BAFE FAQs

Sourcing and verifying a fire safety service provider
  • Why should I use a BAFE Registered Organisation?
    10 reasons to choose a BAFE Registered Organisation to help meet your fire safety obligations.
    1. Independent and unbiased assessment of competency
    All BAFE Registered Organisations nationwide have been independently and regularly assessed by a UKAS accredited certification body to ensure they have achieved quality evidence of competency to deliver specific work.
    2. Quality professionals providing confidence of service excellence
    This independent assessment is completely voluntary, meaning an organisation's own time and money is used to demonstrate their commitment to quality, showing they are skilled professionals to help meet your requirements.
    3. What reason do you have for not choosing a third-party certificated provider?
    Reduce the risk - There is now such a wide range of third-party certificated organisations that you can refine your choices without loss of competition. There are plenty of organisations available who claim third-party certification is not necessary, but who is assessing their competency?
    4. Evidential Competency
    As the person responsible for fire safety, you can see certificated evidence of your chosen organisation's competency. Your insurers will be interested in seeing this evidence, especially if you have to make a claim. Don't just specify, verify third-party certification. Request to see and check your chosen organisation's third-party certification/BAFE scheme registration certificate to check these are appropriate for the work required prior to work commencing on-site.
    5. Confidence you have acted with due diligence
    This certificated evidence demonstrates due diligence in sourcing a competent organisation to help meet your fire safety obligations.
    6. Regular assessments to ensure ongoing competency
    BAFE registered organisations are assessed annually, meaning ongoing assessment of their competency with up to date relevant standards and best working practice.
    7. Best representation of quality and service excellence
    BAFE scheme criteria for third-party certification are monitored and reviewed regularly by BAFE scheme Monitoring Groups using industry experts to provide confidence that they are always at the leading edge of the fire safety industry. This means the BAFE schemes remain the most up to date representation of quality and competency for specific fire safety work.
    8. Monitored compliance
    BAFE monitor registered organisations to ensure they continue to work to the required scheme criteria. If for any reason an organisation's competency falls into disrepute, this will be investigated and if confirmed, their BAFE registration will be suspended until rectified or terminated.
    9. Simple to source or verify competent organisations near you or nationwide
    The BAFE Fire Safety Register is free to access, meaning no additional cost to public or procurement specialists to find or verify evidentially competent organisations for your fire safety requirements. Don't just specify, verify third-party certification, what is your excuse not to check?
    10. Recommended by Government and Fire and Rescue Services across the UK
    It is recommended by Government, from both GOV.UK and GOV.SCOT fire safety guidance, to use third-party certificated organisations for fire safety services as "an effective means of providing the fullest possible assurances, offering a level of quality, reliability and safety that non-certificated products [and services] may lack" (GOV.UK Fire Safety Guidance Documents). Multiple Fire and Rescue Services across England and Wales recommend this and is strongly encouraged by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service also stress that a competent person should be used "to enable them to implement the appropriate fire safety measures".
    Please Note
    It is important your chosen fire safety organisation is third-party certificated and BAFE registered for the specific work you require. In the instance that you require specific work that the BAFE schemes do not cover, it is still strongly advised to check if your chosen organisation is appropriately third-party certificated for these via another body.

    If you are ever unsure on anything you are looking for, please contact BAFE Head Office. We will be more than happy to assist you in finding quality, third-party certificated, BAFE registered organisations to help meet your fire safety requirements.

    In the instance that you require specific services that the BAFE schemes do not cover, it is still strongly advised to check if your chosen organisation is appropriately third-party certificated via another body.

  • How can I find a BAFE registered company?

    To find a BAFE Registered Company you can do this in multiple ways. By using the BAFE Registered Company Search you can search via company name, BAFE Registration Number, postcode, region and/or service required. For any further assistance you can contact the BAFE office at info@bafe.org.uk or 0844 335 0897.

    We would be more than happy to help assist you in how to specify an appropriately Third Party Certificated fire safety service provider suitable for your requirements.

    In the instance that you require specific services that the BAFE schemes do not cover, it is still strongly advised to check if your chosen provider is third party certificated for these via another organisation.

  • How can I verify a fire extinguisher technician is BAFE SP101 Registered?

    It is important for you as the appointed person responsible for fire safety within your building is confident that the organisation you use are competent. After specifying a BAFE SP101 Registered Organisation to provide fire extinguisher services, it is also important to know you can also check the fire extinguisher technicians that will be completing this work on-site are BAFE SP101 Registered. To do this you can demand to see their BAFE ID card (example shown below). Please note this is a strongly recommended action to exercise due dilligence.

    BAFE SP101 ID Card Example

    This card will feature their name, organisation and ID card number. You can contact BAFE Head Office on 01608 653 350 or email info@bafe.org.uk quoting these details to verify their Registration is valid, and working for the appropriate BAFE SP101 Registered Organisation.

    A valid BAFE SP101 Registration for fire extinguisher technicians ensures they continue to follow best practice, have regular refresher training, and on-site assessments* to demonstrate ongoing competence.

    *on-site assessments are performed by BAFE appointed field assessors.