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Health, safety and fire · Workplaces and non-domestic premises
Fire & General Risk Assessments
Businesses and organisations have legal responsibilities to assess and manage risks to the people who may be affected by their activities. Vital arranges fire risk assessments and general risk assessments nationwide.
Status
Law
Fire Safety Order 2005 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Who
The Responsible Person
And every employer, for the risks arising from their work
Since 1 Oct 2023
Recorded in full
Every fire risk assessment, whatever the size of the business
Reviewed
On change
No fixed annual renewal, but kept current whenever something changes
The Law
The Fire Safety Order applies in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate fire safety law with equivalent duties. Vital arranges assessments across all four nations.
Businesses and organisations have legal responsibilities to assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of people who may be affected by their activities.
For fire safety, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and put appropriate fire safety measures in place.
For workplace health and safety, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess the risks to employees and others who may be affected by their work.
These assessments are not simply paperwork. They identify hazards, determine who may be at risk and establish the measures needed to reduce those risks.
Fire risk assessments
A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) considers the specific fire risks within your premises and the people who may be affected. The assessment considers matters such as:
- Sources of ignition and fuel
- People who may be at risk, including anyone particularly vulnerable
- Fire detection and warning systems
- Escape routes and emergency exits
- Emergency lighting and fire safety signage
- Fire-fighting equipment
- Fire doors and fire separation
- Storage and use of dangerous substances
- Emergency procedures and staff training
- Existing fire safety management arrangements
The findings determine what measures are required to reduce the risk from fire and protect people if a fire occurs. The Responsible Person remains legally responsible for ensuring the assessment is suitable and sufficient, even where a competent fire risk assessor is appointed to carry it out.
Changed 1 October 2023. Under section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, every fire risk assessment must now be recorded in full, including all findings, whatever the size of the business. If you appoint someone to carry out or review the assessment, you must record their name and organisation. Where a building has more than one Responsible Person, they must identify each other, share contact details and cooperate.
Who needs a fire risk assessment?
The Fire Safety Order applies to most non-domestic premises and the common parts of residential buildings in England and Wales, including:
- Offices
- Shops and retail premises
- Warehouses and industrial buildings
- Hotels and hospitality premises
- Schools and educational buildings
- Healthcare premises
- Public buildings
- Communal areas of blocks of flats
- Other workplaces and premises where people may be at risk from fire
The complexity of the assessment should reflect the building, its use and the level of risk. A simple workplace will not require the same assessment as a complex or high-risk building.
General risk assessments
Employers must assess the risks arising from their work activities and put appropriate controls in place to protect employees and others who may be affected. A General Risk Assessment can consider hazards such as:
- Workplace activities and safe systems of work
- Plant, machinery and equipment
- Manual handling
- Slips, trips and falls
- Hazardous substances
- Workplace conditions
- Contractors and visitors
- Lone working
- Other significant hazards specific to the business
The assessment identifies the hazards, determines who could be harmed and how, evaluates the risks and establishes appropriate control measures.
When should risk assessments be reviewed?
There is no universal legal requirement for a fire risk assessment or general risk assessment to be renewed every year. They should be reviewed regularly and whenever there is reason to believe the assessment is no longer valid or there has been a significant change, for example:
- Changes to the building or its layout
- Changes to how the premises are used
- New equipment, processes or activities
- Changes in occupancy or staffing
- Significant changes to fire risks
- An incident, accident or near miss
- Changes to legislation or other relevant requirements
Keeping assessments up to date ensures the risks and control measures continue to reflect the actual workplace.
Competent assessors
A fire risk assessment needs to be suitable and sufficient, and the person carrying it out must have the appropriate competence for the premises and the risks involved.
Vital works with a nationwide specialist fire safety partner whose fire risk assessments are carried out by fully qualified and accredited fire risk assessors. This gives clients access to appropriately competent fire safety expertise while giving Vital a single point of contact for their wider property compliance requirements.
Nationwide risk assessment services
Vital provides fire risk assessment and general risk assessment services nationwide. Whether you are responsible for a single commercial property or a wider portfolio, we can help and arrange the appropriate assessment for your premises. Our aim is simple: clear, practical information that helps you understand your responsibilities and manage the risks within your property or workplace.
Talk to the Vital team
0345 111 7700
info@vitaldirect.co.uk
Tell us the premises, how it is used and when it was last assessed, and we will arrange the right assessment.
Request a quote
Official sources
legislation.gov.uk
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
legislation.gov.uk
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
The other duty on the same premises
Asbestos Management Surveys
If your premises were built or refurbished before 2000, the same Responsible Person usually also carries the duty to manage asbestos. Vital provides asbestos management surveys and re-inspections nationwide, so both duties can be handled through one point of contact.
One building. One compliance picture.
About asbestos surveys
- Presume asbestos in pre-2000 buildings
- Locate, record and assess condition
- Manage in place where safe to do so
- Re-inspect on a risk-based frequency
Common questions
What Responsible Persons and employers ask about their assessments.
Can we do the fire risk assessment ourselves?
You can, provided the person doing it is competent for the premises and the risks involved, and you must record their name. For anything beyond a simple, low-risk workplace, most Responsible Persons use a qualified assessor.
Do the fire safety rules apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The Fire Safety Order is England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety law with equivalent duties. We arrange assessments across all four nations.
Does a fire risk assessment have to be renewed every year?
No. There is no fixed annual renewal in the law. It must be reviewed regularly and whenever there is a significant change, an incident or reason to think it is no longer valid. Many organisations choose an annual review as good practice.
We have fewer than five employees. Do we still have to write the fire risk assessment down?
Yes. Since 1 October 2023 every fire risk assessment must be recorded in full, including all findings. The old five-employee threshold no longer applies.
What is the difference between a fire risk assessment and a general risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment deals with fire: ignition sources, escape routes, detection, equipment and procedures. A general risk assessment covers the other hazards arising from your work activities, from manual handling to lone working.
Who is the Responsible Person for fire safety?
Usually the employer, or anyone else who has control of the premises, such as the owner, landlord or managing agent. In shared buildings there is often more than one, and they must now identify each other and cooperate.
Measure. Model. Improve. Comply.
Need a fire or general risk assessment?
Vital arranges fire risk assessments and general risk assessments for premises across the UK.