What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is a careful look at your premises, and the people who use them, from a fire prevention perspective. It's about understanding the potential risks and then improving your fire safety precautions to keep people safe.

How does a Fire Risk Assessment help protect my employees and customers?

The main aims of a fire risk assessment are simple; to prevent a fire from starting and to protect those who reside in, work in or visit a site, from fire.

How does an Fire Risk Assessment differ from a general fire safety check?

In simple terms a fire risk assessment will tell you what the risks are and what control measures you need. A fire safety audit would be a check that the control measures identified in the fire risk assessment are being implemented.

Is a Fire Risk Assessment a legal requirement for my business?

In accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, completing a fire risk assessment for your premises is a legal requirement if you are responsible for a building that is not a ‘single private dwelling’. 

It is mandatory by law for the ‘responsible person’ to record the findings of the fire risk assessment, including any action taken or action still to be taken. As of the 1^st of October 2023, the Building Safety Act 2022 came into effect with Section 156 amending the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, setting the requirement for all fire risk assessments to be recorded irrespective of the number of employees or whether there is a license in force.

Is a Fire Risk Assessment a one-time requirement, or do I need to repeat it?

A new fire risk assessment should be created if there are any changes to the building or activities that take place within it, and best practice would be to have existing FRAs reviewed annually. The law doesn’t specifically state how often a fire risk assessment should be carried out, however, to conform to regulations, it is recommended the responsible person gets a new fire risk assessment conducted at least every 2 – 5 years.

Who is responsible for fire safety in my business?

You are responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you are:

• an employer
• the owner
• the landlord
• an occupier
• anyone else with control of the premises - for example a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor

You’re known as the ‘responsible person’. If there’s more than one responsible person, you need to work together to meet your responsibilities.

What are the consequences of not having a Fire Risk Assessment?

Failing to have such assessments in place can expose your business to many risks, ranging from financial losses to irreparable damage to your reputation.

• Financial: property damage, inventory loss and business interruption in the event of a fire. The costs associated with repairing or replacing damaged assets, as well as the potential loss of revenue during downtime, can be staggering and may well threaten the viability of your business[AM1] .

• Legal: the absence of a FRA can also expose your company to legal liabilities. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines and penalties, tarnishing your company’s reputation and undermining stakeholder trust. In the event of a fire-related incident, your company may face lawsuits from injured parties or regulatory authorities, further compounding legal troubles and financial strain.

• Loss of Life: Without adequate passive fire safety measures in place, your employees, customers and other stakeholders are at greater risk of injury or even death in the event of a fire. Beyond immediate physical harm, such incidents can have long-lasting emotional and psychological effects on those involved, creating a ripple effect of trauma throughout your business and the wider community.

• Reputational damage: News of a fire-related incident can spread rapidly through social media and news channels, amplifying the reputational damage to your company. A lack of proactive measures to prevent such incidents can be perceived as negligence or disregard for the safety and wellbeing of your stakeholders, eroding trust and confidence in your brand. Rebuilding a damaged reputation can be a daunting and costly endeavour, requiring significant investments in PR and marketing efforts to regain public trust.

Do I need a Fire Risk Assessment if I work from home or have a small office?

While there may not be a strict legal requirement for a full documented FRA if you work solely from home, it is still considered good practice to conduct a basic assessment of your home workspace to identify and mitigate potential fire hazards, as your employer has a duty of care to ensure your safety even when working remotely; this could include checking smoke alarms, escape routes and electrical equipment.

However, if you are operating that business from your home and you have other employees there - for example in an office in the house or cabin in the garden - then there would be a requirement for an FRA.

What happens during a Fire Risk Assessment?

Our assessor would attend site and complete a full assessment. This is done during an accompanied walk around your site, and a discussion of the control measures currently in place and any documentation you have.

From the information obtained during the in-depth assessment, we will assess the likelihood of a fire occurring along with what the overall risk to life is. An action plan will be created to enable controls to be implemented to help reduce the potential for a fire starting, and the risk to life.

What fire safety measures should my business have in place?

Fire safety requirements are put in place to address fire prevention, detection, evacuation, and firefighting capabilities within buildings.

What areas and risks are covered in an assessment?

Areas covered include:

• emergency routes and exits
• fire detection and warning systems
• firefighting equipment
• the removal or safe storage of dangerous substances
• an emergency fire evacuation plan
• the needs of vulnerable people; for example, young children, the elderly or those with disabilities
• providing information to employees and other people on the premises
• staff fire safety training
• building material

Do I need fire extinguishers, alarms, or emergency lighting?

There are, of course, different requirements and suitable equipment for each industry. A qualified Fire Risk Assessor can help you establish the risks of your workplace and provide tailored advice on how to combat these risks.

How often should I train my staff on fire safety?

As per Article 21 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must make sure that their employees are provided with adequate safety training. Training should be provided on the first day of employment and when they are exposed to a new or an increased risk, with further training given throughout the length of employment to make sure that knowledge is refreshed, and the information is correct. 

The training provided to all staff should deliver information and instruction on fire risks present within the building and cover familiarisation of the building’s emergency procedures, so they can act accordingly in the event of a fire or emergency. More specific training should be provided to any fire wardens, with regular refresher training carried out for all employees.

How can Stallard Kane help?

For more information on Fire Risk Assessments or to get a no-obligation quote, call our Compliance Team now on 01427 420 404 or email compliance@skaltd.co.uk; or to discuss your training requirements, call our Training Team on 01427 420 405 or email training@skaltd.co.uk