Fire Risk Assessments
A fire risk assessment (FRA) is a systematic review of a property to identify potential fire hazards, assess the effectiveness of existing safety measures, and determine the level of risk associated with those hazards. It serves as the essential first step in managing, reducing, and controlling fire-related risks to ensure overall fire safety.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
An FRA is a review undertaken of a building to determine the level of risk of a fire occurring and the risks associated with this.
The Fire Risk Assessment aims to:
Identify potential fire hazards
Identify people at risk
Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks
Record findings and prepare an emergency plan and provide training
What does the UK law say?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, UK law requires that a fire risk assessment must be carried out and maintained. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Fire Safety Order can lead to legal consequences, including substantial fines or imprisonment.
Insurance risks?
Increasingly insurance providers want to see that his activity has been completed prior to the provision of insurance or in the event of a claim. Failure to provide a fire risk assessment can result in a claim being denied
Who Is Responsible for Conducting a Fire Risk Assessment?
According to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005—often referred to as the Fire Safety Order—the duty to ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out falls on the premises' owner or occupier, known as the ‘Responsible Person.’ This assessment can be conducted by the Responsible Person themselves or by a competent individual appointed for the task.
How often do I need to do a Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment must be kept up to date and reviewed on a regular basis. For this reason, it is generally recommended that assessments are reviewed annually or every two years, depending on the building’s risk profile.
Why Risk Vigil?
Choosing Risk Vigil for your fire risk assessment ensures you receive a thorough, reliable, and compliant evaluation of your property’s fire safety. With expert assessors, up-to-date knowledge of regulations, and a commitment to clear, actionable reporting, Risk Vigil helps you identify risks early and implement effective measures to protect lives and property. Their tailored approach and professional service provide peace of mind, making fire safety management straightforward and efficient.
Types of Fire Risk Assessment
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A Type 1 Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is the most commonly conducted assessment and is non-intrusive in nature. It focuses solely on the communal areas of a building and does not cover the interior of individual flats or units.
The main aim of a Type 1 FRA is to verify that appropriate fire safety measures and escape procedures are in place within the shared parts of the building. This includes ensuring that signage directing occupants to exits and entrances is clearly visible and correctly positioned.
If the assessment uncovers further concerns, it may recommend that more detailed or intrusive FRAs be carried out. In such cases, the Type 1 FRA will outline the specific reasons why additional assessments are necessary.
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Type 2 Fire Risk Assessments are uncommon and are typically recommended when a Type 1 FRA identifies potential structural issues within the building that could increase the likelihood of a fire or cause it to spread more quickly.
This type of assessment involves intrusive inspection and sampling, but only when there is a justified concern that structural defects exist and require closer examination. Conducting a Type 2 FRA when necessary is crucial, as such flaws may compromise compartmentation and allow fire to spread throughout the building.
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Type 3 Fire Risk Assessments include all elements of a Type 1 FRA and are similarly non-intrusive. However, they extend the scope by evaluating fire detection systems and escape arrangements within a sample of individual flats—typically a minimum of 10%—as well as the communal areas.
Inside the sampled flats, the inspection remains non-invasive, though attention is given to the fire resistance of internal doors.
Type 3 FRAs do not assess fire prevention measures unless those measures fall under the control of the individual or organization commissioning the assessment.
This type of FRA is especially important in rented accommodation, particularly where there is reason to believe that occupants could be at significant risk in the event of a fire within their flats or where the level of risk is unknown or uncertain.
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A Type 4 Fire Risk Assessment is the most comprehensive and intrusive of all FRA types. It involves significant physical inspection and invasive checks to thoroughly evaluate the suitability and effectiveness of a building’s fire safety systems. This includes sampling within individual flats and examining the integrity of the separating structures that protect both the communal areas and adjacent flats, in order to assess the potential for fire spread:
from an individual flat to shared escape routes
between separate flats
beyond communal rooms and facilities
through shared service risers and ducts
In addition, Type 4 FRAs also assess fire precautions such as means of escape and fire detection within a sample of dwellings. They also involve inspection of flat entrance doors and all communal areas.
Although a Type 4 FRA provides the most detailed insight available—depending on access it is important to note that full compliance with current building regulations may not always be achievable. The aim of the assessment is to determine whether any deviations from current standards present a significant fire risk. Where risks are identified, practical solutions must be proposed and implemented within the constraints of the building’s existing design and structure.
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