Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 and subsequent inquiry, the industry has worked hard to increase safety standards and prevent such an incident from happening again. The CITB Fire Safety in Buildings eCourse has been created as a direct response to recommendations made by Working Group 2 (WG2), devised to support the inquiry, as outlined in the Setting the Bar report.

One outcome from the inquiry highlighted a need to increase awareness and create a more positive health and safety culture across industry, with the request that CITB produce a straightforward, low-cost training solution. The free course is easily accessible, allowing learners to study at their own pace, in the comfort of their own home.

CITB worked closely with industry to address the identified skills gap, creating the course in collaboration with WG2, Build UK, the Fire Protection Association, Association for Specialist Fire Protection, and the Fire Service College. Divided into five modules, it centres around: Grenfell, materials, fire protection, competence, and installation. It is suitable for anyone working in the design, construction, or maintenance of buildings, with a specific focus on installers, although learners will need a basic awareness of fire safety.

While there isn’t an exam, there are a series of activities and knowledge check questions throughout the course to assess the learner’s understanding and enhance personal development. Upon successful completion of the course, a digital certificate of achievement will be available to download from the CITB eCourses Dashboard, which is valid for five years.

Tim Balcon, CITB chief executive, said: “One word explains why modern fire safety skills are more vital than ever for every UK construction worker: Grenfell. We knew that greater guidance and training were key components to ensuring everyone’s safety, and we have made it a priority to deliver on this. It’s vital that everyone is proactive in equipping themselves with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent disasters, like Grenfell, and ultimately save lives.

“I’d also like to thank WG2, Build UK, the Fire Protection Association, the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, and the Fire Service College for sharing their invaluable expertise during the development of this course. It’s been fantastic to work together towards ensuring our buildings provide a safe environment for everyone.”

Suzannah Nichol MBE, Build UK chief executive, added: “Everyone in the industry has a responsibility to ensure they are specifying, designing, constructing and maintaining buildings that are safe and safe to occupy. Specialist contractors and installers across the whole supply chain have a key role to play in ensuring that they carry out work in accordance with their training and manufacturer’s instructions, do not compromise any fire safety measures and report any concerns.

“I would recommend that anyone working on a construction project completes this online course to make sure that they understand just how important they are in delivering safe buildings.”