the home of fire safety engineering and design practices

Why Join the AFC?

Why should we be members?

 

· The trend towards self assessment and performance-based codes and standards in fire safety means that there is a growing demand for professional fire safety and fire safety engineering advice.  But in the absence of any legislative framework for registering or controlling fire safety consultants there is no means whereby anyone seeking a consultant can know if they are taking on a company with sufficient expertise to competently tackle their problems.  In addition, some companies use "consultancy" as a mechanism to aid sales of fire protection equipment or other services.  Members of the AFC, however, have been thoroughly vetted by the AFC Council to establish their qualifications and independence.  All Members agree to abide by a Code of Conduct which demands that the highest standards of professionalism continue to be maintained.  Thus:

 

Membership of the AFC is your means of assuring potential clients that they are dealing with a fully professional company with the highest standards of integrity, independence and professionalism.

 

· Because there is no legislative control of fire safety consultancies, people seeking their services are forced to look for them via general directories, or by word of mouth.  The AFC maintains a register of members and their specialisms and is able to put potential clients in contact with appropriate consultants.

 

Membership of the AFC is an additional means of reaching potential clients.

 

· Government legislation, and official and other guidance and standards, have frequently been developed without input from anyone representing the interests of fire safety consultants and fire safety engineers.  Although not necessarily opposed to the interests of fire authorities, fire test houses, or the suppliers and manufacturers of fire protection products and equipment, the interests of fire consultants are not the same as these groups.

 

Membership of the AFC provides you with a means of influencing the authors of legislation, guidance and standards to ensure that the interests of fire consultants are considered and that future guidance and standards properly recognise the importance of professional fire safety engineering in arriving at the most appropriate fire safety design and practice. 

 

· Fire research is not always directed towards answering those questions of fire and human behaviour where answers would be most beneficial as an aid to fire safety engineering.  The AFC endeavours to influence researchers and the organisations that fund their research so that future research more frequently addresses these issues.

 

Membership of the AFC affords a mechanism to allow you to influence research projects to the long-term advantage of the fire safety consultancy profession.

 

· Future benefits.  The AFC exists solely for the benefit of its members.  As well as the above, the Association plans to develop its own newsletter, organise conferences and seminars, produce its own publications and support the training and education of fire safety engineers.

 

By joining the AFC, you will support this work and be instrumental in the development of professional fire safety consultancy.

 

Use of the AFC logo on your letterheads and literature demonstrates your commitment to the highest standards of professionalism within fire safety consultancy.

Association of Fire Consulants ©