The Confederation of Fire Protection Associations Asia (CFPA-Asia) has joined some 40 other organisations from around the world on the International Fire Safety Standards Coalition (IFSS).
The coalition of local and international bodies and standard-setting organisations committed to developing and supporting a shared set of standards for fire safety in buildings in the public interest was launched at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on 9th July 2018
The standards will aim to set and reinforce the best practice professionals should adhere to ensure building safety in the event of a fire. High-level principles to provide greater clarity and consistency globally in the application of fire safety to buildings at a project, state, national, regional or international level will be established.
Why has IFFSS been established
The construction and real estate profession globally currently lacks a consistent set of high-level principles for the design, construction, and management of buildings for fire safety. Differences in materials testing and certification, national building regulations/codes, and guidance on how to manage buildings in use, particularly higher risk buildings, means there is confusion, uncertainty and risk to occupants.
The IFSS Standard
IFSS will introduce a set of standards that will bring greater consistency of minimum levels of fire safety and professionalism across the world.
In the context of the work being undertaken by the IFSS Coalition, an international standard is something that is established and agreed at the international level and which is implemented and delivered locally.
IFSS will set out universal rules that provide classification, definition, analysis and presentation of fire safety standards at a project, state, national, regional or international level.
Once the high-level standards are developed, the IFSS Coalition will work with professionals around the world to deliver the standards locally. The standards will be owned by the IFSS Coalition and not by any one organisation.
Fire Safety Experts
As it’s first order of business the IFSS Coalition has set up a Standards Setting Committee. Member organisations have appointed 22 fire safety experts to this committee to develop and write the high-level standards to ensure they are fit for purpose across global markets.
For more information, go to www.cfpaa.com
About the Author
CFPA-Asia Chairman.
