What Association for Specialist Fire Protection does

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is the United Kingdom's leading trade association for the passive fire protection (PFP) sector, founded in 1975 and headquartered at the ASFP Academy in Coventry. It serves 350+ member companies across 22 membership categories covering PFP contractors, manufacturers (subdivided across firestopping, structural steel protection, ductwork/dampers, active curtains, non-load bearing elements, fire retardant coatings, fire resistant glazing, and fire door assemblies), distributors, principal contractors, testing and certification bodies, fire engineers, architects, component producers, international companies, trade associations, business affiliates, individuals, and students. ASFP's core products and services comprise tiered annual membership subscriptions, IFE-accredited training courses (online, classroom, in-house, and bespoke), the ASFP Competence Framework covering 200+ activities across seven lifecycle domains, the iconic Colour Book technical publication series (Yellow, Red, Blue, Grey, Purple, Black, Green, Clear Books) referenced in UK and Irish Building Regulations, Technical Guidance Documents and Advisory Notes, the ASFP/BSI Standards Hub, webinars, the Sparking Interest podcast, Ignite Magazine, the Yearbook & Membership Directory, meeting room and ASFPTV studio hire, and an annual events programme culminating in the ASFP Awards.

ASFP generates revenue through a hybrid model anchored by recurring annual membership fees (£1,630 to £5,400+VAT based on PFP turnover bands) supplemented by training course fees, publication sales (e.g., Colour Books at £45 to the public, free to members), advertising in Ignite Magazine and the Yearbook, event sponsorship, facility hire (member and non-member rates), and a charitable giving programme through the Jim O'Hagan Charity Golf Day in partnership with the Children's Burns Trust. Distribution is primarily direct-to-enterprise via the asfp.org.uk website, with international reach delivered through affiliated ASFP chapters in Ireland (established 2011), France, Spain, India, Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong. The association employs a lean team of 1-10 staff led by Managing Director Mike Ward, Operations Director Nadine Saxon, Chair Sharon McClure, and Vice Chair Jamie O'Hagan, supported by function heads across Technical, Training, and Marketing, and governed by a member-elected Council.

Name

Association for Specialist Fire Protection

Legal name

Association for Specialist Fire Protection

Website

https://asfp.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is the UK's leading trade association for the passive fire protection sector, founded in 1975 and serving 350+ member companies with membership subscriptions, IFE-accredited training, the Colour Book technical publication series, the Competence Framework, and events across seven international chapters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services — Passive Fire Protection

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Safety Compliance, Risk Assessments & Training (Code Consulting) (IMAIAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

Keywords

• Passive fire protection
• Fire safety training
• Trade association membership
• Fire protection standards
• Competency framework

Headquarters

HQ city

Coventry

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership subscriptions from PFP contractors, manufacturers, distributors, associate companies, principal contractors, component producers, international companies, trade associations, affiliates, and individual members. Tiered pricing based on annual PFP turnover.
2. Training Courses: Online and classroom training courses including Introduction to Passive Fire Protection, Foundation Level 2 and 3 courses, Design Awareness, Firestopping for Installers, Building Safety Act Awareness, and IFE exam preparation. Includes in-house and bespoke training options.
3. Publications and Technical Documents: Sale of ASFP Colour Books (Black, Blue, Clear, Green, Grey, Purple, Red, Yellow Books) priced at £45 for public, free to members. Technical Guidance Documents, Advisory Notes, Best Practice Guidance, and competency documents.
4. Meeting Room and Facility Hire: Hiring of meeting rooms (Meeting Room One, Meeting Room Two, Boardroom, Theatre) and ASFPTV Studio for podcast/video production. Tiered pricing for members and non-members.
5. Event Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities at ASFP events including the annual Awards, Scotland Seminar, Jim O'Hagan Charity Golf Day, and presence at trade shows like London Build Expo and Intersec Global.
6. Journal and Yearbook Advertising: Advertising opportunities in Ignite magazine (published twice yearly) and the Yearbook & Membership Directory, with pricing tiers for members and non-members.
7. BSI Standards Sales: Sale of BSI standards through ASFP platform. Free standards for SME members (fewer than 250 employees) - 100 standards related to Passive Fire and Quality Management available at no cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

ASFP is a trade association serving the passive fire protection industry through tiered membership subscriptions (PFP contractors, manufacturers, distributors, principal contractors, component producers, associates, trade associations, international companies, individuals and students), IFE-accredited training programmes, the eight-volume Colour Book technical publication series referenced in Building Regulations, Technical Guidance Documents and Advisory Notes, the ASFP Competence Framework, and a BSI Standards Hub. Supporting services include the ASFP Store, meeting room and ASFPTV studio hire at the Coventry HQ, annual Awards and regional seminars, Ignite magazine and the Yearbook, the Careers Board, and webinars plus the Sparking Interest podcast.

Product overview

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) operates as a trade association offering a unified platform of services rather than a single product. The core offering comprises membership with access to a directory of over 350 vetted passive fire protection companies, technical training programmes leading to IFE certifications, and a comprehensive portfolio of technical publications (the Colour Book series including Yellow, Red, Blue, Grey, Purple, Black, Green, and Clear Books). Supporting services include the ASFP Competence Framework for workforce development, Training Recognition for third-party providers, ASFP Events and Awards, Ignite Magazine and Yearbook, the ASFP Store, Careers Board, Meeting Room/Theatre Hire, and ASFPTV Studio services. International operations include ASFPI and affiliated websites for France, Spain, India, Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong. The association maintains 13 technical groups and task groups addressing specific fire protection disciplines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ASFP Membership Trade association membership covering 22 categories of the passive fire protection industry including PFP contractors, manufacturers (fire stopping, structural steel, ductwork/dampers, active curtains, non-load bearing elements, fire retardant coatings, fire resistant glazing, fire door assemblies), distributors, principal contractors, component producers, testing/certification, fire engineering, inspection, architectural, digital data and communication system providers, international companies, trade associations, affiliates, individuals and students. Annual subscription tiered by PFP turnover from £1,630+VAT (under £499k) to £5,400+VAT (over £5M).
• ASFP Training Courses A comprehensive suite of training courses for passive fire protection professionals, ranging from introductory online modules to advanced qualifications preparing delegates for Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) Level 2 and Level 3 certifications. Includes online, classroom, in-house and bespoke training formats covering Introduction to Passive Fire Protection, Foundation Level 2 and 3, Design Awareness, Firestopping for Installers, Building Safety Act Awareness and IFE exam preparation.
• ASFP Competence Framework An online framework defining benchmarks for skills and knowledge in passive fire protection, developed collaboratively with industry experts. Contains over 200 activities across seven key lifecycle domains, helping professionals assess, evidence and strengthen workforce capability. Freely available to all.
• ASFP Training Recognition An independent third-party evaluation service that validates high-quality training programmes delivered by third-party providers, ensuring technical accuracy and alignment with the ASFP Competence Framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350+ member companies served across the passive fire protection industry
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Children's Burns TrustcoreOthers · 1 January 2022ASFP's designated charity partner. Annual fundraising through events including the Jim O'Hagan Charity Golf Day. Previous donations include £6,075 (2023), £2,280 (2022), £2,585 (2019), and £3,252 (2014).
• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022UKAS accreditation is a requirement for ASFP third-party certification schemes. All ASFP Contractor and Manufacturer members must hold third-party certification from a UKAS-accredited certification body or equivalent MLA signatory.
• ASFP Ireland (ASFPI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011ASFPI (Association for Specialist Fire Protection Ireland) established in 2011 to support those responsible for legislation, specification, inspection and installation of passive fire protection throughout Ireland. Offers guidance, training and member forums. ASFP guidance is referenced in Irish Building Regulations (TGD B - Fire Safety) and used by the Health Services Executive (HSE) and leading fire consultants.
• ASFP FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational chapter serving the French passive fire protection market.
• ASFP SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational chapter serving the Spanish passive fire protection market.
• ASFP IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational chapter serving the Indian passive fire protection market.
• ASFP SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational chapter serving the Singaporean passive fire protection market.
• ASFP DubaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational chapter serving the Middle East passive fire protection market. Hosts ASFP pavilion at Intersec Global.
• ASFP Hong KongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational chapter serving the Hong Kong/China passive fire protection market.
• BSI (British Standards Institution)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing BSI standards through ASFP platform. Over 30,000 standards available covering construction, health and safety, quality management. ASFP has pre-loaded 100 standards most relevant to Passive Fire. SME members (fewer than 250 employees) receive 100 standards free of charge.
• IFE (Institution of Fire Engineers)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for IFE Level 2 and Level 3 certification programs. ASFP training courses prepare delegates for IFE exams. Fire risk assessor members required to be listed on IFE register or equivalent.
• Fire Risk Assessment Competency CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on competency documents including 'A Guide to Choosing a Competent Fire Risk Assessor' and 'Competence Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors'.
• Fire Sector FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'A Guide to Choosing a Competent Fire Risk Assessor' published by the Fire Sector Federation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fire Sector Federation: Umbrella body for UK fire-safety organizations with which ASFP collaborates on competence documents, and which serves as an alternative convening venue for fire-sector advocacy and standards work.
• Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB): A large UK professional body for construction managers and principal contractors with training, CPD, and certification programmes that intersect with ASFP's Building Safety Act awareness and competency offerings.
• Building Engineering Services Association (BESA): A larger UK trade body covering building engineering services including fire-related ductwork and damper disciplines that intersect with ASFP's ductwork/damper manufacturer and technical standards remit.
• Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS): UK trade association for the finishes and interiors sector with adjacency to partition, glazing, and dry-lining trades that overlap with ASFP's non-load-bearing elements and glazed systems categories.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): A large UK/global professional body whose building-safety, dilapidations, and fire-risk accreditation pathways influence PFP specification and create overlapping training and CPD economics with ASFP members.

Direct peers

• Fire Protection Association (FPA): A UK fire-safety R&D and advisory body delivering training, publications, and membership services in fire protection and risk management that overlaps with ASFP's content/training offering.
• British Woodworking Federation (BWF): Operates the BWF Fire Door Alliance and certifies fire-door installers, directly overlapping with ASFP's fire door assembly/set manufacturer and contractor membership categories and Technical Group activity.
• Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE): The UK's professional body for fire engineers that issues the Level 2 and Level 3 certifications for which ASFP delivers preparatory training; an ASFP partner but also a credentialing competitor.
• Fire Industry Association (FIA): The principal UK trade association for the wider fire industry (detection, suppression, alarms), overlapping with ASFP in passive fire training, events, and membership services, with which ASFP competes for fire-safety member wallet share.

Others

• BRE Group (Building Research Establishment): A building science research and standards organization operating testing, training, and certification services that shape passive fire standards and provide adjacent technical authority to ASFP's content library.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2og4rr9y7v7BhTLELfJPpA
• Xx.com/ASFPUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-for-specialist-fire-protection-asfp-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association for Specialist Fire Protection