How Often Should a Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?

One of the most common questions facilities managers, landlords and business owners ask is:

“How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?”

It’s an understandable question, particularly as many organisations assume the answer is simply “every 12 months”.

In reality, the legislation is slightly different.

Understanding when a fire risk assessment should be reviewed is essential for maintaining compliance and ensuring your building continues to reflect the risks that exist today, not those that existed when the assessment was first completed.

Is there a legal requirement to review a fire risk assessment every year?

No.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 doesn’t specify that fire risk assessments must be reviewed annually.

Instead, it requires the Responsible Person to ensure the assessment remains suitable and sufficient, reflecting the current condition, occupancy and use of the building.

In other words, a fire risk assessment should be reviewed whenever circumstances change.

When should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?

There are several situations that should trigger a review.

• Building alterations
  • Refurbishments, extensions or internal layout changes can affect escape routes, compartmentation and fire safety arrangements.
• Changes in occupancy
  • An increase in staff numbers, different building users or changes in how areas are used can all alter the level of fire risk.
• New equipment or processes
  • Introducing machinery, electrical equipment or new manufacturing processes may create additional ignition sources or fire hazards.
• Following a fire or near miss
  • Any fire incident, however small, provides valuable lessons. A review helps ensure existing control measures remain appropriate.
• Following changes in legislation
  • Fire safety legislation and guidance continue to evolve. Organisations should ensure their assessments reflect current expectations and recognised best practice.

Is an annual review still good practice?

Yes.

Although annual reviews aren’t specifically required by legislation, they are widely regarded as best practice for many organisations.

An annual review provides an opportunity to confirm that:

• previous recommendations have been completed
• building layouts remain unchanged
• maintenance records are up to date
• fire protection systems remain effective
• no new risks have developed

Regular reviews also demonstrate a proactive approach should regulators, insurers or enforcing authorities request evidence of compliance. The FRA should be reviewed by a competent person who has good understanding of the premises and the type of risks and occupants within. They should be able to identify any unrecognised changes of risk within the premises since the previous review or initial assessment.

Some buildings require more frequent reviews

Higher-risk premises often benefit from more regular reviews.

This includes:

• healthcare environments
• care homes
• supported living accommodation
• buildings housing vulnerable occupants
• complex or high-risk industrial premises

Where evacuation is more challenging or fire risks change frequently, more frequent reviews help ensure assessments remain accurate.

Fire safety doesn’t stand still

Buildings constantly evolve.

Contractors install new services, offices are reconfigured, departments move, storage areas expand and occupancy changes over time.

Many of these changes appear insignificant individually. Collectively, however, they can fundamentally alter how a building would perform during a fire.

A fire risk assessment should therefore be viewed as a live document rather than something that’s completed once and forgotten.

Fire safety is an ongoing process

In recent years, fire safety has received significantly greater attention across the UK, with organisations expected not only to hold a fire risk assessment, but to demonstrate that its findings are being actively managed.

That means keeping records up to date, implementing recommendations and reviewing assessments whenever buildings or risks change.

Ultimately, the question isn’t simply “How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?”

It’s whether the assessment still accurately reflects the building it was written for.

If the answer is no, it’s time for a review.

At EA-RS, we help organisations across the UK review and update fire risk assessments, ensuring they remain compliant, practical and aligned with current legislation and the realities of how buildings are used.