Frequently Asked Questions
Fire Risk Assessment
- What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
- What is a Fire Hazard?
- What is a Fire Risk?
- Why should you have a Fire Risk Assessment?
- Does the Fire Safety Order apply to my business?
- Does your business comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
- Who is a responsible person?
- Who does the fire risk assessment?
- How long will the fire risk assessment take?
- What will the report include?
- What information will you need to provide?
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment is an organised inspection of your workplace to ascertain if there are any fire hazards that could cause harm, and estimating the level of risk for those hazards. The aim is to remove those hazards and risk or reduce them to an acceptable level. A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
What is a Fire Hazard?
A fire hazard is simply, any source of ignition with the potential to result in a fire (i.e. faulty electric wiring).
What is a Fire Risk?
A fire risk is the likelihood of a fire occurring and the consequences of that fire if it does occur.
Why should you have a Fire Risk Assessment?
You need a Fire Risk Assessment for several reasons:
- To ensure you do not harm or injure anyone in the event of fire
- To reduce the risk of fire to the absolute practical minimum
- To ensure your insurance company will pay a claim up in the event of fire
- To comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Failure to comply can lead to a fine or a maximum of two years imprisonment.
Does the Fire Safety Order apply to my business?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order that became law in October 2006 affects all non-domestic premises in England & Wales.
You are required to have a fire risk assessment if you are:
- A manager or person responsible for the communal areas of blocks of flats.
- A manager or person responsible for an individual property considered to be a HMO
- Responsible for business premises
- An employer or self-employed with business premises
- Responsible for a part of a dwelling where that part is solely used for business purposes
- A charity or voluntary organisation
- A contractor with a degree of control over any premises
- Providing accommodation for paying guests
The fire risk assessment must be recorded in a written format if your business employs 5 or more people.
We have experience of providing Fire Risk Assessments in the following areas:
- Offices and shops
- Premises that provide care, including care homes and hospitals
- Community halls, places of worship and other community premises
- The shared areas of properties several households live in (common parts)
- Blocks of flats
- Individual properties considered to be HMO
- Pubs, clubs and restaurants
- Schools
- Sports centres
- Tents and marquees
- Hotels and hostels
- Factories and warehouses
- Industrial units
Does your business comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?
The new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, effective from 1st October 2006, applies to all non-domestic premises in England and Wales and requires that:
- A responsible person is appointed
- The responsible person at any premises must have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
- All staff have adequate fire safety training
- A system for effective monitoring is in place
- A systematic review of each fire risk assessment on a regular basis
This is the person who owns the premises or business or the person with control over the premises, business or activity. Failing that or in addition:
- A person with overall management of a building
- An occupier of premises, owner of premises (i.e. empty buildings)
- Landlords (multi occupied buildings)
- Where two or more persons share responsibility (e.g. tenant/landlord, multiple tenancy building or adjacent premises) the responsible persons must co-operate, share information and collaborate to provide measures.
Who does the fire risk assessment?
Your Fire Risk Assessment will be carried out in accordance with PAS 79 (the recommended methodology of the IFE and BSI) by a fully qualified fire risk assessor.
How long will the fire risk assessment take?
How long the risk assessment takes is dependent on the number of staff at the premises, approximate floor area, the nature of your business etc. Before we give you a quote one of our experienced fire risk assessors will discuss this in detail with you.
Our easy to understand reports will not blind you with science or bore you with jargon. Each report includes an Action Plan which details all risks, their significance, recommending specific action and timescales. Our reports are concise and comprehensive, leaving you safe in the knowledge that your business complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. We aim to have your report to you within 5 working days. If you have any questions we will only be too happy to help.
What information will you need to provide?
In order to assist with your Fire Risk Assessment we would ideally need to see the following information:
- Site Fire Policy
- Site Plans
- Copy of the previous fire risk assessment
- Fire Extinguisher, Alarm, Emergency Lighting test records
- Staff Training Records
- Details of Hazardous Substances
- Details of Flammable Substances
- Electrical Test Records
- Plant Maintenance Program and Records
If you don’t happen to have the information above don’t worry – this is what the Assessment is designed to cover. We will tell you in writing what is missing and how to rectify the situation.