Third-party certification for fire protection firms [Guide]

The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire exposed serious failures in building and fire safety across the UK.

In response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 2 report in February 2025, 28 of the 37 recommendations directed at the government were accepted in full, with the remaining nine accepted in principle. These included plans to strengthen construction oversight and make independent verification of fire risk assessors’ competence mandatory.

In this climate of increased scrutiny, demonstrating competence and delivering compliant work has never been more important for fire protection companies.

A practical way for these companies to show the necessary level of commitment is to obtain third-party certification in fire protection. Here’s everything you need to know about the certification process in the UK.

Key takeaways

• Third-party certification demonstrates competence
  Independent assessments check a fire protection company’s skills, procedures, and quality controls.

• Choose the right certification scheme
  Requirements depend on your services, client expectations, and the work you carry out.

• Prepare your records and staff
  Keep procedures, training records, inspection results, and installation evidence up to date.

• Maintain certification over time
  Ongoing audits check that your business continues to meet the scheme’s requirements.

• Use software to simplify certification
  Project management and quality control software can help you capture evidence, standardise quality checks, and organise project records for audits.

What is third-party certification for fire protection?

Third-party certification for fire protection is an independent assessment of a company’s competence, working procedures, and performance against the requirements of a recognised scheme.

Depending on the scheme, an independent certification body may assess:

• Staff competence

• Quality management systems

• Technical procedures

• Completed work

Certification can also apply to different parts of the fire protection industry.

For example, a company may be certified to install fire doors or fire alarm systems, an individual may have their competence assessed for a specific role, and a product may be certified against defined performance requirements.

There’s no single certification that covers every fire protection service, so the right scheme depends on the work being carried out. There are, however, ways to assess whether a certification scheme and the body awarding it meet the appropriate standards.

In the UK, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the national accreditation body. So, when a certification body is UKAS-accredited for the relevant scope, you get an additional level of assurance that its certification process meets specified requirements.

Read more: Can third-party accreditation help fire protection companies?

Why is third-party certification so important in fire protection?

For UK fire protection companies, third-party certification is important for several reasons, including:

• Protecting lives and property: Following recognised standards and having work independently assessed helps reduce the risk of faults that could put building occupants at risk, while reinforcing the responsibility these companies carry for the safety of others.

• Winning more work: Main contractors, building owners, and public sector clients may require specific certification before a company can tender for a project. Without it, you could be excluded before your bid is even considered.

• Getting onto recognised industry registers and schemes: Some industry bodies, such as the Fire Industry Association, require third-party certification for membership. Having it can help your business demonstrate its standing when clients compare providers.

• Giving clients confidence in your work: Independent checks provide clients with evidence beyond your own claims that your business meets the requirements of a recognised scheme. This can make it easier to build trust with new clients and maintain relationships with existing ones.

• Reducing mistakes and expensive remedial work: Scheme audits can highlight gaps in procedures, records, or installation practices before they lead to failed inspections, rework, or delays on site.

• Keeping standards consistent as your business grows: Ongoing audits give you a reason to review how work is planned, completed, and recorded across different teams and projects, rather than relying on individual experience or informal processes.

How can fire protection firms get third-party certification?

The process for obtaining third-party certification depends on the scheme, the type of fire protection work you carry out, and the scope of certification you need. 

Still, these seven steps provide a useful starting point for understanding what’s involved.

1. Identifying the right certification scheme

Start by identifying which scheme covers the specific services your company provides. Check that its scope matches the work you want to certify, whether that’s design, installation, commissioning, inspection, or maintenance.

If your business offers several services, you may need more than one certification.

It’s also worth checking what your clients, main contractors, and procurement frameworks expect.

Where possible, look for a scheme delivered by a certification body accredited by UKAS for the relevant activity, and confirm that the scheme is recognised by the organisations you want to work with.

2. Reviewing eligibility criteria and application requirements

Once you’ve shortlisted a scheme, review its entry criteria before applying.

These may cover:

• The trading history of your company

• The experience of your team

• The records you need to hold

• The amount or type of completed work you must provide as evidence

Understanding the requirements early can help you identify gaps, avoid delays, and establish the likely cost and timescale of the application.

3. Preparing documentation and quality management systems

You’ll need records that show how your business manages its work and checks its quality.

Depending on the scheme, these may include:

• Installation procedures

• Quality checks and inspection records

• Staff training and qualifications

• Complaints procedures

• Document control

• Health and safety procedures

For installation companies, you may also need technical specifications, product test evidence, and manufacturer instructions relevant to the work you carry out.

Make sure your records are up to date, easy to retrieve, and reflective of what happens on site.

Quality control software like Onetrace can help you achieve this by standardising inspections, capturing photographic evidence, and keeping quality checks, approvals, and project information in one place.

4. Demonstrating staff competence and technical capability

Certification schemes typically require evidence that the people carrying out and overseeing the work have the right skills and knowledge for their roles. This could include:

• Qualifications

• Training records

• Relevant experience

• Assessments of technicians or supervisors

5. Undergoing independent audits and site assessments

The certification body will assess your business against the scheme’s requirements. This step typically includes reviewing your management systems and records, speaking with relevant staff, and inspecting completed or ongoing work on site.

The assessment gives the auditor a chance to check whether your documented procedures match your day-to-day practices and whether the work meets the required standard.

6. Addressing non-conformities and obtaining certification

If the auditor identifies any non-conformities, you’ll need to address them before certification can be awarded, or within the timeframe and conditions set by the scheme. This may involve:

• Correcting an issue

• Updating a procedure

• Providing further evidence

• Showing that steps have been taken to prevent the same problem from happening again

Once the certification body is satisfied that you meet the relevant requirements, it can award certification for the agreed scope.

7. Maintaining certification through ongoing surveillance and audits

Most schemes require ongoing surveillance audits—often annually—to check that your business continues to meet their requirements. Some also include site inspections, staff competence reviews, or other checks, depending on the work being certified.

You’ll also need to keep up with changes to scheme requirements and notify your certification body of relevant changes to your business.

Staying prepared throughout the year makes ongoing audits easier and helps prevent certification from lapsing.

Third-party certification schemes for UK fire protection companies

If you’re looking to certify your fire protection business, these are the main schemes to know about.

BAFE schemes for fire safety services

BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Excellence) develops and manages competency schemes for fire and life safety services.

The main BAFE schemes include:

Certification audits are carried out by licensed certification bodies, such as:

• The NSI (National Security Inspectorate)

• The SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board)

• The BSI (British Standards Institution)

Some of these bodies also offer their own standalone UKAS-accredited fire certification schemes in addition to BAFE.

Warringtonfire FIRAS for passive fire protection installation

Warringtonfire operates FIRAS, a third-party certification scheme for companies installing passive fire protection systems. Its scope covers several types of installation and maintenance work, including:

• The installation of fire stopping systems around service penetrations and gaps in fire-resisting construction

• The installation and, within the relevant scope, maintenance of fire-resisting doorsets

• Specified systems like cavity barriers, fire-resistant partitions, structural steel coatings, and fire-resisting ducting

LPCB certification for fire protection systems and products

LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board), part of BRE (Building Research Establishment), provides certification for fire protection products, systems, and contractors.

Its Loss Prevention Standards (LPS) set out requirements for specific areas of fire protection and the companies working in them:

*Standards checked on October 22, 2026.

BM TRADA Q-Mark certification for fire doors and passive fire protection

BM TRADA’s Q-Mark certification provides independent assurance that fire protection work meets defined standards, with schemes designed for specific areas of the industry:

IFC certification for fire protection contractors and products

IFC Certification provides third-party certification across parts of the fire protection industry, including passive fire protection and fire doors. These are the relevant schemes for businesses installing and maintaining fire protection work:

How Onetrace supports fire protection firms

Onetrace is project management and quality control software built for construction subcontractors, including fire protection firms.

While Onetrace can’t guarantee that a company will pass the assessment, its capabilities can support the preparation for and ongoing requirements of third-party certification in fire protection. These capabilities include:

• Standardising installation and inspection records: Use custom forms and reusable project templates to consistently capture the information required for each job.

• Recording evidence of completed work: Take before, during, and after photos on site, with job sheets linked to specific project locations to demonstrate how work was carried out.

• Keeping technical documents accessible: Store product data sheets, specifications, RAMS, and certificates in the project’s Docs & Files area, making supporting documents easier to retrieve during assessments and audits.

• Tracking materials and specifications: Record material types, quantities, and associated project details to maintain a reliable record of the materials used for installations.

• Documenting quality checks and corrective actions: Set up multi-stage approval workflows so supervisors can review job sheets, reject incomplete submissions with feedback, and track resubmissions through to approval.

• Maintaining a traceable record of work: Link QR codes to job sheets at specific locations so teams can retrieve previous installation and inspection records and add records of future work.

• Preparing evidence for audits: Generate PDF and Excel reports from job sheets, locations, and drawings, bringing project information together for review by auditors, clients, or internal quality teams.

These features help firms build and maintain the records that may be needed to demonstrate consistent processes, traceable work, and ongoing quality control.

Book a tailored demo with the Onetrace team to learn more and get started.

FAQ

What is a 3rd party certification?

Third-party certification is an independent assessment of a company’s competence to carry out a specific fire safety service. Assessments typically cover technical skills, working procedures, and quality management, with ongoing audits to check that required standards are maintained.

What is third-party certification for fire stopping systems?

Third-party certification for fire stopping independently assesses whether a company can install fire stopping systems to the required standards.

What is the best fire protection certification?

There’s no single best certification for every fire protection company. The right scheme depends on the services you provide and any client or contract requirements. Examples include BAFE SP203-1 for fire alarms, LPCB LPS 1048 for sprinkler contractors, and FIRAS or BM TRADA Q-Mark for relevant passive fire protection work.

What is the best fire safety qualification?

The best fire safety qualification depends on your role. The NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety is suitable for people responsible for fire safety in low- to medium-risk workplaces. Those working in specialist roles, such as fire risk assessment, should choose training and qualifications suited to their level of responsibility and the type of premises they assess.

How do I get a fire safety certificate?

To get a fire safety certificate, identify the documentation required for your building or project. Depending on the work involved, this may include a fire risk assessment, system installation, or commissioning certificates, or inspection and maintenance records. There’s no general fire safety certificate issued for premises in the UK under the current system, so the documentation you need depends on the work and applicable requirements.