Fire risk assessments that stand up to scrutiny

It is a careful look at your building to work out how a fire could start, who would be in danger if it did, and whether the measures in place are good enough to keep people safe. The result is a written report with a list of actions, each given a priority so you know what to tackle first.

The law calls the person with legal duties for fire safety the responsible person. In a workplace it is usually the employer. In other buildings it is the owner, landlord, freeholder, managing agent or whoever has control of the premises. A building can have more than one responsible person, and they must cooperate and share information with each other. See Fire safety in the workplace (GOV.UK).

The law says the assessment must be reviewed regularly to keep it up to date, and straight away if something significant changes, such as building work, a change of use, a fire or a near miss. In practice many buildings are reviewed every year, and higher-risk buildings more often.

For a small, simple premises the law allows it, provided you are competent to do it properly. For anything more complex, government guidance recommends appointing a competent professional assessor, and checking their training, experience and qualifications before you do.

Fire and rescue services can issue enforcement notices requiring improvements, or prohibition notices that restrict or stop the use of a building. Failing to comply is a criminal offence, with penalties of an unlimited fine and, in serious cases, up to two years in prison. See Enforcement and sanctions for non-compliance (GOV.UK).

Yes. Any building with two or more flats sharing common parts, such as stairs, corridors or an entrance hall, needs one. That includes houses converted into flats. The assessment covers the common parts, the building's structure and external walls, and the entrance doors to each flat.

These describe how far the inspection goes in a block of flats.

A Type 1 is the usual starting point. We will advise if a more detailed type is needed.

In residential buildings with storeys over 11 metres, communal fire doors must be checked every three months and flat entrance doors every twelve months, on a best endeavours basis. In lower buildings, fire doors should be checked as part of your fire risk assessment and routine management. See the government fire door guidance and checklist.

In any block with two or more flats, residents must be given clear fire safety instructions, including what to do if there is a fire, and information about why fire doors matter and how to look after them.

Residents are more likely to be older, have reduced mobility or need help to escape. The assessment looks closely at the evacuation strategy, alarm systems, staffing levels, and whether the building and its management match the needs of the people living there.

Since 6 April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 apply to blocks of flats 18 metres or seven storeys and above, and to blocks over 11 metres with a simultaneous evacuation strategy. In those buildings, residents who would struggle to escape unaided must be offered a personal evacuation plan, and a building evacuation plan is also required. We can advise on whether the rules apply to your scheme. See Residential PEEPs guidance (GOV.UK).

Many care home residents cannot escape without help, so the assessment looks closely at how staff would move people to safety, often horizontally into a protected area first. That includes night-time staffing levels, the evacuation strategy and how it is practised, fire doors and compartmentation, fire detection and alarm systems, and the risks from things like oxygen, smoking and mobility equipment. Care homes are assessed using PAS 79-1:2020 and the government's guidance on residential care premises.

It looks at the fire risk to a specific resident in their own home, taking into account things like mobility, smoking, use of oxygen or hoarding. It sits alongside the building's main fire risk assessment rather than replacing it.

Yes. Every non-domestic premises in England and Wales needs one, whatever its size. Since 1 October 2023 the assessment must be recorded in full, even if you have fewer than five employees. See your responsibilities under section 156 (GOV.UK).

Usually both you and your landlord have duties. You are responsible for the areas you control, and the landlord or managing agent for shared areas and the building itself. You must cooperate and share fire safety information with each other.

Yes. Staff must be given suitable fire safety training when they start, and refreshed regularly. The fire risk assessment should identify what training is needed and whether anyone needs specific duties, such as fire marshals.