Fire risk assessments

Who has to have a fire risk assessment

The responsible person for any non-domestic premises must carry out a fire risk assessment and review it regularly. That includes workplaces, shops, community buildings and the common parts of blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation. The responsible person is the employer, owner, landlord, occupier or anyone else with control of the premises, such as a facilities manager or managing agent.

You must keep a written record of your fire risk assessment. If you don’t have the time or the expertise to do it yourself, you can appoint a competent person to help, and in England the assessment should record who that was.

What the assessment covers

1. Fire hazards: what could start a fire, and what would burn.
2. People at risk: who uses the building, including anyone who would need help to get out.
3. Precautions in place: escape routes, fire doors, compartmentation, detection and alarms, emergency lighting, signs and firefighting equipment.
4. Management: training, drills, maintenance records and housekeeping.
5. Actions: what should change, in order of priority, so you know what to do first.

What you receive

• A visit to walk the premises and talk to whoever manages it day to day
• A written report recording the findings and the significant risks
• An action plan, prioritised, with what the relevant guidance says for each point
• A reminder when it’s time to review the assessment

We don’t use scare tactics. If something isn’t required for your premises, the assessment will say so.

Reviewing your assessment

A fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly, and whenever there’s reason to think it’s no longer valid: after building work, a change in how the premises are used, a change in the people using it, or a fire or near miss.

If the assessment finds gaps in fire-resisting walls or floors, our fire stopping team can put them right.