Steps Involved in a Fire Risk Assessment
Fire safety is a legal and ethical requirement for any business or commercial property owner in the UK. Carrying out a fire risk assessment is a critical part of ensuring a safe environment for staff, occupants, and visitors. It helps identify potential fire hazards, evaluate the associated risks, and outline steps to remove or reduce them.
Whatever your role, commercial property owner, rental property, or industrial location, being able to conduct a fire risk assessment properly is critical. In this article, we outline the key steps that you must take and include useful resources for further guidance.
Read our most recent blog posts for more information on: What is a Fire Risk Assessment? and The Importance Of Fire Risk Assessments.
Identify Fire Hazards
The first step in any fire risk assessment is to record possible heat or ignition sources, fuel, and oxygen. All three are required for fires to start and progress, so it is important to find and minimise these hazards.
Common ignition sources are:
– Electrical equipment and faulty wiring
– Naked flames (candles, gas cookers, etc.)
– Heating appliances
Fuel sources may be:
– Flammable liquids and gases
– Paper, cardboard, and other combustible materials
– Furniture and soft furnishings
Action point: Walk around your building to see any potential hazards and how fast a fire can start and spread. Note down these points and then assess what can be done to minimise the risk of these becoming a fire.
👉 Learn more about common workplace fire risks on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.
Identify People at Risk
Once you have identified the hazards surrounding you, then consider who would be at risk in the case of a fire. These are:
– Employees
– Visitors or customers
– Contractors
– Vulnerable groups (e.g., those with mobility issues, children, or elderly residents)
Pay special attention to where individuals sleep, work alone, or are less likely to notice fire early. This will provide you with a baseline understanding on how you will mitigate these risks and improve evacuation procedures.
Evaluate, Remove, Reduce and Secure from Danger
After the identification of people at risk and dangers, evaluating the extent of risk and taking appropriate measures should be accomplished as the next step.
Reduce fire dangers:
– Replace with fire-resistant material non-combustible material
– Maintain electric installations and appliances in good conditions
– Store harmful substances in a secure way
Shield individuals:
– Install and maintain smoke detectors and fire alarms
– Maintain clear emergency exits
– Keep fire extinguishers available and ensure staff training in their usage
– Develop a plan of evacuation
For advice about fire safety equipment, go to GOV.UK: Fire safety in the workplace.
Record Your Findings and Prepare an Emergency Plan
You are required by law to hold a written record of your fire risk assessment for businesses with five or more staff. Landlords and commercial property owners must also keep good records.
Your record should contain:
– The identified fire risks
– The persons at risk
– Controls taken to minimise the risk
– Details of fire safety equipment
– Maintenance records for electrical and fire equipment
– An emergency evacuation plan
The emergency plan should contain the escape routes, fire warden details, assembly point, and provision for calling the fire service.
Review and Update the Assessment Regularly
Fire risk assessments are not a static activity. Things do change, so it’s advisable to review the assessment at least annually, or earlier if:
– There have been significant changes to the premises
– You have put in new equipment or processes
– There has been a fire or near miss
Having a periodic review ensures your fire protection arrangements remain effective and compliant.
Final Thoughts
Conducting an extensive fire risk assessment is fundamental to protecting people, property, and your company from the ruinous impact of fire. Even though some businesses choose to do assessments in-house, others hire a qualified fire risk assessor to ensure overall compliance and assurance.
At TJC Electrical, we help businesses and building owners across the UK with electrical safety solutions that add to your fire prevention strategy, including EICRs, PAT testing, and emergency lighting installation.
Need help with your fire safety compliance?
Call us now to discuss how we can help make your premises more secure.