📞 Call: 07546 977 095
📧 Email: info@drummondfirerisk.co.uk
Fire Safety Risk Assessment
You Need a Fire Risk Assessment If You Own or Manage:
- Business premises:Offices, shops, factories, warehouses, workshops
- Residential buildings:Blocks of flats (communal areas), HMOs, care homes, hotels, B&Bs
- Public buildings:Schools, hospitals, churches, community centres, sports facilities
- Hospitality venues:Restaurants, pubs, cafes, nightclubs
- Healthcare premises:GP surgeries, dental practices, care homes, hospitals
- Any premises employing staff:Even home-based businesses with employees
- Communal areas:Â Shared entrances, corridors, stairwells in residential blocks
Exemptions
The only properties exempt from fire risk assessment requirements are single private dwellings where the occupants are not employees. However, if you run a business from home, have lodgers, or have converted your property into multiple units, you will need an assessment.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
First of all, a Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement. If you are responsible for a building, for example an employer, owner or occupier of premises that aren’t a single private dwelling (i.e. a house), you need to make sure a suitably competent person carries out a Fire Risk Assessment. It needs to be regularly reviewed and changes made where necessary.
A Fire Risk Assessment is a written document demonstrating a detailed evaluation of your premises has been carried out, identifying all potential fire hazards, assessing the level of risk, and recommending in detail, the necessary measures to improve fire safety. This process is essential for compliance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires responsible persons to ensure their property is safe for occupants and visitors.Â
You should note that the Fire Service Safety Inspector does not carry out this risk assessment on your behalf.
During the visit, the Fire Service Safety Inspector will request to see a copy of your current Fire Safety Risk Assessment, and it would be an expectation that any significant findings highlighted within, should have been addressed and fully remedied.
In many instances, where it is found the recommendations listing significant or potential safety issues within their Fire Risk Assessment have been ignored, formal enforcement proceedings normally follow swiftly.
Risk Assessment Types
Fire risk assessments are categorised into four types under PAS 79-1:
- Type 1 – Common Areas Only:Assesses communal parts without inspecting flats. Suitable for most residential blocks.
- Type 2 – Common Areas + Sample Flats:Includes inspection of a sample of flats to assess fire spread risks.
- Type 3 – Common Areas + All Flats:Full inspection of every flat. Required where serious concerns exist.
- Type 4 – Destructive Inspection:Includes opening up construction to inspect hidden voids and compartmentation.
For commercial premises, the type depends on complexity and risk level. Simple offices may need only a basic assessment, while industrial premises with hazardous materials require more detailed evaluation.
Our Fire Risk Assessment Process
When conducting a fire risk assessment, our experienced professionals follow a structured approach to ensure thorough and accurate evaluations:
- Identifying Fire Hazards – We assess sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen that could contribute to a fire.
- Assessing People at Risk – Evaluating who may be at risk, including employees, residents, or vulnerable individuals.
- Evaluating Current Fire Safety Measures – Checking fire alarms, emergency exits, extinguishers, and fire door inspections to ensure compliance.
- Recording Findings and Making Recommendations – Providing a detailed report with clear actions to enhance fire safety.
- Reviewing and Updating Regularly – Helping businesses stay compliant by scheduling regular assessments and updates as needed.
At Drummond Fire Risk, we can provide a comprehensive Fire Safety Risk Assessment to help business and property owners of all sizes meet their legal obligations, ensuring the highest level of fire safety.
Based in Calne, Wiltshire, we are completely independent and offer an unbiased fire safety inspection, delivering expert guidance tailored to your specific premises.
Depending on the size or complexity of your premises, a Fire Safety Risk Assessment generally lasts no more than 2 – 3 hours.
You will be provided with:
- Detailed review of your premises by a qualified fire risk assessor identifying what you need to do to prevent fire and protect your people.
- Comprehensive fire risk assessment report that is easy to read and implement.
- Evaluation of your property’s risk management, including all policies and procedures.
- A review of the Fire Precautions within your premises which include: Â
- Fire Warning and Detection.
- Fire Extinguishers
- Means of escape – (clearly marked escape routes, emergency lighting and safe meeting points etc.
- Staff Training requirements
- Bespoke advice and guidance throughout the whole process.
- Complimentary Fire Testing & Maintenance Logbook.
- Full compliance with up-to-date government legislation.
We can help you do your own Fire Risk Assessment
Remember, if Drummond Fire Risk has previously carried out an Audit of your premises, we can give you the required information and support, to do it yourself.
We are confident you will produce a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment, which will pass scrutiny from any visiting Fire Safety Inspector AND at a much reduced cost!
