said it aims to change the culture of the built environment sector by introducing a moral code of conduct via a series of charters intended to influence how member companies behave in upholding their duty of care.

Fire Aware described itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with an aim to work and trade responsibly to best practice standards in the interests of general public safety.

Fire Aware sets out call for unity in fire safety

by CommunicationsFeatured NewsSafety

Unity across duty holders at heart of Fire Aware Code of Conduct

Fire Aware has called for Unity across the fire safety supply chain in a new Code of Conduct and series of charters published on Tuesday 9 December 2025.

The organisation said the initiative is aimed at aligning designers, developers, suppliers, contractors, asset owners and other duty holders around shared moral responsibilities, alongside legal duties under the Building Safety Act.

The call has been set out by Gavin Skelly, CEO of Fire Aware, in a message to businesses and organisations involved in the built environment.

Moral responsibility and duty of care across the supply chain

According to Fire Aware, everyone involved in fire safety work should recognise that keeping the public safe is more than a job and that the sector operates as a vocation.

The organisation stressed that moral responsibility sits with all parties in the supply chain, including designers, developers, suppliers, contractors, asset owners, manufacturers, managers and installers.

Fire Aware’s message frames public safety as a right for people who live and work in the buildings where fire protection measures are installed.

The organisation linked this responsibility to the duty of care held by duty holders from the earliest stages of a project.

Gavin Skelly, CEO of Fire Aware, said: “The fire safety industry needs to be united in its initiative for the moral and behavioral changes in culture needed to improve standards.

“We should consider the moral responsibility required of all concerned in the supply chain from top to bottom, including designers, developers, suppliers, contractors, asset owners, manufacturers, managers and installers and many more.

“Let’s not forget, keeping the public safe is more than a job.”

Unity as the basis for Fire Aware charters

Fire Aware stated that all industry participants should treat the Building Safety Act as a minimum benchmark and that member companies are encouraged to move beyond simple legislative compliance.

The organisation has introduced a Fire Aware Code of Conduct, supported by a series of charters aimed at main contractors, property developers, building management, designers, local councils, specialist contractors and sub-contractors.

These charters are designed to shape behaviour and culture by setting expectations on how member companies uphold their duty of care.

Fire Aware emphasised that its Charter Conditions do not override any legal obligations on sector-specific professions and that members must still comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

The organisation said the charters ask member businesses to consider the safety of the end user and to go beyond minimum standards as part of identifying themselves as businesses that care.

Fire Aware added that the charters also recognise those outside the specialist fire sector who hold a duty of care but are not directly part of fire safety professions.

Building Safety Act context and sector-wide culture change

Fire Aware positioned the Building Safety Act as a framework intended to guide duty holders through processes that support best practice in fire safety.

The organisation noted that the fire sector contains a wide range of duty holders but that they share a single core requirement, which is to understand that their primary role is to keep the public safe.

The message called on those who make decisions about fire safety to think about their moral duty at the outset of any project rather than treating it as a later-stage consideration.

Fire Aware said members of its community are “taking a stand” and that by working together they can contribute to a wider cause of safety.

The organisation argued that raising standards in this way is linked directly to saving lives.

Fire Aware also stated that there is an opportunity to unite the fire safety industry beyond traditional silos by combining technical expertise in specialist fields with a consistent set of behaviours.

The organisation framed its community as a group of businesses and organisations taking action in the name of moral responsibility and invited prospective members to engage if they wish to join or seek advice.

Sector implications of Fire Aware’s Unity message

Fire Aware’s focus on Unity is presented as an effort to bring a common approach to fire protection across different roles in the built environment.

The organisation said a consistent approach to behaviour and decision-making can support the effective application of technical guidance from specialist areas.

By encouraging member businesses to commit publicly to going beyond minimum standards, Fire Aware aims to make culture change visible to clients and building users.

Fire Aware explained that its charters are intended to sit alongside existing regulations and professional codes rather than replace them.

Why Fire Aware’s unity call matters for practitioners

Fire Aware’s Unity message is directly relevant to organisations that act as duty holders, including contractors, designers, developers, building managers and asset owners.

For these groups, the Fire Aware Code of Conduct and charters set out an expectation that projects should be planned from the outset with moral responsibility and end-user safety in mind, not only legislative compliance.

Fire engineering consultants, system installers and fire-protection contractors may view the charters as a framework for aligning technical decisions with a wider duty of care across the supply chain.

Local councils and building management teams are explicitly named as audiences for the charters, which positions them as part of a broader community committed to going beyond minimum standards.

For property developers and main contractors, joining the Fire Aware community means signing up to conditions that affirm legal compliance while also committing to behaviours that identify the business as one that cares about the people who use its buildings.

Fire Aware calls for culture shift on duty of care in fire safety supply chain

by ConstructionFeatured NewsFire DetectionPassiveSafety

Fire Aware links culture to duty of care

Fire Aware has urged the fire safety industry supply chain to raise standards and focus on duty of care through its expanding membership body.

The organisation said its core message is that working in fire safety involves a moral responsibility as well as legal compliance.

Fire Aware framed its work around protecting people, arguing that the buildings and fire protection measures delivered by the supply chain must meet obligations to end users.

The body described fire safety work as more than a job and said activity in the sector should be treated as a vocation.

Gavin Skelly, Fire Aware CEO, said: “We are receiving a lot of positive feedback from the supply chain at all levels from large organisations to smaller businesses.

“They all want to play their part and we are asking all of those working this industry to think about their duty of care and what that means.

“We should all be following the new legislation including the new Building Safety Act as a minimum level.

“Our standards go beyond that and address the issues of best practice.

“Ultimately, we are all protecting people’s lives.

“The buildings we work on and the protection we install in all its different forms mean we are meeting our obligations.

“This is more than a job.

“Working in this industry is a vocation and should not be underestimated.”

Membership open across the fire safety supply chain

According to Fire Aware, membership is available to organisations and individuals across the fire safety industry supply chain.

The body said its members include designers, developers, asset owners and managers and other stakeholders involved in building delivery and maintenance.

Membership is also available to domestic trades, material suppliers and building management teams.

Fire Aware stated that it is engaging with sectors such as hotel and leisure, commercial landlords, private landlords and local authorities.

The organisation explained that members can provide training courses on fire safety and management, including content on relevant legislation.

Training is aimed at roles such as designers, main contractors and domestic trades, as well as material suppliers and building management functions.

Fire Aware said this approach is intended to support understanding of legal duties and practical responsibilities across different parts of the built environment sector.

Charters aim to reshape industry culture

Fire Aware said it aims to change the culture of the built environment sector through a moral code of conduct.

The organisation is developing a series of charters that set out how member companies are expected to behave when upholding their duty of care.

According to Fire Aware, these charters are designed to influence decisions in design, construction, maintenance and management activities.

The body described itself as a recognised membership organisation for the built environment and related sectors.

It said members share a common aim to work and trade responsibly in line with best practice standards.

Fire Aware linked this objective directly to the safety of the general public, indicating that culture, behaviour and technical standards cannot be separated.

The organisation repeated that new legislation, including the Building Safety Act, should be treated as a baseline rather than a ceiling for practice.

How Fire Aware’s approach supports built environment decision-makers

Fire Aware positions its membership model and charters as tools for those making decisions about fire protection in buildings.

The organisation’s focus on duty of care is relevant to designers, developers and asset owners who specify and approve fire-safety measures.

Building management teams and those responsible for hotel and leisure facilities, commercial property and rented housing can use the charters to frame expectations of contractors and suppliers.

Domestic trades and material suppliers involved in installing or providing fire-safety products are addressed through training opportunities that cover legislation and management responsibilities.

Local authorities can reference Fire Aware’s emphasis on going beyond minimum legislative requirements when assessing how duty of care is being interpreted across their estates.

By linking culture, moral responsibility and best practice, the body offers a reference point for organisations seeking to align technical compliance with wider obligations to occupants and the public.