Fire Risk Assessments

Who needs a Fire Risk Assessment?

If you are responsible for almost any building other than a single private home, the law requires a Fire Risk Assessment.

In England and Wales the duty comes from the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and it falls on the “responsible person”: usually the employer, owner, landlord, managing agent or whoever has control of the premises. In Scotland the equivalent duties are set out in the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

In blocks of flats and converted houses, the assessment covers the shared parts, the structure and external walls, and the flat entrance doors. Since 1 October 2023 the whole assessment must be recorded in writing, whatever the size of the building or business.

What we look at

• Escape routes, exits and fire doors
• Fire detection and alarm systems
• Emergency lighting and fire safety signage
• Compartmentation, as far as can be seen without opening up
• Electrical installations and portable appliances
• Heating systems and plant rooms
• Sources of ignition, storage and housekeeping
• Arson risk and building security
• Fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment
• Testing and servicing records
• Procedures, training and information for residents or staff
• The people at risk, including anyone who may need help to escape

We also record what can be seen of the external walls, and tell you if a specialist external wall assessment may be needed.

Type 1 to Type 4 assessments

For blocks of flats and other housing, BS 9792:2025 describes four types of Fire Risk Assessment, depending on whether flats are included and whether any construction is opened up.

We will recommend the type that suits your building, and explain why if more than a Type 1 is needed.

Pre-occupation Fire Risk Assessments

For new and refurbished buildings, we carry out pre-occupation assessments before residents or staff move in. Issues are picked up while contractors are still on site, and the responsible person takes over the building with an assessment already in place.

Buildings we assess

• Purpose-built blocks of flats
• High-rise and higher-risk buildings
• Sheltered and supported housing
• Care homes
• Offices, shops and industrial premises
• Mixed-use buildings
• New-build and refurbished buildings before occupation

The standards we work to

What you receive

A written report setting out what we found, the overall level of risk, and an action plan. Each action is given a priority so you know what to deal with first, and it is written in plain English so it can be passed straight to contractors or managing agents.

How often should it be reviewed?

The law does not set a fixed interval. The assessment must be reviewed regularly, and whenever something significant changes, such as building works, a change of use, a fire, or a change in the people using the building. Many landlords and businesses review annually, and higher-risk buildings may need reviewing more often. We will advise on the right interval for your building.

How it works

1. Tell us about the buildingIts type, location, number of storeys or units, and when you need the work done.
2. Receive a fixed feeWe confirm the price and arrange a date for the visit.
3. Site inspectionAn assessor inspects the building and reviews the fire safety records.
4. Your reportA written report with a prioritised action plan.