When tendering for fire safety contracts, it’s important to understand which fire safety accreditations you need to hold – mainly so you don’t waste time and resources on a tender that you’ll be ultimately disqualified from.
This blog will outline the key fire safety accreditations, and explain how you, as bidders, can work out whether they’re required or not.
What is Accreditation in The Fire Safety Sector?
As a company, holding fire safety accreditation means that you are following recognised, industry standards, which goes one step further than simply meeting legal requirements. It shows that your company has been audited, meets strict criteria, and has clearly proven how its processes align with these standards in practice.
There are four main accreditations that are most common within the fire safety industry…
#1 BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment)
BAFE is a third-party certification body for fire protection services, that covers fire alarms, extinguishers, emergency lighting, risk assessments, and more. For many public and commercial clients, they will ask you to verify you have this accreditation, before they even consider using your services.
#2 NSI (National Security Inspectorate)
This is mainly for security companies, but also offers fire system certifications, such as NSI Fire Gold.
It’s an accreditation that whilst it may not be required in all tenders, it is especially recognised (and beneficial) in integrated fire and security tenders.
#3 FIA (Fire Industry Association)
An important difference between FIA and the others listed on this list, is that FIA is not an accreditation but a trade association. Whilst it’s not an accreditation that demonstrates your adherence to recognised industry standards, it provides you with access to industry-leading training, resources and credibility through affiliation. Therefore, it positions you well within the competition when you’re bidding.
#4 ISO 9001 (Quality Management System)
This accreditation is a global standard for quality management across all industries, whether that be fire safety, healthcare, construction, etc. ISO 9001 is a requirement for most contracts and should definitely be one that you look into obtaining, if you haven’t already.
and then we have…
#5 ISO 14001
This focuses more on the environmental management side of fire safety, with regards to waste disposal, emission reduction, and efficient material use. In today’s bidding culture, it is becoming increasingly required in tenders and will often be a question on the PQQ (pre-qualification questionnaire) or ITT (invitation to tender).
#6 CHAS/SafeContractor/SSIP
These accreditations do not assess your fire safety technical skills but prove that your business operates safely on-site. They confirm that your team are trained in health and safety, you have valid RAMS and hold the relevant insurance and policies to meet legal standards.
So, Is Accreditation Legally Required When Tendering?
In short, no.
However, many clients, especially in the public sector, will not even shortlist you without fire safety accreditation, as other, accredited companies will seem more favourable and reliable.
So, while not compulsory, gaining fire safety accreditation is often a wise investment if you’re serious about winning tenders in the fire safety industry.
What To Do If You’re Not Accredited Yet
Having no/minimal accreditations does not automatically destroy your chances of winning a bid, but it’s important that you stay strategic to remain competitive.
Here’s how to approach it:
- Understand Which Accreditations Matter Most
You should assess your company, its objectives and what type of contracts you will be going for. By doing so, you can ascertain which accreditations are the most important for your desired work, whether that be with domestic clients, or for large facilities management contracts, for example.
- Start Building Evidence
Even before you’re accredited, start collecting:
- Job sheets and commissioning records
- Training certificates (e.g. FIA courses, manufacturer training)
- Written procedures or templates
- Case studies and testimonials
These will show prospective clients you’re competent and serious about standards – even if you’re still working toward formal accreditation.
- Implement a Simple Management System
Most accreditations (like ISO 9001 or BAFE SP203-1) require:
- Documented procedures
- Quality control checks
- Record keeping
- Training logs
If you start building this management system now, you’ll either a) be fully prepared for obtaining the relevant accreditation, or b) be able to evidence how your company is aligned with industry standards, even if you don’t have the accreditation to show for it.
- Join a Trade Association
Becoming a member of the FIA or another relevant body can:
- Build credibility
- Provide access to training
- Keep you informed on standards
Even if it’s not a certification, FIA membership helps show commitment to best practice.
- Communicate your Accreditation Plan
If you are working towards accreditation, make this clear in your tender response. E.g. “We are currently in the process of gaining BAFE SP203-1 certification, with our audit scheduled for Q4 this year.”
Is it Worth Becoming Accredited?
At the moment, holding relevant accreditations is not a requirement for every fire safety contract.
However, accreditations like BAFE, ISO 9001, and CHAS certainly make you a more appealing, trusted choice for clients, and can boost your chances of securing your desired contracts.
So whilst being accredited isn’t 100% required, it will certainly be a beneficial, smart decision for your company.
Are You Ready to Win Fire Safety Tenders?
Bidding in the fire safety sector can be time consuming and complex.
While it can be done internally, professional bid writing companies (like us at Bid Writing Service) can significantly boost your chances of fire safety tender success through expert bid writing and end-to-end guidance throughout the entire bidding process.
Have a fire safety tender submission coming up? Why not utilise our expert fire safety tender writers? Contact us at michael.baron@bidwritingservice.com or lauren.moorhouse@bidwritingservice.com to discuss your needs, or, fill out the form below!
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