How to Do a Fire Risk Assessment (UK)

If you are responsible for a workplace or any non domestic premises, the law requires a fire risk assessment. This guide walks through the five steps, gives you a checklist to work down, and explains who carries the duty and when to bring in a professional.

Who is legally responsible

The duty falls on the responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which in most cases is the employer, owner or occupier of the premises. Where five or more people are employed, the assessment must be written down. The responsible person must make sure the assessment is carried out, kept up to date, and acted on.

The five steps

1. Identify the fire hazards. Look for sources of ignition such as heaters, electrics and hot works, sources of fuel such as waste, packaging and stored materials, and anything that adds oxygen to a fire.
2. Identify the people at risk. Include staff, visitors and contractors, and pay particular attention to anyone more vulnerable, such as lone workers, disabled people or those who sleep on the premises.
3. Evaluate, remove or reduce the risk. Keep ignition sources away from fuel, clear combustible waste, and check your fire precautions: detection and alarm, escape routes, emergency lighting, signage and extinguishers.
4. Record, plan and train. Write down your findings and the action plan, make sure everyone knows the evacuation plan, and train staff on what to do.
5. Review regularly. Reassess when the premises, the use or the layout changes, and at least once a year.

A checklist to work down

• Escape routes are clear, unlocked and signed
• Fire doors close fully and are not wedged open
• The alarm and detection system is tested and working
• Extinguishers are the right type, serviced and in date
• Ignition sources are controlled and hot works are permitted
• Combustible waste and packaging are removed regularly
• Emergency lighting works on the escape routes
• Everyone knows the evacuation plan and assembly point

When to bring in a professional

You can carry out your own assessment for straightforward premises. Bring in a competent fire risk assessor for complex or higher risk buildings, anywhere people sleep, or whenever you are not confident the assessment is suitable and sufficient.

Use the structure the fire service expects

Our fire risk assessment template sets out the five steps, the premises and responsible person details, the precautions checklist and the action plan, structured exactly as the fire service expects to see it.