Fire Risk Assessment

Most UK businesses occupying non-domestic premises have a legal duty to assess fire risks and implement appropriate fire safety measures. Our fire safety experts carry out fire risk assessments for businesses across the UK. We'll help you keep your people safe, stay compliant with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and give you peace of mind that fire risk is being properly managed.

Jump to:

• What is a fire risk assessment?
• Do I need a fire risk assessment?
• How we help with fire risk assessments
• What our fire risk assessment covers
• Workplace, office and commercial premises
• Who is the responsible person?
• How often should you review your fire risk assessment?
• Pricing
• FAQs

• Get in touch

   

What is a fire risk assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a review of your premises that looks at the risk of fire, the people who could be affected, and what your business needs to do to keep everyone safe. By law, the vast majority of UK businesses operating from non-domestic premises need one. 

The assessment looks at the hazards in your building (anything that could start or spread a fire), the people who could be at risk if one breaks out, and the steps your business needs to take to remove or reduce those risks. The result is a written report that the responsible person uses to manage fire safety, and which can be produced to the enforcing authority if requested.

Do I need a fire risk assessment?

If you run a business from non-domestic premises in the UK, the answer is almost certainly yes. The duty applies to almost every workplace, regardless of size or sector.

You'll need a fire risk assessment if your premises is:

• An office, workshop, shop, restaurant or any other workplace
• A warehouse, factory or industrial unit
• A healthcare or care facility
• A school, college or training centre
• A facilities-managed building
• A block of flats or HMO

Most Responsible Persons are required to record the significant findings of the fire risk assessment and document the fire safety arrangements in place. We'd recommend writing it down in full even where this isn't strictly required. It makes life easier when you need to act on the findings, and it's solid evidence that you've taken your duty seriously if something ever goes wrong.

Not sure if your business needs one? Get in touch and we'll talk it through.

How we help with fire risk assessments

Getting a fire risk assessment done properly takes time and an experienced set of eyes. Free up your time and let our fire safety experts handle it for you.

One of our team will visit your premises and walk through the building with you to understand how your business operates day to day. We'll then put together a clear, jargon-free fire risk assessment with sensible recommendations you can act on. We don't work from generic templates or treat it as a tick-box exercise, and the advice you get is practical and fits the way your business actually runs.

Our team can help with:

• A full fire risk assessment of your workplace
• Reviews of existing fire risk assessments to spot what's been missed
• Action plans setting out exactly what needs doing, by when, and by whom
• Fire safety policies and procedures to back up your assessment
• Guidance on fire safety equipment, signage and evacuation routes
• Long-term support so your fire risk assessment stays current
• Site visits across the UK, with experts local to your area

Let our team take the reins on your fire risk assessment, so you can focus on what you do best.

What our fire risk assessment covers

Every building is different, so every fire risk assessment we carry out is different too. That said, there are some key areas our experts will always check.

When our team visits your premises, we'll look at:

• The building itself, including its use, layout, construction and age
• The number of occupants and anyone who may be more vulnerable in a fire, such as disabled employees, lone workers or visitors
• Sources of ignition, like electrical equipment, heating, cooking areas, hot work and smoking
• Sources of fuel, like combustible stock, paper, packaging and flammable liquids
• Sources of oxygen, like gas supplies and cylinders
• Escape routes, signage and emergency lighting
• Fire detection and warning systems, like alarms and manual call points
• Firefighting equipment, like extinguishers and fire blankets
• Fire doors and compartmentation
• Procedures, training and fire drills
• Your existing fire safety documentation

You'll get a written report covering everything above, with sensible recommendations colour-coded so you can see at a glance what's good and what needs your attention.

Get in touch now and one of our fire safety experts will visit your premises and complete your fire risk assessment for you.

Fire risk assessments for different premises

Every type of premises has its own fire risk profile. Our team works with businesses across sectors and tailors each assessment accordingly.

Workplace fire risk assessment

Whether you operate from a single office, a multi-site setup or a factory floor, your workplace fire risk assessment needs to reflect how your team actually works on the day. Our experts assess your workplace as it is, not how a template says it should look.

Office fire risk assessment

For office-based businesses, the assessment focuses on escape routes, electrical equipment, kitchen areas, evacuation procedures and how the building integrates with the rest of your floor or block. We'll work around your team without disrupting the working day.

Commercial fire risk assessment

Commercial premises, from retail to hospitality to mixed-use buildings, often have higher fire loadings and more complex occupant profiles. Our commercial fire risk assessment looks at customers, staff, contractors and out-of-hours risk in one go.

Industrial and warehouse premises

For warehouses, distribution centres and industrial units, the assessment looks at stock storage, racking, hot work, vehicle movements, sprinkler systems and fire compartmentation. Our team has experience across logistics, manufacturing and storage.

Healthcare and care facilities

Healthcare premises need extra care around vulnerable occupants, evacuation strategies and the integration of fire safety with operational requirements. Our team handles these assessments with the sensitivity they need.

Multi-occupancy buildings and HMOs

If you're a landlord, managing agent or responsible person for a block of flats or HMO, we carry out fire risk assessments in accordance with the requirements of the Fire Safety Order, taking account of the Fire Safety Act 2021 and other relevant legislation.

Who is the responsible person?

Under fire safety law, every non-domestic building must have a designated "responsible person" who is accountable for fire safety. In most businesses, that's the employer, the building owner, or the person with overall control of the premises.

The responsible person has to:

• Make sure a fire risk assessment is carried out and kept up to date
• Act on the findings to remove or reduce fire risks
• Put in place fire safety measures, including detection, warning and escape routes
• Make sure occupants know what to do in the event of a fire
• Train staff and run fire drills
• Keep the necessary records to prove all of this is being done

If you're a small business, the responsible person is usually you. If you operate from shared premises, responsibility may be split between you and the landlord or managing agent. Our team can help you work out exactly where the line sits and what falls to you.

How often should you review your fire risk assessment?

As a general guide, many organisations review their assessment annually and commission a comprehensive reassessment periodically, depending on the complexity and risk profile of the premises.

You should also redo your fire risk assessment whenever something significant changes about your premises. That could be:

• A change to the layout, fit-out or structure of the building
• A change of use, such as turning office space into a workshop
• New equipment, machinery or processes
• A significant change in the number or type of occupants
• A fire or a near miss

For higher-risk premises like healthcare and complex commercial buildings, more frequent reviews are sensible. Higher-risk residential buildings may require more frequent review depending on occupancy profile, building complexity, previous findings and management arrangements.

If you're not sure when your last assessment was done, or whether it's still valid, give our team a message and we'll help you work it out.

Pricing

The cost of a fire risk assessment depends on your premises, so we don't list a flat price. A small office is a very different job to a multi-floor commercial building or a warehouse with complex stock.

After a quick scoping conversation, we'll give you a fixed-fee quote so you know exactly what you're paying. We also offer ongoing retainers for businesses that want year-round fire safety cover, with fire risk assessments built in.