What I love most about carrying out fire risk assessments is when being faced with a challenge. When you look at a problem and due to a buildings characteristics you have to think outside the box. Having to slightly deviate from the guidance because logistically you can’t follow what the guides say but instead have to use common sense and experience to come up with a solution. That’s when you are being tested as a fire risk assessor, when you have the courage to make a decision that works for the client and the occupants in a building. When you are looking at a fire brigade enforcement notice or previous fire risk assessment when the client is being asked to make an impractical alteration to their building. Anyone can follow every rule and guide book but what happens when due to the buildings age, or logistics, you simply have no choice but to deviate. That’s what being a fire risk assessor is all about, real world experience and an understanding of what would happen if a fire breaks out in a particular building. No guide will save you then. But experience and common sense just might.
