Fire safety risk assessment

Category: Loss control & prevention · Reviewed by Jake Leat, Associate Director · Last reviewed

Fire safety risk assessment

A fire safety risk assessment is a statutory document required of the “responsible person” for almost all non-domestic premises in England and Wales under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (“the FSO”). In Scotland the equivalent is the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006; in Northern Ireland, the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.

Required content

Article 9 of the FSO requires the responsible person to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to relevant persons. HM Government’s PAS 79 and the Home Office guidance set out a five-step approach:

1. Identify fire hazards (ignition sources, fuel, oxygen).
2. Identify people at risk (employees, visitors, vulnerable persons).
3. Evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk.
4. Record findings, prepare an emergency plan, provide training.
5. Review and update.

PAS 79 and BS 9999

• PAS 79-1:2020 — Fire risk assessment for premises other than housing.
• PAS 79-2:2020 — for housing.
• BS 9999:2017 — Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.

Building Safety Act 2022 and Grenfell

Following the Grenfell Tower fire (2017) and the Hackitt Review (2018), the Building Safety Act 2022 introduced a stricter regime for higher-risk residential buildings (≥18m or 7 storeys, ≥2 dwellings). The Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 expand the FSO to include external walls and flat entrance doors of multi-occupancy buildings.

Insurance relevance

Insurers writing commercial property and combined liability now routinely request a current fire risk assessment, the qualifications of the assessor and evidence of action on identified deficiencies. Failure to comply with the FSO can void cover and crystallise personal criminal liability on the responsible person.

References

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (SI 2005/1541).
• Fire Safety Act 2021.
• Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/1411).
• Building Safety Act 2022.
• PAS 79-1:2020 / PAS 79-2:2020.

Cross-references

• Property loss control
• RIDDOR

Maintained by Matt Bartlett, Director, Apex Insurance Brokers Limited. FCA FRN 724952. Companies House 07014570.