Fire Risk Assessments: Your Responsibilities

Fire Risk Assessments: Who Needs One and Why They Matter

For many organisations, a fire risk assessment is something that’s commissioned to satisfy a legal requirement before being filed away until somebody asks to see it again. Whilst understandable, this approach can create significant compliance risks and, more importantly, leave people, property and business operations unnecessarily exposed should a fire occur.

A fire risk assessment isn’t simply paperwork. It forms the foundation of an organisation’s fire safety strategy, helping identify hazards, evaluate risks and determine whether suitable measures are in place to protect everyone who uses the building.

Whether you’re responsible for an office, warehouse, healthcare facility, school, retail premises or residential building, understanding what a fire risk assessment is and who is responsible for it is an essential part of managing fire safety.

What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a structured review of a building, its occupants and the activities taking place within it. Its purpose is to identify potential fire hazards, assess the likelihood and consequences of a fire occurring, and determine whether existing precautions are sufficient.

A thorough assessment considers every aspect of a building’s fire safety, including:

Sources of ignition
Combustible materials
Means of escape
Fire alarm and detection systems
Emergency lighting
Fire doors and compartmentation
Fire safety management procedures

Importantly, a fire risk assessment shouldn’t simply identify problems. It should provide practical recommendations that help reduce risk and improve compliance.

A fire risk assessment can also identify where there is a gap in fire awareness training, the provision of fire marshals, or ensuring that suitable procedures are in place for persons who would require additional consideration during an emergency event (PEEP’s, provision of EVAC Chairs etc).

Who Is Responsible for a Fire Risk Assessment?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, virtually all non-domestic premises require a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.

This includes:

If people work in, visit or live within a building, there’s a strong likelihood that a fire risk assessment is legally required.

Who is responsible?

The legal responsibility sits with the Responsible Person.

Depending on the organisation, this could be:

the employer
the building owner
a landlord
a managing agent
a facilities manager

In some buildings, responsibility may be shared between several parties.

Whilst many organisations appoint specialist fire safety consultants to carry out the assessment itself, the legal responsibility doesn’t transfer. The Responsible Person remains accountable for ensuring the assessment is suitable, that recommendations are acted upon, and that fire safety is actively managed.

This is an important distinction. Commissioning an assessment is only one part of meeting your legal obligations. The real value comes from implementing its findings.

Why fire risk assessments matter

The consequences of fire extend far beyond damage to a building.

A serious incident can interrupt business operations, affect customer confidence, damage an organisation’s reputation and, most importantly, place lives at risk.

A well-executed fire risk assessment helps identify vulnerabilities before they become incidents. It gives organisations the opportunity to resolve issues, improve emergency preparedness and demonstrate a proactive approach to fire safety compliance.

Many of the most significant findings are problems that have developed gradually over time rather than through deliberate neglect.

Common issues identified during fire risk assessments

Whilst every building is different, several issues appear time and again.

Fire doors
- Damaged seals, excessive gaps and faulty self-closing devices can all prevent fire doors from performing as intended during a fire.
- Fire doors are also often wedged open for ease of movement or to improve air quality, especially during hot weather.
Compartmentation
- Fire-resistant walls and floors are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke. However, maintenance work often leaves unsealed cable penetrations or service openings that compromise this protection.
Fire alarm systems
- It’s common to find gaps in servicing records, testing procedures or fault management, reducing confidence that systems will perform when required.
- Fire alarm systems are also often not upgraded after structural alterations to a building or change of use.
Escape routes
- Blocked corridors, poor signage and inadequate emergency lighting can all delay evacuation during an emergency.

None of these issues are usually caused by a single event. Instead, they develop slowly through everyday building use, reinforcing the importance of regular inspections and proactive maintenance.

Fire risk assessments are only valuable if they’re acted upon

Completing a fire risk assessment is only the beginning.

Recommendations should be prioritised, responsibilities allocated and progress monitored. Whilst some improvements require investment, many can be completed quickly and significantly improve both compliance and life safety.

A fire risk assessment shouldn’t be viewed as a regulatory burden. When used properly, it becomes one of the most valuable management tools an organisation has, helping protect people, property and business continuity.

At EA-RS, we carry out comprehensive fire risk assessments for organisations across the UK, helping clients identify risks, implement practical improvements and maintain ongoing fire safety compliance.