QA Inspector / Technical Assistant - Passive Fire

Howells Solutions Limited; Brentwood; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Howells Solutions Limited is seeking a QA Inspector / Technical Assistant in Essex. The role focuses on QA checks for fire compartmentation, audits for FIRAS compliance, and providing technical guidance to operations teams.

You will also prepare client O&M manuals and deliver on-site training to installation teams. The ideal candidate has 3+ years in the firestopping sector, strong communication, and a detail-oriented approach, with a solid understanding of ISO standards and health & safety

Qualifications

• Minimum A-Level education, or equivalent/higher qualification.
• Experience in a similar role.
• Ideally 3+ years' experience within the firestopping industry.

Responsibilities

• Carry out QA checks on fire compartmentation installations in line with internal procedures and manufacturer guidance.
• Assist with external certification body compliance processes and audits, including FIRAS requirements.
• Provide technical information to operations teams with installation details and best-practice guidance.
• Assist with preparation of O&M manuals for clients at project completion.
• Deliver training and on-site technical briefings to installation teams.
• Carry out pre-commencement site audits to advise on products and solutions for site requirements.
• Contribute to passive fire protection designs meeting performance requirements and ISO standards.
• Maintain adherence to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 and support health and safety compliance.

Skills

Strong attention to detail

Confident communication

Client meetings leadership

Experience in a similar role

QA mindset

Education

A-Level or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: QA Inspector / Technical Assistant

Location: Essex

Salary: >£50,000 + Package

We are please to be working with this market leader in Passive Fire Protection who for over 30 years, have delivered trusted, high-quality fire protection services across the healthcare, commercial, residential, education, student accommodation, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. They pride themselves on getting it right first time, maintaining long-standing client relationships, and delivering work to the highest standards.

What You’ll Do

Quality Assurance

• Carry out QA checks on fire compartmentation installations in line with internal procedures, manufacturer instructions, certification body requirements, and industry guidance.
• Assist with external certification body compliance processes and audits, including FIRAS requirements.
• Provide technical information to operations teams, including specific installation details and best-practice guidance under the direction of the Technical Consultant.
• Assist with the preparation of O&M manuals for issue to clients at project completion.

Technical Assistance

• Assess installer technical competence, identifying, overseeing, and signing off improvement processes where required.
• Deliver training and on-site technical briefings to installation teams to strengthen knowledge and support awareness of current and newly developed solutions and guidance.
• Carry out pre-commencement site audits to advise on products and solutions suitable for site and client requirements.
• Assist the Quality Assurance Technician and Technical Consultant in producing passive fire protection project-specific designs by selecting suitable products to meet performance requirements.
• Adopt best working practices to maintain adherence to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 standards and accreditations, while supporting compliance with health and safety rules and regulations.

General Responsibilities

• Communicate quality standards clearly and professionally to clients.
• Participate in relevant internal and external meetings as required.
• Identify and complete job-related training and development needs.

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• Minimum A-Level education, or equivalent/higher qualification.
• Experience in a similar role.
• Ideally 3+ years' experience within the firestopping industry.
• Basic understanding of internal fit-out systems or MEPH.
• Confident communication skills, including the ability to lead smaller client meetings.
• Strong attention to detail with a proactive approach.

Desirable

• Passive Fire Protection experience.
• Design Management exposure.
• IFE Level 2 qualification.
• CSCS card.
• Experience with field tools and digital recording platforms such as Onetrace and Bolster.
• Experience with CDEs, such as Aconex or Viewpoint.
• Familiarity with BIM/model viewer tools such as Dalux, Navisworks, Revizto, or Autodesk Forma