As part of an ongoing drive to support the development of home safety in the UK, TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme for tradespeople, has partnered with CFOA Blue Watch, the Chief Fire Officers’ Association home safety scheme, to promote the assessment and registration of safety features found in both private and rented homes.

Supported by UK Fire and Rescue Services, Blue Watch provides help and support to households, including landlords, letting agents, tenants and homeowners, to make their properties safer from hazards posed by electricity and gas, fire and carbon monoxide poisoning, for example. The Blue Watch logo is the sign of a safer home – it says a trusted fire safety professional has validated a property or safety product.

TrustMark and Blue Watch aim to reduce the devastation and cost of fires and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in UK homes, by helping homeowners and landlords to provide safer places to live for their families and tenants. Together the two schemes will raise awareness of these dangers and risks by advising and signposting households to use TrustMark-registered firms to carry out work in and around their properties.

Simon Ayers, Chief Executive of TrustMark, said:

“Home safety is a priority issue and should always be addressed before any home is occupied – people like to feel safe in their home, not only for themselves, but particularly for their families. Our partnership with Blue Watch will enable us to drive home the critically important message to only use skilled, reliable and competent tradespeople who have been assessed and qualified when it comes to carrying out any work on a property. TrustMark-registered firms can not only fix and fit approved safety products in the home, but they can also provide advice and support to raise awareness of the dangers and risks of fire and CO poisoning. Together with Blue Watch we can make homes and properties in the UK safer.”

CFOA Blue Watch Chief Executive, Brian Gregory, commented:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the UK Fire and Rescue Services to share their knowledge and experience in home safety with the private rented sector and beyond. The opportunity to spread the Home Safety message with TrustMark is too good to miss and I look forward to exploring the various ways we can combine our resources in the future to make UK homes safer.”

The BBA is a Scheme Operator for TrustMark and all TrustMark-registered firms are expected to be of the highest standard. Every firm works to Government-endorsed standards and each is uniquely checked for three cornerstones of quality – their trading practices, their customer service and their technical skills.

For full details of the Trustmark Scheme please visit TrustMark’s website www.trustmark.org.uk. To enquire about becoming a TrustMark-registered installer please contact the BBA either by telephone on 01923 665300.