If you own, manage or are responsible for business premises, a fire risk assessment is an essential part of managing fire safety.
But a good fire risk assessment (FRA) should be much more than a document that sits in a folder.
Done properly, it should help you understand the fire risks within your premises, confirm whether the precautions you already have are suitable and clearly explain anything that needs improving.
One widely recognised approach to carrying out these assessments is PAS 79-1:2020.
Why does your business need a fire risk assessment?
Every workplace is different, which means the potential fire risks are different too.
An office may have relatively straightforward risks, while a workshop, warehouse, restaurant or manufacturing business could have very different hazards, processes and evacuation requirements.
Your fire risk assessment looks at your premises, your activities and the people who could be affected. It considers how a fire could start, what could allow it to spread, how people would be warned and whether they could safely escape.
Importantly, it also helps you identify areas where improvements may be needed before they become more serious problems.
So rather than thinking of an FRA as another piece of compliance paperwork, it can be a genuinely useful tool for managing your business safely.
If you’re responsible for premises in Norfolk and need a new fire risk assessment, or you’re unsure whether your existing assessment is still suitable, Norfolk Fire and Safety Ltd can provide a no-obligation quotation.
Request a Fire Risk Assessment Quote
What is a PAS 79-1 fire risk assessment?
PAS 79-1:2020 provides a recognised and structured methodology for carrying out and recording fire risk assessments for premises other than housing.
PAS 79-1 isn’t itself legislation. Instead, it gives fire risk assessors a consistent framework for examining the premises, considering the level of fire risk and determining whether suitable precautions are in place.
Depending on the premises and the activities taking place, an assessment can consider:
- – potential sources of ignition and combustible materials;
- – employees, visitors and anyone who may be particularly vulnerable;
- – fire detection and alarm arrangements;
- – escape routes and emergency exits;
- – emergency lighting and signage;
- – fire doors and fire-resisting construction;
- – fire-fighting equipment;
- – staff training and evacuation arrangements; and
- – testing, maintenance and general fire-safety management.
- – you need a fire risk assessment for your premises;
- – your existing FRA is approaching its recommended review date;
- – you haven’t reviewed your assessment for some time;
- – you’ve moved into new premises;
- – you’ve made changes to your building or business activities;
- – you’re responsible for multiple commercial properties; or
- – you’re simply unsure whether your current assessment is still suitable.
It’s not simply about whether each item is present. A competent assessor considers how all of these arrangements work together and whether they’re appropriate for your particular business.
What should you expect from a good fire risk assessment?
Nobody wants to receive a lengthy report filled with technical terminology and dozens of recommendations they don’t understand.
A good FRA should do the opposite.
It should clearly explain:
What’s already suitable?
What needs improving?
What should you deal with first?
Fire risk assessment is risk based, so recommendations should be practical and proportionate to the premises, how they’re used, the people who could be affected and the actual level of risk.
That distinction matters.
The purpose isn’t to find as many faults as possible. It’s to identify significant fire risks and help you take sensible steps to manage them.
For a business, that means being able to concentrate your time and money on the things that genuinely matter.
Is your current fire risk assessment still up to date?
Having an FRA doesn’t mean the job is finished.
Your assessment needs to remain relevant to your premises and the way your business operates.
It’s therefore worth checking your existing FRA periodically, usually annually, and particularly when something significant changes.
That could include changes to your building, staffing or occupancy, new equipment or processes, alterations to escape routes, or a fire or significant incident.
Your existing report should also identify a recommended review date, so that’s a good place to start if you’re unsure.
If you haven’t looked at your fire risk assessment for a while, it may be worth digging it out and checking when it was completed, when it was last reviewed and whether your business has changed since then.
Who should carry out your fire risk assessment?
The person carrying out the assessment needs sufficient knowledge and ability to assess the fire risks properly.
A fire risk assessment requires appropriate knowledge, experience and professional judgement to ensure fire risks are properly identified and suitable precautions are in place. Using a competent fire risk assessor provides businesses with the confidence that their premises have been thoroughly assessed and that any recommendations are practical, proportionate and appropriate to the level of risk.
This becomes increasingly important as premises become larger, more complicated or higher risk.
A professional FRA shouldn’t simply involve somebody walking around with a checklist. It requires judgement—understanding the premises, recognising significant risks and deciding whether the precautions already in place are appropriate.
Fire Risk Assessments for Norfolk Businesses
Norfolk Fire and Safety Ltd is an independent fire risk assessment and health & safety consultancy based in Norfolk.
With more than 15 years’ industry experience, our approach is to keep things straightforward.
Our fire risk assessments follow a structured approach aligned with PAS 79-1, with practical, proportionate recommendations and reports designed to be easy to understand and act upon.
The aim isn’t to create unnecessary work. It’s to give you a clear picture of your fire-safety arrangements, identify anything that genuinely needs attention and help you understand what to do next.
When might it be time to get in touch?
It may be worth reviewing your arrangements if:
If any of those sound familiar, we’re happy to have a conversation about what you need.
If your business is based in Norfolk and you need a new fire risk assessment or it’s time to review your existing one, contact Norfolk Fire and Safety Ltd for a no-obligation quotation.
Request a Fire Risk Assessment Quote