What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A Fire Risk Assessment can be the difference between staying safe and a serious, sometimes tragic incident. To help you take every necessary precaution, let’s take a look at what the assessment involves.

Fire Risk Assessments – an overview

Fire Risk Assessments are a legal requirement for any organisation with non-domestic premises, such as offices, shops, factories, care homes and warehouses.

A designated ‘responsible person’ must regularly review the premises, assess the risk of a fire occurring, and take action to keep people safe.

Who is the ‘responsible person’?

The ‘responsible person’ when it comes to fire safety is an individual who has a degree of control over the premises. This could be a business owner, landlord or occupier; or indeed any other person responsible for the day-to-day running of the building, such as a facilities manager, risk assessor or building manager.

In fact, there can be more than one ‘responsible person’, and in this scenario, you would be collectively responsible for arranging a Fire Risk Assessment.

What does a Fire Risk Assessment involve?

A Fire Risk Assessment includes a detailed inspection of a premises to determine its fire safety credentials. The person responsible for the assessment must complete the following:

● Identify potential fire hazards.
● Identify any individuals at risk.
● Evaluate the risks, then remove or reduce them.
● Make a written record of the assessment.
● Create an emergency evacuation plan, deliver training, and regularly review the assessment.

What are my Fire Risk Assessment responsibilities?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, often referred to as the Fire Safety Order, outlines the key fire safety responsibilities that the ‘responsible person’ must adhere to by law.

These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• From October 1st 2023, you must keep a written record of the Fire Risk Assessment, and carry out a Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan (FEEP).
• You must review emergency routes and exits, and communicate key information about the FEEP to your personnel.
• You should remove or safely store any dangerous substances or flammable, explosive materials.
• You must take into account access to fire fighting equipment, as well as alarms and detection systems.
• Analyse the needs of vulnerable people, such as individuals with disabilities, as part of your emergency plan.

Why Fire Risk Assessments matter

Fire Risk Assessments are not just about protecting your safety – they’re about your organisation and its future. Could your business recover if you experienced a serious fire?

Moreover, in the event a fire occurs and it’s proven that you’ve not fulfilled your legal obligations – such as Fire Risk Assessments – there are a number of penalties that you and your organisation may face.

This includes more lenient measures, such as an informal notice with recommended fire safety changes. More severe punishments include fines of up to £5,000 for minor breaches, or unlimited fines and two years’ imprisonment for major offences.

Who can complete my Fire Risk Assessment?

Your assessment must be completed by a ‘competent person’ who is qualified to identify any fire risks. At Commercial Fire Protection, we have a team of certified in-house fire safety experts who can manage your Fire Risk Assessment and take some of the stress off your shoulders.

Thanks to our 40-plus years’ experience, we know fire safety regulations inside out. And upon completion of a satisfactory Fire Risk Assessment, we can ensure you have all the proper documentation you need.

Learn more about our Fire Risk Assessment services.