Passive fire protection is designed as the last line of defence yet repeatedly becomes one of the first point of failure in real fires. This presentation applies systems-thinking to understand why persistent gaps in education, competency, inspection and enforcement undermine reliability across design, construction and occupancy.
Abhishek Chhabra is an Assurance Industry expert with nearly 20 years of experience in conformity assessment. His career spans a wide range of industries, from consumer electronics and household appliances to machinery, construction materials, and hazardous goods. He has deep knowledge of international compliance standards, including those set by North America, Europe, Britain, ISO, IMO, and Indian authorities.
Abhishek is a passionate advocate for passive fire protection. He has worked in Testing, Inspection & Certification bodies ensuring compliance of various building materials and products and their installation related to Fire Safety. He has also dedicated himself to educating stakeholders across the entire fire safety ecosystem. This includes consultants, contractors, manufacturers, regulators, and accreditation bodies.
His commitment extends beyond compliance industry. Abhishek actively participates in advisory committees for standards development organizations and accreditation bodies. He has had active involvement in development of Standards in India (BIS), Saudi Arabia (SASO), American Standards (UL) and the UAE Fire and Life safety Code of Practice. He shares his expertise through publications, articles, and conference presentations, promoting the effective use of fire safety codes and compliance regimes. His contribution to Independent Review of the Construction Product Testing Regime led by Paul Morrell and Anneliese Day for the UK government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been a recent highlight.
Currently, Abhishek represents two leading industry associations: the Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA) and the National Fireproofing Contractors Association (NFCA). In this role, he spearheads efforts to raise awareness and understanding of passive fire protection practices across diverse audiences.
Abhishek’s dedication goes beyond fire safety. Through his initiative, tic.guru, he offers educational courses that empower professionals with a deeper understanding of the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry. He also undertakes bespoke consulting services to assurance businesses and has a public training program offered via Udemy, called , “Masterclass in Assurance Industry”
