What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a structured review of a building or premises to identify potential fire hazards, determine who may be at risk, and evaluate whether adequate fire prevention and emergency measures are in place. It is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for most non-domestic premises in the UK.

Whether you manage a small retail unit, an office block, a care home, or a residential property with communal areas, a fire risk assessment is critical to protecting people and ensuring compliance with the law.

What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Involve?

The process is essentially a form of general risk assessment focused specifically on fire safety. It typically includes:

1. Identifying Fire Hazards

This is based on the fire triangle and the three elements required for a fire to occur:

• Sources of ignition: These include electrical equipment (most common), cooking appliances in kitchens, open flames, heaters, and arson.
• Sources of fuel: Paper, cardboard, rubbish in bins, poor housekeeping, textiles, packaging materials, and flammable liquids.
• Sources of oxygen: Normally just air, but can include oxygen cylinders, mechanical ventilation, or poorly managed airflow.

2. Identifying People at Risk

This includes:

• Staff who are familiar with procedures and exits
• Visitors or contractors who may not know how to escape
• Vulnerable individuals, such as elderly residents, children, or those with disabilities

Where appropriate, the responsible person must put in place:

• PEEPs (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans)
• GEEPs (General Emergency Evacuation Plans)

3. Evaluating Risk and Deciding Precautions

This means assessing how likely a fire is to start and whether your current systems are enough to protect life and property. Common precautions include:

• Fire alarms, emergency lighting, and signage
• Escape route design and clarity
• Fire doors and compartmentation
• Extinguishers and suppression systems
• Regular fire drills and training

4. Recording Findings and Creating an Action Plan

A written record is legally required. Since 1 October 2023 (section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022), every responsible person in England and Wales must record their fire risk assessment in full, whatever the number of employees. The old “five or more employees” rule no longer applies.

• Simple premises can use Home Office templates
• Complex buildings may require more formal methods like PAS 79
• For housing (blocks of flats, HMOs and similar), BS 9792:2025 has replaced PAS 79-2. PAS 79-1 still covers non-housing premises such as shops, offices and hotels

5. Reviewing and Updating the Assessment

The law says you must review your fire risk assessment regularly and whenever something significant changes. There is no fixed legal deadline, but most professionals recommend reviewing it at least once a year. You should always review it when:

• There are significant changes to the building or its use
• Occupancy or risk levels change
• New fire safety regulations are introduced
• There has been a fire or a near miss

Annual reviews are recommended good practice, but the law does not set a fixed interval.

Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment?

Under Article 3 of the Fire Safety Order, the duty lies with the “responsible person,” which may be:

• Employers
• Building owners
• Landlords
• Facilities managers
• Heads of departments or estate managers in public sector buildings

In multi-tenanted buildings, there may be multiple duty holders. In such cases, Article 22 requires them to cooperate and communicate to ensure collective compliance.

Not something you want to get wrong — you can find fire safety consultants and contact them directly.

Can I Do It Myself or Do I Need a Professional?

Technically, a responsible person can complete the assessment if they are competent but that’s a high bar to meet. Competence means:

• Understanding the relevant legislation
• Knowing how fires start and spread
• Being able to evaluate complex risks and building layouts

In practice:

• Low-risk buildings (e.g. small offices) might use templates
• Most businesses benefit from hiring a qualified and insured consultant
• Complex or high-risk premises should always use a professional

How Much Does It Cost?

Pricing varies depending on the size, complexity, and type of building:

For a fuller breakdown, see our fire risk assessment cost guide. Not sure if the law applies to you? Read is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement?, then how to choose a fire risk assessor.

Need Help Finding a Fire Risk Assessor?

We can book a qualified fire risk assessor in your area to visit your premises. Whether you’re preparing for an inspection, managing multiple properties, or updating outdated documentation, we’re here to help. Compare fire risk assessors across the UK.

Submit an enquiry here