Why Fire Aware sees a step change in safety attitudes

by Featured NewsIndustry Comment

Supply chain safety shifts toward Fire Aware standards

Supply chains are increasingly adopting rigorous fire safety processes to protect public safety across multiple sectors according to the membership body Fire Aware.

The organisation noted a behavioural change as both large and small companies implement measures to ensure the safety of people using buildings and urban spaces.

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “As we move about to talk to those companies and groups with products and services in fire safety, we are seeing a step change in their attitude to fire safety.

“Even in those companies who don’t necessarily have a fire safety competence requirement but still hold a duty of care.

“They want to commit to doing the right thing and make sure their part in the fire safety supply chain is fit for purpose.

“They recognise that this is more than a job, fire safety is a vocation.”

Professional obligations and the Fire Aware code of conduct

Skelly explained that all parties involved in the design, construction, management, maintenance and letting of the built environment have a fire safety obligation.

This responsibility applies even if the specific business does not focus directly on fire specialisms.

“Many are joining us as members because they want to sign up to our code of conduct which binds us all together,” Skelly added.

“Their membership is a sign of intent to protect people through a combination of competence and behavioral performance.

“After all, it is people’s lives we are talking about.”

The independent Building Safety Regulator (BSR) recently began promoting higher standards and competence following calls for cultural change from Dame Judith Hackitt.

Focus on vulnerable sectors and moral responsibility

Hospitality and healthcare represent sectors particularly vulnerable to fire risk due to the presence of customers and elderly or vulnerable people.

Fire Aware continues to highlight the moral responsibility of designers, developers, asset owners and managers within the supply chain.

The organisation utilizes a series of charters and a moral code of conduct to influence how member companies uphold their duty of care.

This membership body serves the built environment to ensure stakeholders work and trade responsibly in the interest of general public safety.

Fire Aware urges shared beyond legal compliance

by ConstructionFeatured NewsPeopleSafety

Fire Aware calls for moral responsibility across the fire safety supply chain

Organisation urges shift from compliance to culture

In a recent post, Fire Aware Chief Executive Officer Gavin Skelly called for greater moral responsibility across the fire safety supply chain.

He said the organisation is seeking behavioural change from everyone involved in the industry.

Skelly explained that while the sector has faced a wave of new legislation and guidance, lasting improvement requires a cultural shift.

He stated that moral responsibility must underpin compliance efforts, warning that there is a danger of “compliance for compliance sake.”

Moving beyond regulation and silos

According to Fire Aware, the Building Safety Act 2022 represents a wide-reaching challenge for professionals across design, construction, and management.

Skelly said the scale of new obligations means businesses at all levels of the supply chain must cooperate and support one another.

He added that Fire Aware includes itself in this responsibility as a body offering advice and technical guidance.

The organisation said there is an opportunity to bring together expertise from across the fire sector to promote consistent standards of behaviour.

Skelly said: “We see an opportunity to unite the fire safety industry beyond its own silos.

“It is expertise that drives best practice, and consistency in behaviour is what will create lasting change.”

Code of conduct and charters introduced

To support this aim, Fire Aware has created a Code of Conduct alongside a series of charters for contractors, developers, designers, and local authorities.

The organisation said these documents are designed to complement, not replace, existing laws or professional obligations.

According to Fire Aware, its charters ask members to prioritise the safety of end users and to exceed minimum standards where possible.

The organisation said members are encouraged to identify as businesses that “care” about the wider community and safety outcomes.

Fire Aware described its initiative as a call to collective moral action within and beyond the fire safety sector.

Skelly concluded: “We are a community of businesses and organisations taking a stand in the name of moral responsibility.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

Fire Aware’s emphasis on moral responsibility is directly relevant to building designers, contractors, and fire-protection specialists working under the Building Safety Act 2022.

The organisation’s code and charters provide a framework for companies aiming to align internal practices with higher ethical and technical standards.

For compliance managers and building owners, these documents could help clarify expectations around duty of care beyond statutory obligations.

By linking moral accountability with practical safety outcomes, Fire Aware’s initiative highlights the growing role of professional culture in ensuring effective building safety governance.

This article was informed by information from the following source: Fire Aware