Level 6 Diploma in Fire Risk Management – Three Years (360 Credits)

This qualification includes 18 key topic areas designed to develop advanced competence in fire risk assessment, fire safety management and organisational risk control:

1. Fire Science and Risk Management Principles: Explores combustion, fire development, heat transfer, smoke production and the fundamental principles of managing fire risks.

2. Fire Hazards and Risk Identification: Develops the ability to identify ignition sources, fuel sources, oxygen supplies, hazardous activities and conditions that may contribute to fire incidents.

3. Fire Safety Legislation and Regulatory Frameworks: Examines fire safety duties, responsible-person responsibilities, building safety requirements, regulatory guidance and relevant UK legal frameworks.

4. Fire Risk Assessment Methodology: Covers systematic hazard identification, occupancy analysis, risk evaluation, risk prioritisation, control measures, documentation and review of fire risk assessments.

5. Human Behaviour, Occupancy and Evacuation: Examines human response to fire, occupant characteristics, vulnerable people, evacuation behaviour, escape strategies and means-of-escape management.

6. Fire Protection Systems and Controls: Develops understanding of fire detection, alarms, suppression, firefighting equipment, passive protection and other fire safety controls.

7. Fire Safety Management Systems and Compliance: Covers organisational fire safety policies, responsibilities, management procedures, compliance monitoring, records and continual improvement.

8. Active and Passive Fire Protection Management: Examines the performance, inspection, coordination and management of fire alarms, suppression systems, compartmentation, fire doors and fire-resisting construction.

9. Emergency Planning, Evacuation and Business Continuity: Develops emergency procedures, evacuation plans, incident coordination, business recovery and continuity arrangements following fire-related disruption.

10. High-Risk Premises and Complex Fire Risk: Examines fire risk management in high-rise residential buildings, healthcare facilities, industrial premises, public buildings, large commercial premises and other complex environments.

11. Fire Safety Inspection, Audit and Performance Monitoring: Covers fire safety inspections, compliance audits, performance indicators, corrective actions, records and management reporting.

12. Fire Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis: Develops methods for collecting incident information, analysing contributing factors, identifying underlying causes and recommending preventive improvements.

13. Quantitative Fire Risk Analysis and Modelling: Introduces fire risk calculations, scenario analysis, probability and consequence evaluation, risk modelling and limitations of analytical tools.

14. Building Safety and Fire Risk in Construction: Examines fire risk during design, construction, refurbishment, occupation and building modification, including coordination with building safety and construction professionals.

15. Fire Safety Governance, Leadership and Culture: Develops leadership, accountability, communication, stakeholder coordination, staff competence and organisational safety culture.

16. Fire Protection Asset Management and Maintenance: Covers maintenance planning, inspection schedules, testing, defect management, system reliability and lifecycle management of fire safety equipment.

17. Advanced Fire Risk Assessment and Strategic Treatment: Integrates complex risk assessment, risk prioritisation, control selection, residual-risk evaluation, review and strategic improvement planning.

18. Fire Risk Management Research and Professional Project: Develops independent investigation, research appraisal, evidence-based decision-making, project management and professional reporting through an integrated fire risk management project.

• Develops advanced competence in fire hazard identification, fire risk assessment and strategic risk control.

• Builds technical knowledge of active and passive fire protection, fire detection, suppression, evacuation and emergency arrangements.

• Strengthens understanding of fire safety legislation, compliance monitoring, inspection, auditing and building safety responsibilities.

• Develops professional skills in incident investigation, quantitative risk analysis, leadership and organisational fire safety management.

• Supports progression toward advanced study and career development in fire risk management, fire safety consultancy, facilities management, building safety and fire protection services.

• Fire safety officers, fire risk coordinators and fire safety personnel seeking advanced academic and technical development.

• Health and safety, facilities management and building management professionals responsible for workplace and premises fire safety.

• Fire protection, building services and construction personnel seeking specialist knowledge of fire risk assessment and management.

• Learners progressing from Level 4 or Level 5 qualifications in Fire Safety, Fire Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety, Risk Management or related disciplines.

Assessment Format: Written examinations, fire risk assessment reports, hazard identification exercises, premises-based case studies, regulatory compliance assignments, emergency planning exercises, fire safety inspection reports, protection-system evaluations, incident investigation reports, risk analysis calculations, professional presentations and an independent fire risk management research project.

Total Questions: 100 questions

Passing Score: 60%

Duration: 3 Hours

Certification: Successful learners receive the HiQual UK Level 6 Diploma in Fire Risk Management – Three Years (360 Credits).a

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.

Successful learners who achieve the HiQual UK Level 6 Diploma in Fire Risk Management may progress to:

• Further postgraduate study in Fire Safety Engineering, Fire Risk Management, Building Safety, Risk Management, Occupational Health and Safety or related disciplines, subject to the receiving institution's entry requirements.

• Applications for relevant Level 7 postgraduate diplomas or master's degrees in fire safety engineering, fire protection, building safety, safety management or risk management.

• Professional development toward relevant Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) membership or fire risk assessor/auditor registration, where the learner independently satisfies the relevant education, work experience, competence assessment and professional review requirements.

• Career development in roles such as Fire Risk Manager, Fire Safety Manager, Fire Risk Assessment Coordinator, Fire Safety Compliance Manager, Building Safety Coordinator, Fire Protection Manager, Fire Safety Auditor and Emergency Planning Manager, subject to employer requirements and demonstrated competence.

• Further specialist study in advanced fire risk assessment, fire investigation, high-rise building safety, fire protection systems, emergency management, fire safety auditing or strategic risk governance.

Completion of this qualification does not guarantee admission to a postgraduate programme, professional membership or entry to an IFE professional register. The IFE operates separate Fire Risk Assessor and Fire Risk Auditor registers, and applicants must provide evidence of their education, training, experience and professional competence for independent assessment. BS 8674:2025 also distinguishes Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced competence levels for individual fire risk assessors, depending on the nature and complexity of the premises being assessed.