Do you have a current fire risk assessment?
Quick check to point you in the right direction
Why fire safety matters
Every year in the UK, fires kill hundreds of people and injure thousands more. Many of these deaths occur in buildings where proper fire safety measures weren't in place — or weren't maintained.
The law places clear responsibilities on those who control premises. If that's you, fire safety isn't optional.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the "responsible person" must ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out and appropriate measures are in place. Failure to comply can result in unlimited fines and up to 2 years imprisonment.
Who needs to worry about fire safety?
If you have any control over non-domestic premises, fire safety is likely your responsibility. This includes:
- Employers — responsible for employees and anyone affected by the business
- Landlords — responsible for common areas in residential buildings, HMOs, and rented commercial property
- Building owners/managers — even if the building is leased to others
- Occupiers — if you have control through a lease or contract
- Trustees and committees — responsible for churches, village halls, community centres
- Anyone with maintenance responsibilities — through a contract or tenancy
There can be more than one responsible person for a building. If duties are shared, all responsible persons must cooperate and coordinate.
Fire safety by sector
Different premises have different fire safety requirements. Select your sector for tailored guidance:
| Sector | Key Requirements | Typical Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Offices & Retail | Basic fire risk assessment, escape routes, extinguishers, alarm | DIY possible using government guides |
| Restaurants & Cafés | Kitchen fire risks, extraction systems, increased vigilance | Professional recommended |
| Landlords (HMOs) | Common areas, fire doors, detection in all rooms, escape routes | Professional recommended |
| Landlords (Flats) | Common areas only, fire doors, emergency lighting | Professional for larger blocks |
| Care Homes | Sleeping accommodation, vulnerable occupants, PEEPs, staff training | Professional essential |
| Hotels & B&Bs | Sleeping accommodation, unfamiliar occupants, night procedures | Professional essential |
| Churches & Halls | Public assembly, varying occupancy, events | DIY possible, professional for complex |
This is general guidance. Your specific circumstances may require different approaches.
The key legislation
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO)
The main fire safety law for non-domestic premises in England and Wales. It requires responsible persons to:
- Carry out a fire risk assessment
- Identify risks and people at risk
- Remove or reduce risks where possible
- Provide fire precautions (detection, warning, escape routes)
- Create an emergency plan
- Train employees
- Review and update the assessment regularly
Fire Safety Act 2021
Extended the FSO to cover:
- External walls (including cladding)
- Flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings
This was a direct response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Added new duties for responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings (18m+):
- Provide floor plans to fire services
- Install wayfinding signage
- Check fire doors annually (quarterly for common areas)
- Provide residents with fire safety information
What is a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment is a structured review of your premises to:
- Identify fire hazards — sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen
- Identify people at risk — employees, visitors, vulnerable groups
- Evaluate existing measures — are they adequate?
- Record findings — required if you have 5+ employees
- Plan improvements — prioritise actions to reduce risk
- Review regularly — and after any significant changes
Should you DIY or hire a professional?
Do It Yourself
- •Simple premises (small office, shop)
- •No sleeping accommodation
- •No vulnerable occupants
- •Low fire risk activities
- •Time to do it properly
- •Cost: Free (your time)
Hire a Professional
Recommended- •Complex or large premises
- •Sleeping accommodation
- •Vulnerable people present
- •High fire risk activities
- •Want expert assurance
- •Cost: £150-500+
Bottom line: For simple, low-risk premises, DIY using government guides is often adequate. For anything complex, or involving sleeping accommodation or vulnerable people, professional assessment is strongly recommended.
You don't always need to hire a professional. For simple, low-risk premises, you may be able to do it yourself using government guidance. But for complex or high-risk premises, professional assessment is strongly recommended.
Learn more: What is a fire risk assessment? →
Fire safety review schedule
Fire safety isn't a one-off task. Here's what you should be doing regularly:
Different call point each week, record the test
Visual check that all units are working
Routes clear, doors working, signs visible
Practice evacuation, time it, record issues
Quarterly for high-rise common areas
Review and update fire risk assessment
Professional service by competent person
Common questions
There's no fixed legal interval, but you should review it at least annually (good practice), after any fire or near miss, after significant changes to the building or how it's used, and after changes to the people using the building. If you think it may no longer be valid for any reason, review it immediately.
For simpler premises — small offices, shops, light industrial — yes, if you're competent to do so. The government provides free guides by premises type. For sleeping accommodation, care homes, large venues, or complex buildings, professional assessment is strongly recommended.
If you have 5 or more employees, you must record the significant findings of your assessment and any groups especially at risk. You should also keep records of: staff fire safety training, weekly fire alarm tests, emergency lighting tests, fire drill results, fire door checks, and equipment maintenance.
Fire authorities can issue informal advice for minor issues, enforcement notices requiring improvements, prohibition notices preventing use of premises until fixed, and prosecute for serious failures. Penalties include unlimited fines, up to 2 years imprisonment, and a public register of offenders (since 2023).
The responsible person is whoever has control of the premises — usually the employer, owner, landlord, or occupier. In a workplace, it's typically the employer. In rented property, the landlord is responsible for common areas. There can be more than one responsible person for a building, and they must cooperate.
For a professional assessment: small simple premises typically £150-250, medium premises £250-400, large or complex premises £400-800+. Sleeping accommodation and care settings cost more due to complexity. If you do it yourself using government guides, it's free but takes your time.
For HMOs and blocks of flats: yes, the common areas need a fire risk assessment. For a single self-contained let with no shared areas: generally no, but you still have duties under other legislation (smoke alarms, electrical safety, gas safety). If in doubt, our decision tool can help you work it out.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 extended the Fire Safety Order to cover external walls (including cladding) and flat entrance doors. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added new duties for high-rise buildings including fire door checks, floor plans for fire services, and resident information. Enforcement has also increased significantly.
Real enforcement examples
Hotel owner fined £100,000 after inspection failures
A hotel owner in the North West was prosecuted after fire safety inspectors found serious deficiencies during a routine inspection. No fire had occurred.
- ✗Fire risk assessment was 7 years out of date
- ✗Fire doors had been wedged open throughout the building
- ✗No evidence of staff fire safety training
- ✗Emergency lighting non-functional on two floors
- ✗Fire alarm system not properly maintained
The owner was fined £100,000 plus £15,000 costs. A prohibition notice prevented use of certain floors until issues were resolved.
Fire safety enforcement is proactive. You can be prosecuted for inadequate fire safety measures even if no fire has occurred. The costs of non-compliance far exceed the costs of getting it right.
Source: Based on Fire Service prosecution records
Care home operator receives suspended prison sentence
A care home operator was prosecuted after inspectors found the fire risk assessment failed to account for residents' needs.
- ✗No Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for residents
- ✗Staff unclear on evacuation procedures for immobile residents
- ✗Fire doors in poor condition
- ✗Night-time staffing inadequate for safe evacuation
The operator received a 12-month prison sentence (suspended for 2 years) and was fined £50,000. The company was fined separately.
Premises with sleeping accommodation and vulnerable occupants face the highest scrutiny. Fire safety failures in care settings can result in criminal prosecution of individuals, not just the organisation.
Source: Based on Fire Service prosecution records
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