A crucial element of any fire safety strategy is a fire risk assessment. They allow you to identify fire hazards within your building and put a robust plan in place to mitigate these risks, allowing you to create a safer environment for everyone. You may have heard of a fire risk assessment, but what is the purpose of a fire risk assessment and why are they so important for businesses?
In this blog, we’ll delve into why it’s so important to conduct a fire risk assessment and how they help you comply with fire safety regulations. We’ll also explain who can carry out a fire risk assessment and how often you should be reviewing them. First, let’s take a brief look at what a fire risk assessment is.
What is a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment is an important process that helps you to identify potential fire hazards in your building or premises and evaluate the level of risk they pose, allowing you to ensure the safety of your people and property.
A thorough and comprehensive assessment looks at various factors such as sources of ignition, fuel sources, and escape routes. It will also take into account the effectiveness of your current fire safety measures and emergency procedures in place to determine if they’re still working optimally, or if there are any improvements needed.
Ultimately, a fire risk assessment creates a safer environment for everyone as they address the fire risks within your business which then enables you to implement fire prevention and protection measures.
Is it a legal requirement to conduct a fire risk assessment?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all businesses have a legal obligation to conduct a fire risk assessment. The assessment should be implemented by the ‘responsible person’ or ‘competent person’, which is usually the business owner, manager, or building owner.
The responsible person will normally have some sort of authority within the business and they must ensure that a thorough fire risk assessment is completed, whether it’s done in-house or via a third-party fire safety professional, like TVF Fire Protection.
The legislation provides a framework for businesses for carrying out a fire risk assessment as well as implementing appropriate fire safety measures. It also offers guidelines for each different aspect of an assessment, from identifying fire hazards to the planning and practice of evacuation procedures.
Failing to comply with these legal obligations can lead to serious consequences such as hefty fines, enforcement notices, and prosecution in cases of serious neglect. As well as this, not carrying out a fire risk assessment can also lead to your business insurance policy being invalidated through inadequate provision of fire safety measures. Not only does this impact the safety of your employees and everyone in your building, but it could also lead to the threat of closure by your local fire service.
How often should a fire risk assessment be carried out?
A common question many people ask is how often should a fire risk assessment be carried out. Whilst there isn’t a legal requirement, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 recommends that regular assessments should be carried out to ensure the fire safety measures you have in place are kept up to date and are working effectively.
It’s also encouraged to have a new fire risk assessment carried out if any of the following applies:
- Changes have been made to the structure of the building
- The function or use of any space has been changed significantly
- You have a new hazardous substance being stored in your building
- You’ve had a fire-related, or near-miss incident in your premises
- There has been a significant change to staff numbers
- You hire new staff with disabilities or vulnerabilities
- You have noticed your fire safety equipment has been damaged
Who can carry out a fire risk assessment?
As we’ve mentioned, and as per fire safety legislation, a fire risk assessment must be carried out by the ‘responsible person’. This person must have the right knowledge, experience, and qualifications to do so. In most cases, this is not something the responsible person is capable of, which is why a professional assessor is usually required.
It’s the responsibility of the responsible person to care of a fire risk assessment and employ the services of a fire safety professional. They also have to make sure a fire risk assessment is reviewed on a regular basis, or a new one is completed if any of the above scenarios apply to your business.
What are the benefits of a fire risk assessment?
The benefits of a fire risk assessment go beyond merely avoiding having your business ordered to close by your local fire service. The ultimate goal of a fire risk assessment is to protect lives, as well as ensuring as much is done as possible to mitigate fire risks and minimise the impact of a fire outbreak. Some other benefits of having a fire risk assessment include:
- Saving lives
- Preventing loss of assets
- Preventing downtime for your business
- Creating a safer environment for everyone involved with your business
- Making your staff feel safer
Let us help with your fire risk assessment
Here at TVF Fire Protection, we provide comprehensive fire risk assessments for businesses and commercial buildings across High Wycombe, Watford, Slough and beyond. Our fully trained and professional assessors can carry out your assessment so you can ensure that you’re taking all the right steps to protect lives from the threat of fire.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help your business, or to find out more about any of our other fire safety services, contact us today to discuss your requirements in more detail and to book an appointment with us.
Fire risk assessment FAQs
Why are fire risk assessments important?
There are many reasons why fire risk assessments are important including:
- Helping to ensure the safety of building occupants by identifying risks and mitigating potential hazards
- Fulfilling legal obligations as per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Protecting property from fire damage
- Enabling insurance coverage compliance
What is a ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment?
A “suitable and sufficient” fire risk assessment means it adequately identifies all fire hazards, assesses the risks they pose, and outlines appropriate measures to reduce, eliminate, or control those risks.
What qualifications should a fire risk assessor have?
If you require a professional fire assessor to conduct your fire risk assessment, they should have an in-depth knowledge of fire safety legislation and standards along with extensive experience in assessing fire risks. It’s also beneficial that they have a background in fire safety engineering or similar fields, as well as certification from recognised fire safety bodies (e.g. The Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE), BAFE).
