Higher-Risk Buildings Registration
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Higher-Risk Buildings Registration

In the fire sector, HRB registrants include, but are not limited to, fire engineers, fire risk assessors, and those responsible for developing or reviewing fire strategies for complex buildings. They play a key role in ensuring life safety in the built environment, particularly where fire risk is heightened due to building use, height, or occupancy.

HRB registrants possess the technical and professional understanding to assess fire safety risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards. They demonstrate leadership, independent judgement, and a strong commitment to ethical and professional practice in fire safety.

Benefits of becoming an HRB registrant:

  • Demonstrate your professional competence in fire safety for higher-risk buildings
  • Gain formal recognition on a national register of competent professionals
  • Inspire confidence in clients, building owners, and regulatory authorities
  • Show your commitment to high standards of public safety and professional conduct
  • Support your career development and open new opportunities
  • Access IFE special interest groups
  • Access additional resources and events from IFE

To progress your application and achieve HRB status, you must be able to meet the Engineering Council registration competence and commitment standards, which are assessed against the Fire Engineering Discipline Annex and UK-SPEC HRB.

Competence is your ability to carry out engineering tasks successfully and safely within your field of practice. This includes having the individual skills, knowledge and understanding, personal behaviour and approach, to be able to work collaboratively with others to achieve the intended outcomes. Competence includes the ability to make professional judgments and an awareness of the limits of your own ability and knowledge in order to seek assistance when required.

When you apply, the five areas of competence you need to demonstrate, and will be assessed on, are:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Design, development and solving engineering problems
  • Responsibility, management and leadership
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Personal and professional commitment

In order to become professionally registered through the IFE, you will need to satisfy these competencies in relation to fire engineering.

To see examples of competency evidence requirements at Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician levels click here to visit the current Engineering Council UK-SPEC HRB (UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence Higher-Risk Buildings) and here to see the Fire Engineering Discipline Annex.

Commitment is the demonstration of personal and professional commitment to society, the environment and to your profession. As part of demonstrating overall competence, it is mandatory you show that you have adopted a set of values and conduct that maintains and enhances the reputation of the profession.

Your application needs to show evidence of:

  • Maintaining public and employee safety.
  • Undertaking work in a way that protects the environment and contributes to sustainable development.
  • Complying with codes of conduct, codes of practice and the legal and regulatory framework.
  • Managing, applying and improving safe systems of work.
  • Carrying out the CPD necessary to maintain and enhance competence in relation to duties and responsibilities.
  • Exercising responsibilities in an ethical manner.
  • Recognising inclusivity and diversity.
  • Adopting a security-minded approach.
  • Actively participating within the profession.

To see examples of commitment evidence requirements at Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician levels click here to visit the current Engineering Council UK-SPEC HRB (UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence Higher-Risk Buildings) and here to see the Fire Engineering Discipline Annex.

How to start your application

When you are ready to apply, download the application form and submit it to us along with your supporting documentation, Professional Review Report and application fee. If you live outside of the UK, we encourage you to contact your local branch to apply. Where a branch is unavailable, you prefer to deal with us directly or you live in the UK please use our application form.

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Useful resources

Guidance and videos are available to help you apply.

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