How to Choose a Fire Risk Assessor: 7 Checks Before You Hire

Hiring a fire risk assessor is one of those jobs where the cheapest quote can cost you the most. A weak assessment that misses a blocked escape route or the wrong fire door doesn’t just fail an inspection. It puts people at risk and leaves you, the responsible person, legally exposed. Here are the seven checks to make before you hire, so you get a competent assessor rather than a tick-box PDF.

1. Check for BAFE SP205 certification

BAFE SP205 is the recognised third-party certification scheme for life-safety fire risk assessment in the UK. One point worth understanding: BAFE runs the scheme, but it does not do the auditing itself. SP205 is UKAS-accredited certification, and the actual assessment and audit of a firm is carried out by an independent certification body, principally NSI (the National Security Inspectorate) or SSAIB. So a firm’s competence, procedures and quality have been independently audited rather than self-declared. It is one of the strongest signals you can look for at company level, though it is not the only recognised certification, and plenty of competent assessors demonstrate their competence through the registers and memberships below instead. On My Safety Consultant, firms that hold BAFE SP205 carry a verified BAFE SP205 chip on their profile, checked against the official register.

2. Make sure they’re competent for your type of building

The Fire Safety Order requires a “competent person”, but competence is relative to the building. A sleeping-risk care home, a high-rise residential block and a small office carry very different risks. Ask directly: how many buildings like mine have you assessed?

3. Ask to see a sample report

Ask which methodology the assessment follows. A competent assessor will usually work to PAS 79-1:2020 (PAS 79-2 for housing). The report is what you’re actually buying. A good one is clear, prioritises findings by risk, and tells you exactly what to do and by when. Be wary of generic reports padded with copied-and-pasted legislation and no specific, actionable findings.

4. Confirm registers and individual memberships

BAFE SP205 certifies the company. Individual assessors demonstrate their own competence through registers and professional bodies, and these matter just as much, especially for sole practitioners. Look for:

• the NFRAR, the National Fire Risk Assessors Register, run by the IFSM;
• the IFE (Institution of Fire Engineers) register;
• FRACS, the Fire Risk Assessors Certification Scheme;
• membership of the IFSM or IFE, which brings ongoing professional development and a code of conduct.

On My Safety Consultant, NFRAR and BAFE credentials on profiles are verified against the official registers, so you can see an assessor’s standing at a glance.

5. Check professional indemnity insurance, and its scope

A competent assessor carries professional indemnity cover, but the detail matters more than the certificate. The cover has to be appropriate to the type and height of building they are assessing. There have been cases where an assessor held insurance, but not for the kind of work they had actually taken on, which left the client badly exposed when something went wrong. Ask to see the certificate, check the level of cover, and confirm in writing that it extends to buildings like yours, particularly for higher-risk or high-rise premises. If they can’t or won’t confirm it, walk away.

6. Get it in writing, and keep it

Since 1 October 2023, under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, every responsible person must record their fire risk assessment in full. The old “five or more employees” exemption is gone. Make sure your assessor provides a complete written assessment you can keep on file and act on.

7. Know how to work with your assessor

A good assessment is a two-way job, and you get a far better result if you prepare. Before the visit, pull together and be ready to hand over: floor plans or a building layout; any previous fire risk assessment; details of the building’s use, occupancy and anyone who may need help evacuating; records for fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors and extinguisher servicing; and details of any recent alterations or refurbishment. Give the assessor full access to every area, including plant rooms, roof spaces and cupboards, and a named contact who knows the building. The more complete the picture you provide, the more accurate and useful the assessment you get back.

The bottom line

Competence over price, every time. A £250 assessment done properly is worth far more than a £120 one that misses something. Not sure what a fair price looks like? Read our guide to fire risk assessment costs first.

See who holds verified register credentials, read real profiles and contact them directly, free. Browse fire risk assessors across the UK, or your local area such as London, Manchester or Bristol.