By David Lloyd Riley
A fire risk assessment is a review of a building, workplace or commercial premises to identify fire hazards, assess the risks and decide what safety measures are needed.
The assessment looks at how a fire could start, who may be at risk and what can be done to reduce risks. This may include checking electrical equipment, combustible materials, dangerous substances, escape routes, fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire fighting equipment and fire extinguishers.
A thorough fire risk assessment should also consider how people would leave the building safely if a fire started. This includes employees, visitors, contractors and anyone who may need help during an evacuation.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person is usually the person who has control over the premises. In a workplace, this is normally the employer.
In other settings, the responsible person may be:
There may be more than one responsible person. For example, in shared offices, retail units or multi occupied residential buildings, fire safety responsibilities may be split between tenants, landlords and managing agents.
Where several people share control, they need to cooperate and coordinate their fire safety measures.
Not necessarily. The responsible person has the legal responsibility to make sure the fire risk assessment is completed, but they can ask a trusted member of staff to complete it.
Appointing someone else does not remove the responsible person’s legal responsibilities. They still need to make sure the risk assessment has been carried out properly and that any necessary actions are addressed.
For simple, low-risk premises, a business owner may feel able to complete the assessment themselves. For larger or more complex premises, it usually makes good business sense to appoint someone with suitable fire safety knowledge.
A competent person has the knowledge, training and experience to assess fire safety risks and recommend suitable safety measures.
There is no single qualification that automatically makes someone competent, but a suitable assessor should understand fire safety legislation, building layout, risk assessment methods and practical control measures.
A competent person should be able to:
For more complex buildings, it may be sensible to use an assessor registered with a recognised professional body or accredited scheme.
The fire risk assessment process usually follows five steps.
You should review your fire risk assessment regularly and whenever there are significant changes to the building or how it is used.
A review may be needed after:
Regularly reviewing the assessment helps the responsible person keep fire safety arrangements aligned with the current use of the premises.
Completing a fire risk assessment is only part of the process. The responsible person also needs to act on the findings.
This may include updating the emergency plan, improving escape routes, arranging fire drills, checking fire alarms, maintaining fire fighting equipment, removing hazards and providing training for employees.
The written record should make actions clear. It should show what has been identified, what needs to change, who is responsible and when work should be completed.
If no fire risk assessment is completed, hazards may be missed and people may be placed at unnecessary risk. This can leave employees, visitors and the wider building exposed to avoidable fire safety risks.
A missing or poor assessment can also lead to enforcement action by the local fire and rescue service. They can inspect premises, issue notices and require changes where fire safety arrangements do not meet legal requirements.
Failing to manage fire safety can also affect business continuity, insurance and staff confidence. A clear emergency plan, suitable training and reviewed safety measures help businesses keep people safe and reduce disruption.
Using Contact One’s fire risk assessment services can help you stay compliant and understand the practical steps needed to protect your premises. Their team can identify potential fire hazards, review escape routes, check fire safety equipment and provide clear recommendations tailored to your building and day-to-day operations.
Fire safety should be considered from the earliest stages of workplace design, not only after a refurbishment or fit-out has been completed. A suitable fire risk assessment helps identify the existing risks within a building and ensures the layout, access routes, materials and safety measures are properly considered during the design process.
When planning a commercial fit-out or refurbishment, Contact One can review the fire safety requirements of the premises and may request access to existing fire risk assessments. This helps us understand how the building is currently managed, where key risks exist and how any proposed changes could affect escape routes, occupancy, access, fire procedures and day-to-day safety.
Contact One can also undertake fire risk assessments for commercial premises, helping businesses understand their responsibilities and take practical next steps. Our team has experience working in line with recognised fire safety guidance and regulations, including guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Fire Protection Association and UK Government fire safety guidance.
Because design changes can affect fire procedures and wider compliance requirements, trusted legal advice may also be needed in some cases. Contact One can help coordinate this as part of the wider project, ensuring the right considerations are addressed before decisions are finalised.
This experience sits alongside our wider knowledge of workplace environments, office refurbishment, facilities requirements and commercial interiors. As a result, we understand how buildings are used day to day and how fire safety measures need to work in practice.
If your premises have changed, your current assessment is out of date or you need support from a competent person, Contact One can help.
Our team can review your commercial premises, identify fire safety risks and provide clear recommendations to help you stay compliant. Get in touch with Contact One by filling out an online contact form or calling 0161 839 9220 to discuss your fire risk assessment and arrange a review.
For further information or to request a consultation, get in touch with Contact One today by calling 0161 839 9220 or submitting an online contact form
