Fire Risk Officer (Safety) in Leicester

A large Local Authority needs an interim Fire Safety expert to support either 5 days or 3 days a week. To act as a lead competent person in the mitigation of fire risk in building design. To manage the risk from fire effectively, to protect and safeguard vulnerable individuals from the risk of fire.

To advise on fire-related statutory compliance to ensure business continuity, efficiency and safety across the building estate.

• Be responsible for all fire design-related matters including: development and implementation of policy and procedures, emergency contingency planning and routine and project-related fire engineering design strategies.
• Carry out statutory fire risk assessments to ensure continuing compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Provide expert professional advice and reports to senior management on legislative compliance, operational performance and best practice guidance relating to fire-related matters.
• Coordinate and support the review of fire risk safety compliance in third party-managed buildings, liaising closely with partner organisations such as Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.
• Specify, commission and manage fire precautionary works as identified by fire risk assessments.
• Carry out structural and systems-based fire risk assessments in a range of different building types, including schools, libraries and industrial properties.
• Lead on the technical assessment of fire safety compliance in third party owned/managed properties where the council procures placement services.
• Assess fire safety compliance in a range of residential settings such as care homes and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
• Provide technical guidance on Approved Document B and BB100 (school projects) in building design to meet statutory building regulations, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and Policy requirements such as the Sprinkler policy.
• Provide fire engineering guidance/requirements for internal and external design practices on design issues such as compartmentation requirements and sizes, ensuring the safe specification of building materials and incorporating safety into installation.
• Coordinate and respond to DfE and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's proposed changes to legislation and technical guidance documents following the Grenfell Tower fire.
• Update colleagues and stakeholders on changes to Regulations and the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
• Represent the Council at Resilience or Practitioner Group meetings organised by Leicestershire Fire & Rescue in relation to fire safety issues in Leicestershire and Rutland.
• Provide high quality reports to senior managers and the departmental management team (DMT) on issues relating to fire safety and changes to legislation that will impact upon the future design and management of council buildings.
• Program, procure and project manage the installation of fire precautionary works to include producing tender specifications and maintain control of the maintenance budget for ongoing management of risk in Council-managed buildings as required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
• Test, review, update and coordinate fire evacuation procedures at County Hall, including liaison with all key stakeholders such as LCC departments, NHS staff and LFRS.