Fire Risk Assessment: A Complete Guide for UK Businesses

A fire risk assessment is one of the most important steps any organisation can take to improve fire safety, protect lives and comply with UK legislation. Whether you manage an office, warehouse, healthcare facility, educational building or other commercial premises, understanding your responsibilities can help reduce fire risk and keep people safe.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for most non-domestic premises. The law places responsibility on the responsible person to assess fire risk, implement suitable fire safety measures and regularly review arrangements to ensure they remain effective.

With UK fire incidents increasing by 16% in 2022 compared to the previous year and fire services responding to emergencies every 23 seconds, businesses cannot afford to overlook fire safety. A suitable risk assessment helps identify hazards, evaluate potential risks and ensure the correct measures are in place to protect employees, visitors and members of the public.

What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a structured assessment process used to identify fire hazards within a building, evaluate fire risk and determine whether existing fire safety measures are adequate.

The purpose of a fire risk assessment is to identify the fire hazards that could cause harm, assess the likelihood of a fire occurring and implement measures to reduce risk. It also helps organisations understand where improvements are needed to maintain compliance and improve overall safety.

A fire risk assessment identifies potential ignition sources, combustible materials, flammable liquids and dangerous substances that could contribute to a fire. It also considers how a fire may spread throughout a building and the impact it could have on occupants.

The findings from the assessment are used to create an action plan outlining any remedial work, training requirements or additional safety measures needed to improve fire safety.

Fire risk assessments are vital for safeguarding property, protecting lives and ensuring businesses meet their legal obligations.

Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment?

Most commercial premises require a fire risk assessment.

Examples include:

• Offices
• Retail units
• Warehouses
• Factories
• Healthcare facilities
• Schools and colleges
• HMOs
• Student accommodation
• Public buildings

The responsible person is legally required to conduct fire risk assessments and ensure any significant findings are addressed. Depending on the premises, the responsible person may be the employer, landlord, building owner, facilities manager or managing agent.

Where a business lacks the knowledge or experience to carry out a suitable assessment, appointing a qualified fire risk assessor is strongly recommended. For more complex premises, accredited professionals with recognised qualifications such as BAFE certification can help ensure the assessment is suitable and sufficient.

Why Fire Risk Assessments Matter

A fire risk assessment is far more than a compliance exercise. It helps organisations identify hazards before they become serious incidents and ensures people at risk are properly protected.

Without a suitable risk assessment, potential hazards may go unnoticed, increasing the likelihood of injury, property damage and business disruption.

Effective fire risk assessments help businesses:

• Protect lives
• Keep people safe
• Reduce fire risk
• Improve workplace safety
• Demonstrate compliance
• Meet legal guidelines
• Protect property and assets

Regular reviews are equally important. Fire risk assessments should be reviewed at least annually and whenever a significant change occurs within the building, such as refurbishment works, changes to occupancy levels or alterations to escape routes. Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive highlights the importance of maintaining effective fire safety arrangements.

The Fire Risk Assessment Process

Most fire risk assessments follow a recognised five-step assessment process.

1. Identify Fire Hazards

The first step is identifying hazards that could start or contribute to a fire.

Common fire hazards include:

• Faulty electrical equipment
• Damaged electrical items
• Flammable liquids
• Combustible materials
• Dangerous substances
• Heating systems
• Hot works
• Poor housekeeping

The aim is to identify the fire hazards present within the premises and understand the potential causes of fire.

Storing flammable substances incorrectly remains one of the most common fire hazards identified during a fire risk assessment. Electrical equipment that has not been inspected or maintained can also increase fire risk within the workplace.

2. Identify People at Risk

The next stage is to identify people who could be affected if a fire occurs.

This includes:

• Employees
• Visitors
• Contractors
• Customers
• Residents
• Vulnerable occupants

Occupants within a commercial building may include employees, visitors and individuals with disabilities. A suitable assessment must identify people at risk and evaluate whether additional support or safety measures are required.

The responsible person should ensure that all people at risk are considered when conducting a fire risk assessment, particularly those who may require assistance during an evacuation.

3. Evaluate Fire Risk

Once hazards have been identified, the assessor will evaluate the fire risk and determine the likelihood of a fire occurring.

This involves reviewing:

• Potential risks
• Potential hazards
• Existing controls
• Fire detection systems
• Fire safety measures
• Emergency arrangements
• Means of escape

The goal is to reduce risk through practical and proportionate measures while ensuring the premises remain safe for all occupants.

Assessors evaluate whether current safety measures are adequate, identify any weaknesses and provide recommendations where improvements are required. This stage is critical in reducing the likelihood of harm and ensuring businesses remain compliant with current fire safety legislation.

4. Record Significant Findings

The significant findings of the fire risk assessment should be documented and retained.

Where there are five or more occupants, written records are generally required.

The record should include:

• Hazards identified
• People at risk
• Existing controls
• Areas requiring improvement
• Recommended actions
• Timescales for completion

In some cases, a fire risk assessment may identify issues with passive fire protection measures, fire stopping or compartmentation. Where defects are discovered, specialist fire remediation services can help address the findings and improve compliance throughout the premises.

Where damaged or non-compliant fire doors are identified during the assessment process, professional fire door installation may be required to restore protection and improve fire safety throughout the building.

The significant findings should form the basis of an action plan, helping businesses prioritise improvements and reduce fire risk across the premises.

5. Review the Fire Risk Assessment Regularly

A fire risk assessment should not be treated as a one-off exercise. Fire risk can change over time as buildings, occupancy levels and working practices evolve.

The Fire Safety Order requires fire risk assessments to be reviewed regularly and updated whenever a significant change occurs. Examples include:

• Building alterations
• Changes to escape routes
• Increased occupancy
• New equipment or machinery
• Storage of additional combustible materials
• Changes to working processes

Most organisations should review their fire risk assessment at least annually. Regular reviews help ensure fire safety measures remain effective and continue to protect people safe throughout the premises.

What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Include?

A comprehensive fire risk assessment examines all aspects of fire safety within a building.

This typically includes:

• Fire detection systems
• Fire alarms
• Emergency lighting
• Fire extinguishers
• Means of escape
• Escape routes
• Fire doors
• Compartmentation
• Emergency procedures
• Evacuation plans
• Staff training
• Fire safety signage

Means of escape must include unobstructed escape corridors and appropriately sized fire doors. Assessors will review whether escape routes remain accessible and whether occupants can evacuate safely in the event of a fire.

The assessment will also determine whether fire detection systems provide adequate coverage and whether existing fire safety measures are sufficient for the building and its occupants.

Fire Doors, Compartmentation and Passive Fire Protection

Fire doors and compartmentation play a critical role in preventing fire and smoke from spreading throughout a building.

During a fire risk assessment, assessors often identify issues such as:

• Damaged fire doors
• Missing self-closers
• Damaged seals
• Poor compartmentation
• Inadequate fire stopping
• Unprotected service penetrations

These issues can significantly increase fire risk and compromise evacuation procedures.

Where existing fire doors require ongoing inspection and upkeep, professional fire door maintenance can help ensure continued compliance and performance.

Many organisations also undertake regular fire door surveys alongside their fire risk assessment programme to identify defects before they become a serious safety concern.

By maintaining effective compartmentation and fire doors, businesses can reduce fire risk, improve evacuation times and better protect lives.

Legal Responsibilities Under Fire Safety Legislation

The responsible person has a legal duty to ensure fire safety arrangements are suitable and sufficient.

The primary legislation governing fire safety in England and Wales is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Additional requirements have also been introduced through the Fire Safety Act 2021.

Under the law, the responsible person must:

• Conduct a fire risk assessment
• Identify fire hazards
• Identify people at risk
• Implement suitable safety measures
• Provide training for employees
• Maintain fire safety systems
• Review the assessment regularly
• Record significant findings where required

Failure to comply with fire safety legislation can result in enforcement action, substantial fines and, in serious cases, a prison sentence.

Maintaining compliance is not only a legal requirement but an essential part of protecting employees, visitors and business assets.

Fire Safety Training and Emergency Planning

Training is an important part of any fire safety strategy.

Employees should receive appropriate training so they understand:

• Fire hazards within the workplace
• Emergency procedures
• Evacuation routes
• Fire alarm procedures
• Their individual responsibilities

A fire risk assessment must also include an emergency plan outlining evacuation procedures.

Effective evacuation plans should consider:

• Occupancy levels
• Vulnerable persons
• Assembly points
• Communication procedures
• Emergency contacts

Many fire safety professionals strongly recommend conducting fire drills at least once or twice per year to test evacuation procedures and ensure occupants understand what actions to take.

Regular training helps organisations improve understanding, reduce confusion during emergencies and keep people safe.

What Happens if You Do Not Have a Fire Risk Assessment?

Failure to conduct a suitable fire risk assessment can have serious consequences.

Without a proper assessment, organisations may fail to identify hazards, increasing the likelihood of a fire and putting people at risk.

Potential consequences include:

• Enforcement notices
• Prohibition notices
• Financial penalties
• Prosecution
• Prison sentences
• Business disruption
• Property damage
• Reputational harm

More importantly, failing to manage fire risk can place lives in danger.

A suitable fire risk assessment helps businesses identify potential hazards, implement practical control measures and reduce the risk of harm.

Why Fire Risk Assessments Often Lead to Further Surveys

A fire risk assessment is often the starting point for improving fire safety within a building. During the assessment process, issues relating to fire doors, compartmentation and passive fire protection may be identified that require further investigation.

Common recommendations include:

• Fire door surveys
• Compartmentation surveys
• Passive fire protection inspections
• Fire stopping inspections
• Remedial works to address identified defects
• Ongoing compliance reviews

Where a fire risk assessment identifies concerns with fire doors, compartmentation or passive fire protection measures, specialist surveys can help organisations understand the extent of any issues and prioritise remedial actions.

Where a fire risk assessment identifies concerns with fire doors, compartmentation or passive fire protection measures, Adaston can support property owners, facilities managers and responsible persons through specialist surveys and inspections designed to help address those findings.

By addressing defects identified through these specialist surveys, organisations can improve fire safety, strengthen compliance and help protect building occupants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement?

Yes. A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for most non-domestic premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Who is responsible for a fire risk assessment?

The responsible person is legally responsible for ensuring a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out.

How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?

A fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and updated whenever a significant change occurs. Annual reviews are generally recommended.

Can I conduct a fire risk assessment myself?

Simple premises may allow the responsible person to conduct the assessment. More complex buildings should use a qualified fire risk assessor.

What are the most common fire hazards?

Common fire hazards include electrical equipment, combustible materials, flammable liquids, dangerous substances and poor housekeeping.

What happens after a fire risk assessment?

The assessor will provide findings, recommendations and an action plan to help reduce fire risk and improve compliance.

Why are fire doors important?

Fire doors help slow the spread of fire and smoke, protecting escape routes and allowing occupants more time to evacuate safely.

What should an emergency plan include?

An emergency plan should outline evacuation procedures, assembly points, communication methods and responsibilities during a fire emergency.

Where the Industry is Heading

Taken together, these trends show just how much the passive fire protection industry is evolving. 

There is clear progress in terms of knowledge, accountability and intent. But there are still areas where commercial pressures are driving the wrong behaviours.

At Adaston, we’ve always taken a consistent view. Fire safety isn’t an area where compromise pays. The right approach is rarely the easiest or the cheapest, but it is the one that stands up over time.

Let’s Raise the Standard Together

If you’re reviewing your passive fire protection strategy, planning remediation works or simply want a clearer picture of where you stand, we’re here to help.

Speak to our team for expert advice, grounded in doing the job properly, not just getting it done.

Because in passive fire protection, certainty shouldn’t be optional, it should be the standard.