About BRE Global

BRE Global works to ensure that fire, security, environmental and other products and services provide the quality of performance and protection that they should.

We are an independent, third-party approvals organisation, offering certification of products, services and systems to an international market. Our testing and approvals are carried out by recognised experts in world-class facilities. We also offer cutting-edge research and consultancy services.

Fire and security certification – our Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) assesses and certifies fire and security systems and services against standards, such as BS, EN and LPS, developed in cooperation with manufacturers and insurers. Approved systems and services are listed in the world famous RedBook.

Environmental certification – claiming to be ‘green’ is a common marketing tactic that is not easily substantiated. We assess and certify environmental products and services which are then listed in our free database, Green Book Live. BRE Global is responsible for the internationally renowned BREEAM family of schemes for assessing the environmental performance of buildings.

The BIM Level 2 Business Systems Certification scheme assesses a business’ BIM policy and capability as defined within PAS 1192-2:2013 and PAS 91 as well as assessing the ability of the business to meet the requirements of an employer to carry out a BIM capability assessment.  The BIM Level 2 Certificated Practitioner Scheme, aimed at individuals who have completed BRE Academy’s BIM training courses ensures that, once qualified, you meet – and will continue to meet – the appropriate standards, through a combination of regular audits and on-going CPD requirements.

Management systems – we offer third-party approval to quality management (ISO 9001:2008), environmental management (ISO 14001) and health and safety management (BS OHSAS 18001) standards.

Advisory Services – our experts will help you with risk assessments, design solutions and specifications that minimise fire and security risks in buildings, infrastructure and transport systems, and reduce the risk of crime in public places and communities.

Research, testing and investigation – we have world-class test and research facilities, and a fifty-year history of fire investigations and expert witness services.  The BRE Academy also offers a range of online training course for construction professionals.

Training– our training team offers courses in areas such as designing and managing buildings for fire safety, security and fire risk assessment.

BRE Group operates in accordance with strict guidelines and procedures to ensure that we remain impartial and avoid conflicts of interest. It should be noted that BRE Group does not offer consultancy, advice or guidance in any areas that could conflict with our assurance services.

The descriptions of our many assurance and consultancy services on this website have been kept brief for the sake of clarity and may not always make such considerations clear.

Service provided by BRE Global Ltd.

Impartiality

BRE Global Impartiality Committee

The accreditation standards require certification bodies to have in place a structure that, amongst other things, ensures activities shall be both undertaken impartially, and structured and managed, to safeguard impartiality. The Impartiality Committee fulfils this role and provides feedback to BRE Global through the wide knowledge and experience of the Impartiality Committee members.

The Impartiality Committee’s Terms of Reference are: (ISO 17020 Clause 4.1; ISO 17021-1 Clause 4.2; ISO 17024 Clause 4.3; ISO 17025 Clause 4.1; and ISO 17065 Clauses 4.2 & 5.2 refer)  more

Peer Reviews

The Impartiality Committee also peer reviews proposals for new or revised standards or schemes, and their content once produced.   Members of the Impartiality Committee are proposed to BRE Global and usually consist of:

  • Professors from the University Centres of Excellence
  • Experts from industry sectors and/or academia.

Terms of reference

The Impartiality Committee shall:

  • provide feedback during the development of policies and schemes relating to impartiality of BRE Global activities;
  • counteract any tendency on the part of BRE Global to allow commercial or other considerations to prevent the consistent delivery of services in an impartial manner;
  • advise on matters affecting confidence in assurance, including openness and public perception; and
    conduct a review, at least once annually, of the impartiality of the audit, certification and decision-making processes of BRE Global.
    by:
  • having oversight of relevant processes and policies to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that BRE Global is:
    – acting independently and impartially[1]
    – operating impartiality processes correctly;
    – treating customers fairly;
  • where appropriate, make suggestions for the improvement of policies, processes and procedures on matters related to impartiality.
  • reviewing the results of internal and external audits, management reviews, complaints, appeals, certificate suspensions and withdrawals in order to ensure that procedures are administered in an impartial, timely and non-discriminatory manner;

Where the Impartiality Committee feels that there are significant impartiality issues that it has been unable to address through the normal processes of working with BRE Global then it has the right to escalate these issues through the BRE Group Risk and Audit Committee and where appropriate ultimately to take action independently of the BRE Group management (for example by informing the accreditation bodies).

Appeals will be managed by the BRE Risk and Internal Audit team according to the BRE Complaints and Appeals. Where necessary, an Appeals Committee will be formed including a Standing Chair and two independent members. The Appeals Committee may request representation from members of the Impartiality Committee where the appeal includes issues around impartiality.

[1] Impartiality is defined as the presence of objectivity, where: Objectivity is understood to mean that conflicts of interest do not exist, or are resolved so as not to adversely influence the activities of the body. Other terms that are useful in conveying the element of impartiality are independence, freedom from conflicts of interest, freedom from bias, freedom from prejudice, neutrality, fairness, open- mindedness, even-handedness, detachment and balance.