Questions and answers

A fire risk assessment is an organised review of a building and the way it is used, to identify what could start a fire, who would be at risk, and what needs to be done to remove or reduce that risk. In England and Wales it is required by article 9 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and it must be "suitable and sufficient". Since October 2023 it must be recorded in full.

Under the Fire Safety Order the responsible person is the employer, for a workplace; otherwise the person in control of the premises, or the owner. In a block of flats it is usually the freeholder, housing provider or management company. There can be more than one, and they must cooperate with each other. The responsible person can appoint someone competent to carry out the assessment but keeps the legal duty.

Yes, for almost all non-domestic premises in England and Wales and for the common parts of buildings containing two or more homes. Failing to have a suitable and sufficient assessment is an offence enforced by the fire and rescue authority, which can serve notices and prosecute. Fines for some offences are unlimited.

The law does not set a fixed period. The assessment must be reviewed regularly to keep it up to date, and whenever there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change in the premises, such as a refurbishment, a change of use or occupancy, or a fire. Most organisations review annually and commission a fresh assessment on a risk-based cycle; a good report sets its own review date and explains it.

The Order does not define it, but in practice it means the assessment covers the whole of the premises in scope, is carried out by someone competent to do it, identifies the hazards and the people at risk, records what was inspected and what was found, and produces a clear, prioritised plan of action. Our page on what good looks like sets out the tests in detail.

The Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that, for buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises, the Fire Safety Order covers the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows, and the flat entrance doors. Fire risk assessments must now consider those elements. It came into force on 16 May 2022 in England and Wales.

From 1 October 2023 responsible persons must record their fire risk assessment in full, record the name of anyone appointed to make or review it, record their fire safety arrangements, identify and cooperate with other responsible persons, and give residents of multi-occupied residential buildings clear fire safety information. Fines for some offences became unlimited. See our fire safety law page.

Regulations, in force from 23 January 2023 in England, that add duties for responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings: fire safety and fire door information for residents in all such buildings; quarterly communal fire door checks and annual flat entrance door checks in buildings over 11 metres; and, in high-rise buildings of 18 metres or seven storeys, external wall information and plans for the fire and rescue service, a secure information box, wayfinding signage and monthly checks of firefighting lifts and equipment.

The responsible person may do it themselves if they are competent, or appoint someone who is. Competence means sufficient training, experience and knowledge for the premises in question. For anything other than the simplest premises that means a qualified fire risk assessor: look for a recognised qualification such as the Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety (Auditors), membership of a professional body such as the IFSM or IFE, third-party certification, and evidence of experience with buildings like yours. The Building Safety Act contains a specific competence requirement that the government has said will be brought into force at a later date.

BS 9792:2025, Fire risk assessment. Housing. Code of practice, is the British Standard methodology for fire risk assessment of residential premises such as blocks of flats, HMOs and sheltered and supported housing. Published by BSI on 1 August 2025, it replaced PAS 79-2:2020. A1 assesses housing to BS 9792:2025.

PAS 79 is BSI's published methodology for fire risk assessment. PAS 79-1:2020 covers premises other than housing (workplaces, care homes, hospitals, hotels, shops and offices) and remains current. PAS 79-2:2020 covered housing and was replaced by BS 9792:2025. A1 assesses non-housing premises to PAS 79-1.

A classification from the Home Office guide to fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats. Type 1 is a non-destructive assessment of the common parts, and is the norm. Type 2 is destructive, opening up construction in the common parts. Type 3 adds a non-destructive inspection of a sample of flats. Type 4 is destructive and includes flats. Types 2 to 4 are used where there is a specific concern, such as suspected compartmentation defects.

Means of escape and the evacuation strategy; fire detection and alarm, emergency lighting, signage and extinguishers; compartmentation, fire stopping and fire doors; ignition sources, electrical installations, combustibles, storage and housekeeping; arson, smoking and external fire spread; the people at risk, including sleeping and vulnerable occupants; and the management arrangements, including testing, records, training and resident information. See our fire risk assessment service.

The responsible person remains liable. A poor assessment leaves defects unfound and duties unmet, and it will not protect you if the fire and rescue service audits the premises or if there is a fire. If you are unsure about assessments you already hold, an independent audit of a sample is the fastest way to find out where you stand.

A1 Fire Safety and Training Solutions Ltd is an independent fire safety consultancy working UK wide, formed in 2026 by former fire and rescue service fire safety inspectors with more than 60 years of service between the directors and senior team. We draw on the expertise of the fire service nationwide by recruiting our assessors from ex-fire service personnel. We provide fire risk assessments, independent FRA audits, fire safety training, portfolio programmes and compliance support to housing providers, care and health organisations, building owners and businesses. Company number 17381406; registered office 3-2-1 Storey House, White Cross, Lancaster LA1 4XQ.

We work UK wide, for single buildings and whole portfolios. Our assessors are drawn from ex-fire service personnel across the country, and travel is included in our all-in price per assessment. Our registered office is in Lancaster.

It depends on the size, type and complexity of the premises and the type of assessment needed. We quote one all-in price per assessment, with travel and subsistence included and no variations, so you can compare like with like. Tell us the buildings and we will quote.

Time on site depends on the building: a small block of flats is typically a few hours, a care home or hospital site considerably longer. We agree reporting timescales at the outset. Any life-critical finding is phoned through on the day, before the report is written.

You receive the full report and a prioritised action plan, checked by a second assessor, in a format that suits your compliance system. We are available to explain the findings to your staff, contractors and residents, and we can track actions to closure and set the next review date.

Yes. Our directors held lead responsibility in the fire service for hospitals, CQC-registered and supported housing premises and audited care homes and health sites as inspectors. Care and health premises are assessed to PAS 79-1 with reference to the government residential care and healthcare guides and, for the NHS, HTM 05 Firecode.