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Fire Risk Assessment: What is it and do you need one?
We explain everything…
A Fire Risk Assessment is required by law for every commercial building and apartment complex.
This crucial fire safety precaution is not well known.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment? is a question that we get asked very frequently. The fact is that the foundation of your fire safety plans for your particular facility should be your Fire Risk Assessment.
Unfortunately, evaluations are frequently neglected, which can expose structures to unnecessary fire risk and even put lives in danger.
If you want to talk about the particular needs for your building, please contact our professional team. You can read more about fire risk assessments below.
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What exactly is a fire risk assessment, then?
A building is reviewed in order to determine its fire risk and, if necessary, to offer recommendations for safety improvements.
If there are less than 5 regular residents in a structure, a Fire Risk Assessment does not need to be documented, hence it is not always a document.
However, since writing down a Fire Risk Assessment is the simplest way to convey the results and ensure that the recommendations have been followed, we always advise doing so.
What are the laws governing evaluations?
When it comes to fire risk assessments, there are several specific rules.
1. It needs to be examined frequently. We advise going over the following:
at intervals of 12 months following the initial exam. If the structure of the building has changed, such as the layout, if the facility’s function has significantly changed, or if the character of the tenants has significantly changed, a fresh assessment should be done every five years.
Your fire safety plans may be significantly affected by changes in the design of the building, its intended use, or the nature of its occupants, thus it’s crucial to complete a Fire Risk Assessment assessment if any of these occur.
2. If there are five or more regular occupants, it must be recorded.
Your Fire Risk Assessment must be legally documented if your commercial property or apartment complex typically has more than four residents onsite at once.
Regardless of the size of your premises, as was already indicated, we always advise having your assessment documented.
Even if you have less than 5 regular tenants, there are a few more instances in which your fire risk assessment must be documented. Which are:
If the location requires a permit or if the fire department has given you the go-ahead (following a visit, for example)
3. It must include the key results and the recommended next steps.
A Fire Risk Assessment must have two sections, whether they are written down or not.One is the review itself, which measures the property’s fire safety against a number of criteria.
The second is a list of suggestions that must be followed in order for the structure to comply with fire safety regulations.
It is crucial that you follow these suggestions because in the end, they’re what will keep your building secure.
Who is in charge of seeing that a fire risk assessment is done?
Every company and apartment building is required by law to have a named “Responsible Person” who is responsible for fire safety.
The designated Responsible Person is responsible for seeing that the necessary fire safety procedures are followed, that action is taken to prevent fires from starting, and that, in the event that a fire does start, no one is hurt or killed.
Thus, it is the Responsible Person’s responsibility to ensure that your building has a current fire risk assessment.
Unless you have designated a member of your team, you are often the Responsible Person for your premises if you are a small business owner.
The Responsible Person, who may also be a member of the Residents’ Association, is often the landlord or managing agent if you live in a tower block or apartment building.
In apartment buildings, the Responsible Person is only responsible for the public spaces such the hallways and stairwells. The resident is responsible for making sure their own apartment is fire-safe.
How can I obtain a copy of the fire risk assessment for my building?
You have the absolute right, as a building inhabitant, to request access to the Fire Risk Assessment for your building.
Your building’s Responsible Person should be your initial point of contact. If you’re unsure of who this is, you should start by asking the company owner, the facilities division, the landlord, or the managing agent.
You should ask your Responsible Person to do a Fire Risk Assessment as soon as feasible if you discover that your building lacks a valid fire risk assessment.
As a last resort, you could get in touch with your neighbourhood fire department if you believe that the Responsible Person for your building is not taking your concerns seriously.
However, as the fire brigade has a lot on their plate, kindly refrain from calling with unimportant issues. And of course, avoid dialling 999 if you can help it! The general inquiries number for your local fire department can be found online.
What is evaluated?
Comprehensive fire risk assessments should consider a wide range of fire risk elements.
The complexity of the building will have a significant impact on the level of information in each examination. In contrast to a huge office building or even a block of apartments, a “single-compartment” building, such as a modest shop or kiosk, will have far less to assess.
Although each assessment is unique, the assessor should routinely check the following fire risk and fire prevention factors:
1. The building’s purpose, design, and structure
2. The quantity and type of occupants, including any occupants who may be at risk.
3. Whether the structure has ever suffered fire losses.
4. On-site electrical equipment that could serve as an ignite source
5. Smoking places and steps taken to avoid fires caused by smoking
6. Fighting back against arson
7. Heaters that are both mounted and portable that could start fires
8. Defense against lightning-related fires
9. General housekeeping and keeping combustible objects away from important places
10. Any fire risks brought on by construction projects or outside contractors
11. The arrangements for storing any hazardous or flammable liquids
12. The layout of evacuation routes and the upkeep of such routes
13. Fire prevention measures, such as compartmentalization
14. That the emergency lighting is correctly fitted and functional.
15. Where to place fire safety signs and how to do so correctly
16. There are effective ways to sound the alarm in the event of a fire (see our blog post “Do I Need a Fire Alarm”).
17. The appropriate fire extinguishers are placed in the appropriate places (see our blog post on “fire extinguisher requirements”).
18. The proper setup and upkeep of other equipment, including sprinklers
19. Who oversees building fire safety, and how effectively?
20. Whether regular fire safety instruction and evacuation drills are conducted
21. That the proper processes for maintaining and testing fire safety systems are in place
22. That the proper paperwork and records of the fire safety measures are being maintained
Who is qualified to conduct a fire risk assessment?
According to legal regulations, a fire risk assessment can be completed by a “qualified person.” This does not obligate you to employ a certified fire risk assessor.
However, it does imply that whoever conducts your fire risk assessment should feel confident evaluating your property in light of all of the aforementioned variables.
They ought to be capable of:
– Clearly and in depth, note any significant discoveries
– If adjustments are required create a fire safety action plan and document the steps. If one is required, implement it.
– Update the fire risk assessment on a regular basis.
We highly advise utilising a qualified fire risk assessor for all but the simplest of premises.
Professional fire risk assessors receive extensive, in-depth training, and they are well-versed on the most recent regulatory standards and regulations, including how to apply them to various building types.
What is the consequence of failing to conduct a fire risk assessment?
A prosecution that results in harsh fines or, in circumstances of extreme negligence, a prison sentence is the consequence for not having a fire risk assessment and, specifically, for not having put the proper fire safety safeguards into place.A prosecution that results in harsh fines or, in circumstances of extreme negligence, a prison sentence is the consequence for not having a fire risk assessment and, specifically, for not having put the proper fire safety safeguards into place.
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