Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment? A Complete UK Guide
Who needs a fire risk assessment? This is an important question for business owners, employers, landlords, managing agents and anyone responsible for commercial or other relevant premises.
In England and Wales, fire safety law places duties on the Responsible Person for relevant premises. One of the fundamental requirements is to assess fire risks and ensure appropriate fire precautions are provided.
Therefore, fire risk assessments apply to a very wide range of workplaces and buildings, from small offices and shops to warehouses, schools, hotels, factories and certain residential buildings.
In this guide, AK Fire Safety Ltd explains which premises may require a fire risk assessment, who is responsible and what businesses should consider when managing fire safety. For professional support, visit our fire risk assessment service.
Quick Answer: Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment?
Responsible Persons for relevant premises need to ensure that an appropriate fire risk assessment is carried out.
This can include employers, business owners, landlords, occupiers and other people who have control of premises.
Premises can include workplaces such as offices, shops, warehouses, factories, schools, hotels, restaurants and many other commercial or public buildings.
Fire safety duties can also apply to the common parts of buildings containing two or more domestic premises.
Contents
- What does UK fire safety law require?
- Who is the Responsible Person?
- Do businesses need a fire risk assessment?
- Do small businesses need one?
- Offices
- Warehouses
- Factories and manufacturing
- Shops and retail
- Restaurants and pubs
- Hotels and guest accommodation
- Schools and nurseries
- Care premises
- Landlords and residential buildings
- HMOs
- Businesses with employees
- When should an assessment be reviewed?
- Frequently asked questions
What Does UK Fire Safety Law Require?
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the principal legislation governing fire safety in many non-domestic premises.
The legislation places responsibilities on the Responsible Person to assess fire risks and provide appropriate fire precautions.
Furthermore, changes introduced through later legislation have strengthened requirements concerning the recording and communication of fire safety information.
Businesses should therefore understand their responsibilities rather than assuming fire safety is automatically managed by their landlord or maintenance contractor.
For official guidance, visit GOV.UK – Fire Safety in the Workplace.
You can also read our detailed guide: Is a Fire Risk Assessment a Legal Requirement?
Who Is the Responsible Person?
The term Responsible Person is extremely important in fire safety legislation.
Depending on the premises and circumstances, this may include:
- An employer
- A business owner
- A landlord
- An occupier
- A managing agent in certain circumstances
- A person with control of the premises
In some buildings, there may be more than one Responsible Person.
Where responsibilities overlap, cooperation and coordination can be necessary to ensure that fire safety arrangements work effectively across the whole premises.
Important
Hiring a fire alarm company, maintenance contractor or fire risk assessor does not automatically remove the Responsible Person’s legal duties.
Responsible Persons should understand their responsibilities and ensure that appropriate fire safety arrangements remain in place.
Do Businesses Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Fire risk assessments are required across a wide range of workplaces and relevant premises.
Examples include:
- Offices
- Retail shops
- Warehouses
- Factories
- Manufacturing facilities
- Industrial units
- Schools
- Nurseries
- Hotels
- Guest houses
- Restaurants
- Pubs
- Healthcare premises
- Care premises
- Community centres
- Places of worship
- Entertainment venues
- Commercial buildings
However, the fire risks can differ significantly between premises. Therefore, the assessment should reflect the actual building, occupants and activities taking place.
Do Small Businesses Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Yes, small businesses can still have fire safety responsibilities.
A common misconception is that very small businesses are automatically exempt from fire risk assessment requirements.
However, even a small office, shop or workshop can contain:
- Electrical equipment
- Heating equipment
- Combustible materials
- Cooking appliances
- Potential ignition sources
- Employees
- Visitors or customers
Therefore, the Responsible Person should consider the fire risks regardless of the overall size of the business.
Do Offices Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Yes. Offices are workplaces and require appropriate fire safety arrangements.
Although many offices are considered relatively straightforward environments, they can still contain significant hazards.
For example:
- Computers and electrical equipment
- Printers and photocopiers
- Kitchen equipment
- Portable heaters
- Paper and document storage
- Furniture
- Electrical extension leads
- Waste materials
The assessment should also consider escape routes, fire doors, emergency lighting and the fire detection and alarm system.
If deficiencies are identified, AK Fire Safety provides professional fire alarm maintenance and emergency lighting services.
Do Warehouses Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Warehouses can present complex fire risks because large quantities of combustible materials may be stored within the building.
Potential hazards can include:
- High-bay storage
- Combustible stock
- Packaging materials
- Forklift charging areas
- Machinery
- Electrical equipment
- Loading bays
- Waste storage
- Long escape distances
Furthermore, warehouse layouts frequently change as stock levels and racking configurations change.
Consequently, fire risk assessments should remain under review when significant operational or layout changes occur.
Do Factories and Manufacturing Businesses Need Fire Risk Assessments?
Manufacturing and industrial premises can contain additional hazards associated with production processes.
These could include:
- Hot machinery
- Electrical equipment
- Combustible materials
- Flammable substances
- Hot works
- Dust
- Industrial processes
- Battery charging
- Storage areas
As a result, industrial fire risk assessments can require more specialist knowledge than assessments for simpler premises.
Do Shops and Retail Premises Need Fire Risk Assessments?
Retail premises need to consider both employees and members of the public.
Customers may be unfamiliar with the building and may not know the location of alternative emergency exits.
Therefore, an assessment may consider:
- Customer areas
- Stockrooms
- Escape routes
- Final exits
- Fire alarm provision
- Emergency lighting
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire safety signage
AK Fire Safety provides fire safety signage alongside other commercial fire protection services.
Do Restaurants, Cafés and Pubs Need Fire Risk Assessments?
Restaurants, cafés and pubs can contain significant fire hazards,
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