How often does a fire risk assessment need to be carried out?

Risk assessments are an imperative part of building safety, particularly when it comes to fire safety.

The process of conducting a risk assessment is designed to ensure that you are aware of all risks, you understand the threats they pose, and that you are taking the right steps to minimise them. Both now, and with every change to your site that takes place.

As a result of these critical benefits, in the UK, fire risk assessments are legal requirements for many building types, including commercial buildings.

To ensure you’re fulfilling this legal requirement, and getting the most out of your fire risk assessment, keep reading.

Below, our expert team have shared their comprehensive guide to fire risk assessments, and how often they need to be completed.

What does a fire risk assessment involve?

A fire risk assessment involves the building’s responsible person(s) conducting a fire risk assessment of the entire premises. This should then be reviewed on a regular, routine basis.

Once complete, the fire risk assessment will need to be recorded and documented.

The typical process of conducting a fire risk assessment involves:

• Identifying the fire risks and hazards that are present in your building (e.g. flammable materials, electrical systems, or hazardous chemicals)
• Identifying who is at risk (e.g. members of the public, members of your team, contractors)
• Evaluating the risks that are present
• Removing as many risks as possible
• For the risks that are not possible to remove, reducing them as much as possible
• Assessing the safety equipment and elements you have in place (e.g. emergency exits, fire extinguishers and fire alarms)
• Preparing a plan that details your procedure in the event of an emergency, then distributing it across your team
• Providing your team with fire safety training (especially in any areas that you noticed were lacking, during your assessment)
• Setting a date for the next time you will review and amend the assessment

It is up to you whether or not you conduct the fire risk assessment yourself, or enlist the assistance of a professional risk assessor to complete it on your behalf.

If you are unsure about the requirements and processes for a fire risk assessment, or you would struggle to find enough time in your calendar, finding a professional risk assessor is a great solution. Plus, this ensures a completely comprehensive, accurate and informative assessment, which greatly increases the safety standards of your site.

When should you complete a fire risk assessment?

In the UK, there are no legal obligations to conduct a fire risk assessment within a particular time frame.

It is a legal requirement to have a fire risk assessment completed for your site. But, reviewing and updating these assessments are not subject to legal timeframe requirements.

However, as fire safety professionals, we strongly recommend that you implement a regular routine for the reviews of your fire risk assessment. Typically, we suggest that you should review your fire risk assessment once every year.

Also, if one of the following occurs, you should review your fire risk assessment at the earliest possible opportunity:

• If there has been a fire incident on your site
• If the building has changed (such as construction works completed, or there are additional people using the space)
• If there has been an update to the fire safety guidelines that your site is subject to

How often are fire risk assessments needed for flats and high-risk buildings?

The Local Government Association (LGA) has provided guidance for fire safety best practices in purpose-built blocks of flats.

Their guidance stipulates that:

For low-rise blocks (which are up to three storeys above ground) that have been built in the last 20 years, fire risk assessments should be:

• Reviewed every 2 years
• Redone every 4 years

For blocks with higher risks (for example, because of the age of the building), or blocks that are more than three storeys high, fire risk assessments should be:

• Reviewed every year
• Redone every 3 years

In extreme cases (for the highest-risk buildings), the LGA advises that a new fire risk assessment should be completed once every year.

Why are fire risk assessments so important?

Fire risk assessments are the cornerstone of fire safety. In fact, without a comprehensive (and up-to-date) fire risk assessment in place, it is extremely difficult for a building to achieve a suitable level of fire safety.

Fire risk assessments are so important because:

• They keep site occupants as safe as possible. Not only by minimising risks, but also by ensuring clear evacuation and emergency procedures are in place
• They minimise the risk of injuries and fatalities
• They ensure the most effective and precise preventative measures are being implemented
• They keep your business (and your team) prepared for an emergency scenario
• They protect your property from fire-induced damage
• They ensure your business is fully compliant with all relevant legal requirements
• They ensure your business is fulfilling all its insurance requirements
• They strengthen your reputation as a safe, conscientious business, and keep your staff confident and relaxed at work

If you want to enlist a fire safety professional to improve your site’s fire safety standards, Target Fire Protection is here to help.

Target Fire Protection is one of the UK’s leading commercial fire safety and protection companies. We have over 25 years of experience supporting businesses, with a wide range of critical services. In addition to fire risk assessments, these include fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire safety training.

To find out more about our range of services, or to enlist our team to conduct a fire risk assessment for your site, don’t hesitate to get in touch.