When is a Fire Risk Assessment required?

A Fire Risk Assessment is mandated by law. If you hold responsibility for a building, such as an employer, owner, or occupier of premises other than a 'single private dwelling' (a private home), it is imperative to ensure that a sufficiently competent individual conducts the Fire Risk Assessment.

 

But when does it need to be done? 

 

This very much depends on your building; there must be a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment in place for the building to be occupied. This means for developers prior to occupation, we will complete a fire safety survey. This an inspection designed to find shortcomings prior to the building falling under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. 

 

Once occupied, the building must have a fire risk assessment which is considered suitable and sufficient. There is a grey area during the period of cross-over, as you cannot accurately see how the building will function or spot all hazards on day one of occupation; it needs to be lived in. 

 

Once a building is occupied there is no set time limit for when a fire risk assessment needs to be completed. It very much depends on the type of workplace:

 

• How many new staff/residents/visitors have come in since the last assessment? (Increase in people, persons who would require assistance in evacuating?) 

• Have there been any changes to the types of processes on site? (Any new specific hazards?)

• Have there been any near misses? 

• Has there been a change in the owner, occupier, employer or person who has control over the extent of the property? 

• Has the area recently had any arson incidents? 

• Has there been any change to the structure of the premises? 

 

Should the premises remain broadly the same as the last assessment, then the time frames for completing a new assessment can change. In an ideal world, a Fire Risk Assessment should be completed every 12 months. It may be the case that whilst you believe the premises are the same, a fire risk assessor may identify hazards you were not aware of, or guidance may have changed which needs to be reflected on your premises. 

 

Regardless of whether or not you ask a fire risk assessor to complete a new fire risk assessment, it is advisable to internally review it every 12 months. 

 

For many residential premises, the height of the property and number and nature of occupants will affect the suggested review periods. 

 

As an example, a good guide would be:

 

• High rise block (over 18m or above 7 storeys) every 12 months 

• Medium rise block (above 11m but below 18m) every 24 months 

• Low rise block every 24-36 months. 

 

There are a number of factors at play, and it is impossible to provide a blanket rule of timeframes. If you would like to discuss this with our team, please do reach out to us.