Fire Risk Assessment
A fire risk assessment is one of the most important steps in protecting people, property, and your business from the effects of fire.
By assessing your premises, the activities carried out within it, and the people who use the building, potential fire hazards can be identified and appropriate measures put in place to reduce risk and improve fire safety.
Is a Fire Risk Assessment Required?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, almost all non-domestic premises are legally required to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
This includes premises such as:
Offices
Shops and retail units
Care homes
Hotels and guest accommodation
Factories and warehouses
Schools and educational facilities
Communal areas of residential buildings
Healthcare premises
Commercial and industrial buildings
The duty to ensure a fire risk assessment is completed falls upon the Responsible Person.
Who is the Responsible Person?
The Responsible Person is the individual who has control over the premises and fire safety arrangements.
Depending on the type of premises, this may include:
An employer
A business owner
A landlord
A managing agent
A building owner
The Responsible Person must take appropriate fire safety precautions and ensure that fire risks are properly assessed and managed.
What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Cover?
A fire risk assessment examines the fire safety arrangements within a building and identifies any improvements required to maintain compliance and protect occupants.
Areas typically assessed include:
Means of escape and evacuation procedures
Fire detection and alarm systems
Emergency lighting
Fire doors and compartmentation
Firefighting equipment
Sources of ignition and combustible materials
Staff fire safety training
Fire safety management arrangements
Emergency planning and procedures
Following the assessment, a detailed report is provided outlining significant findings and any recommendations for improvement.
Do Fire Risk Assessments Need to Be Recorded?
Yes.
The findings of a fire risk assessment must be formally recorded.
Following amendments introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, all Responsible Persons are required to record the findings of their fire risk assessment, regardless of the number of employees within the organisation.
How Often Should a Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?
Fire risk assessments must be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain suitable and up to date.
A review should be undertaken whenever:
Significant alterations are made to the building
The use of the premises changes
Occupancy levels change
New processes or activities are introduced
There is reason to believe the assessment is no longer valid
Regular reviews help ensure continued compliance with fire safety legislation and that fire safety measures remain effective.
Professional Fire Risk Assessments
At LW Fire Safety, we provide independent fire risk assessments for a wide range of premises across the UK.
Our assessments are practical, proportionate, and tailored to your building, helping you understand your legal responsibilities and giving you confidence that your premises are compliant with current fire safety legislation.
Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Who Do We Work With?
We carry out fire risk assessments for:
Care homes
Residential care facilities
Offices
Retail premises
Industrial units
Warehouses
Schools
Nurseries
Hotels
HMOs
Blocks of flats
Community buildings
Commercial premises
What’s Included in Our Fire Risk Assessments?
Site inspection of the premises
Identification of fire hazards
Assessment of people at risk
Review of fire alarm systems
Review of emergency lighting
Inspection of fire doors
Assessment of escape routes
Review of firefighting equipment
Evaluation of staff training and fire procedures
Detailed written report with prioritised recommendations
