Fire Risk Assessment Services, UK Wide

Core service

Overview

A fire risk assessment (FRA) is the foundation of every duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It has to be suitable and sufficient: it must identify the fire hazards in the premises, the people at risk and the measures needed to remove or reduce that risk. Since 1 October 2023 the whole assessment must be recorded in full, along with the name of the person who carried it out.

Our assessors are former fire and rescue service inspectors. As regulators we audited other people's assessments for a living, so we know where they go wrong: scope that is never stated, defects described as "satisfactory", action plans with no priorities and no owner. Our reports are written to be acted on, and to stand up if an enforcing authority asks to see them.

Assessments follow BS 9792:2025 for housing (the British Standard that replaced PAS 79-2 in August 2025) and PAS 79-1:2020 for premises other than housing. For purpose-built blocks of flats we agree the assessment type with you in advance, from Type 1 (common parts, non-destructive) to Type 4 (common parts and a sample of flats, destructive), following the Home Office guide to fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats.

What is included

Review of the previous assessment, its action plan and what was closed out
Means of escape, the evacuation strategy (stay put or simultaneous) and whether the building supports it
Fire detection and alarm, emergency lighting, signage and extinguishers, with their test and maintenance records
Compartmentation, fire stopping and fire doors, including a stated sample of flat entrance doors
Ignition sources, electrical installations, combustible materials, storage and housekeeping
Arson, smoking, e-bike and e-scooter charging, and external fire spread including external walls and balconies where relevant
People at risk: sleeping risk, vulnerable residents, staff, contractors and visitors
Management arrangements: policy, training, information to residents, testing regimes and records

What you receive

A report recorded in full, as the Fire Safety Order now requires, with the assessor's name and qualifications stated
A risk rating (trivial, tolerable, moderate, substantial or intolerable) with the reasoning behind it
A prioritised action plan: each finding located, photographed where useful, explained and given a realistic timescale
Life-critical findings telephoned through on the day, before the report is written
A review date set by risk and change, not a default "annually"
A second-assessor check before release, and a format compatible with your compliance system where required

Who it is for

Housing associations and councils: communal areas, sheltered and supported housing
Care homes and supported living providers
NHS and independent health premises
Higher-risk and mid-rise residential buildings
Heritage, commercial and SME premises

Questions we are often asked

How often does a fire risk assessment need reviewing?

The Fire Safety Order does not set a fixed interval. It requires the assessment to be reviewed regularly, and whenever there is reason to think it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change: a refurbishment, a change of use or occupancy, a fire, or new information about the building. In practice most responsible persons review annually and commission a fresh assessment on a risk-based cycle. We set a review date in every report and explain why.

What is the difference between a Type 1 and a Type 3 fire risk assessment?

The types come from the Home Office guide to fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats. Type 1 covers the common parts only and is non-destructive. Type 2 is a destructive inspection of the common parts. Type 3 adds a non-destructive inspection of a sample of flats, including flat entrance doors from the inside and the arrangements within the flat. Type 4 is the destructive version of Type 3. Type 1 is the norm; the others are for specific concerns, such as suspected compartmentation defects.

Can you provide the report in a format for our compliance system?

Yes. We produce reports and action plans compatible with compliance portals such as Riskhub and agree the format with you at the start of the programme.

Fire risk assessments