What Is a Fire Risk Assessment — Complete Guide

What is a fire
risk assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a systematic evaluation of a premises from the point of view of fire safety. It is a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises in England and Wales under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This guide explains exactly what it is, who needs one, and what it involves.

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Legal requirement for all non-domestic premises
Covers identification of hazards and persons at risk
Results in a written report with action plan
FireCertificates arranges assessments across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire
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HHR Holdings Ltd t/a firecertificates.co.uk · Co. No. 17177195 · ICO ZC132343. Not a fire safety company. All assessment work by independent BAFE/IFE-registered professionals. No obligation.

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Legal Requirement

Mandatory for all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. No size threshold.

What It Covers

Hazard identification, persons at risk, existing precautions, recommendations and written report.

Competent Person

Must be carried out by a competent person. BAFE SP205 and IFE are the recognised standards.

Review Required

Must be kept up to date and reviewed whenever premises or use changes.

Fire Risk Assessment Explained

A systematic evaluation of
fire safety risk.

A fire risk assessment is not an inspection by the fire service. It is a document that you — as the responsible person — are legally required to have carried out for your premises.

The five steps of a fire risk assessment

The government guidance on the Fire Safety Order describes the fire risk assessment process as five steps: identify the fire hazards; identify the people at risk; evaluate, remove or reduce the risks; record findings and implement the findings; and review and update the assessment regularly.

What the assessor does on site

A qualified fire risk assessor will visit your premises and carry out a systematic inspection. This involves examining the potential sources of ignition (electrical equipment, heating systems, cooking facilities, smoking areas), the fuel sources that could feed a fire (furniture, paper, flammable materials), and the oxygen sources that could sustain one. They will then assess the means of escape, the fire detection and warning systems, the fire suppression equipment, and the condition of fire doors and emergency lighting.

The written report

Following the site visit, the assessor produces a written fire risk assessment report. This documents all findings, identifies the significant risks, recommends actions to reduce or remove those risks, and prioritises the actions by severity. The report is your compliance document — it demonstrates to the fire service, your insurer and any licensing authority that you have met your legal obligations.

Who must have a fire risk assessment
"The Order applies to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of building, structure and open space."

HM Government guidance on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. If your premises has employees, tenants, customers or other visitors, you need a fire risk assessment.

01
Identify fire hazardsSources of ignition, fuel and oxygen that could cause or sustain a fire in your premises.
02
Identify persons at riskEmployees, tenants, customers, visitors and anyone else who could be harmed by a fire in or around your premises.
03
Evaluate and reduce riskAssessment of existing fire precautions and recommendations for improvements to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
04
Record and implementA written report documenting findings and a prioritised action plan for implementation.
05
Review and updateRegular review to keep the assessment current. Required after any material change to premises, occupancy or use.
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Common Questions

Questions answered.

Is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement?+
Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person for any non-domestic premises in England and Wales to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. There is no minimum size threshold. If your premises has employees, tenants, customers or other visitors, you need a fire risk assessment.
How long does a fire risk assessment take?+
A standard small commercial office or HMO typically takes one to two hours on site. A larger warehouse, multi-floor office or complex premises may take three to four hours. The written report is typically delivered within one to three working days of the site visit.
What is the difference between a Type 1 and Type 4 fire risk assessment?+
A Type 1 is a non-destructive assessment of the common parts only, without opening up construction elements. A Type 4 is a destructive assessment that involves opening up construction to inspect the fire resistance of structural elements. Type 4 is most commonly required for high-rise residential buildings or following a fire. Most commercial and HMO premises require a Type 1 assessment.
Who can carry out a fire risk assessment?+
The assessment must be carried out by a competent person. The BAFE SP205 certification scheme and membership of the Institution of Fire Engineers are the recognised industry benchmarks. FireCertificates only works with assessors holding recognised professional qualifications who carry current professional indemnity insurance.
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Email: hello@firecertificates.co.uk — we respond within 2 hours. Not a fire safety company — all assessment work by independent registered professionals.

HHR Holdings Ltd t/a firecertificates.co.uk · Co. No. 17177195 · ICO ZC132343. Not a fire safety company. All assessment work by independent BAFE/IFE-registered professionals.

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Enquiry received.

We will be in touch within 2 hours during working hours. For urgent matters email hello@firecertificates.co.uk directly.

Not a fire safety company

FireCertificates.co.uk is a specialist connection service. We are not fire risk assessors and do not carry out assessments. All assessment work is performed by independent BAFE SP205 or IFE-registered assessors under their own professional terms of engagement.

Qualified assessors only

Every assessor in the FireCertificates network holds a recognised professional qualification — BAFE SP205, IFE or equivalent — and carries current professional indemnity insurance. We do not refer to unaccredited assessors.

Data protection

firecertificates.co.uk is operated by HHR Holdings Ltd (ICO ZC132343). Your data is handled in accordance with UK GDPR and used only to connect you with a certified assessor. It is never sold to third parties. hello@firecertificates.co.uk

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