By Liam PlumbCommercial buildings can present a wide range of fire risks, from electrical equipment and combustible materials to blocked escape routes and poorly maintained fire doors. While some hazards are easy to identify, others can develop gradually through everyday working practices and changes to how a building is used.
Fire and rescue services in England attended 13,134 fires in non-domestic buildings between April 2024 and March 2025, according to Home Office fire statistics, with electrical distribution the largest identified source of ignition accounting for 16% of those fires.
Whether you are responsible for an office, warehouse, retail unit or industrial premises, understanding the most common fire risks in commercial buildings can help you take action before they become a serious problem. It also helps you meet your duties as the Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Who Is Responsible for Managing Fire Risks in a Commercial Building?
Responsibility for managing fire risks in a commercial building sits with the Responsible Person, usually the employer, although it can also be the building owner, landlord or managing agent.
They must carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and keep it under review. Since 1 October 2023, Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 has required the assessment and your fire safety arrangements to be recorded in full. The old exemption for employers with fewer than five staff no longer applies.
A building can have more than one Responsible Person. In a multi-occupied office block, retail parade or industrial estate, the landlord or managing agent is usually responsible for common parts and the structure, while each occupying employer is responsible for their own demised area. Section 156 strengthened the duty on Responsible Persons to identify themselves to each other, cooperate and share the fire safety information the others need. Assuming someone else has it covered is one of the most common failings we see.
What Electrical Fire Hazards Are Common in Commercial Buildings?
Common electrical fire hazards in commercial buildings include overloaded sockets, damaged cables, faulty appliances and heat-producing equipment positioned too close to combustible materials.
Lithium-ion batteries are a growing concern. E-bikes, power tools, forklift trucks and their charging points should be sited away from escape routes and taken out of use if a battery is damaged or overheating.
Regular inspections, good housekeeping and appropriate maintenance can help identify potential problems before they develop, supported by portable appliance testing and periodic fixed wiring inspection.
How Can Combustible Materials Increase Fire Risks in the Workplace?
Combustible materials increase fire risks in the workplace when they build up or are stored close to an ignition source. These include paper, cardboard, packaging, furniture and general waste, alongside chemicals or other hazardous substances in certain environments.
Warehouses and industrial buildings can require particular attention due to the volume and type of materials being stored. Where flammable liquids, gases or combustible dusts are present, further controls may apply under DSEAR 2002.
Waste stored outside matters just as much. Bins, skips and pallets left against an external wall are a common target for arson, so keep them clear of the building.
What Fire Risks Come From Smoking, Cooking and Hot Works?
Smoking, cooking and hot works all introduce a deliberate source of heat into the building, which makes control of the surroundings the priority. Smokers’ materials are the largest identified ignition source in fatal fires in non-domestic premises, and kitchen appliances, extract canopies and filters need cleaning to a defined schedule.
Hot works such as welding, grinding and hot roofing should be controlled by a permit to work, with combustibles cleared and a fire watch kept afterwards.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Arson at Commercial Premises?
You can reduce the risk of arson at commercial premises by removing what an intruder can easily set alight and making the building harder to approach unseen. Deliberate ignition accounts for a substantial share of fires in non-domestic buildings, and most of it starts outside rather than in.
Bins, skips, pallets and stored waste left against an external wall are the usual target, so keep them a set distance from the building and secure them where possible. Perimeter security, lighting, CCTV coverage of storage areas and control of who has access out of hours all reduce the opportunity. Empty or partially occupied premises need particular attention, as does any building undergoing refurbishment.
Why Are Blocked Escape Routes a Fire Safety Risk?
Blocked escape routes are a fire safety risk because they delay evacuation at the point it matters most. Corridors, stairwells, emergency exits and other escape routes must remain clear and accessible, and boxes, stock, furniture and equipment should never be allowed to obstruct them.
Fire exit signage and emergency lighting should also be suitable for the premises, tested and recorded, with doors on escape routes that open easily and immediately without a key. Personal emergency evacuation plans should be in place for anyone who cannot evacuate unaided.
What Are the Most Common Fire Door Safety Issues?
The most common fire door safety issues are doors wedged open, damaged or missing seals, excessive gaps around the frame, damaged closers and doors that do not close fully into the frame. Fire doors are designed to restrict the spread of fire and smoke. Alterations such as an uncertified letterplate or vision panel can also affect performance.
A visual check of fire doors forms part of a fire risk assessment, but this should not be confused with a dedicated fire door survey, which provides a more detailed inspection of individual doors.
Why Are Fire Prevention and Equipment Important in Commercial Buildings?
Fire detection and alarm systems are important in commercial buildings because early warning gives occupants time to evacuate before conditions become dangerous. The system should suit the size, layout and use of the building and is usually designed and maintained to BS 5839-1.
Simply having an alarm installed is not enough. A weekly call point test, periodic servicing and an up to date fire logbook show the system is being managed.
Most buildings also need fire extinguishers suited to the materials and equipment in each area, sited on escape routes and near specific hazards. The wrong type in the wrong place is a risk in itself, and a water extinguisher next to a live electrical panel is a common example.
How Does a Lack of Fire Safety Training Increase Workplace Fire Risks?
A lack of fire safety training increases workplace fire risks because staff may not recognise a hazard, respond correctly to an alarm or know how to evacuate. Where fire wardens or marshals are appointed, they should also understand their additional responsibilities.
Fire safety training should be given at induction and refreshed regularly, with evacuation drills carried out and recorded so procedures are tested in practice.
How Can a Fire Risk Assessment Identify Hazards in Commercial Buildings?
A fire risk assessment identifies hazards by reviewing the building, the people who use it, its contents and the way it operates, then setting out the action needed to reduce the risks found. It should be reviewed whenever something significant changes, such as refurbishment, a change of use or a rise in occupancy.
At T2 Fire, we provide comprehensive fire risk assessments for offices and retail units, factories and warehouses, schools and hotels.
Our experienced assessors work with businesses across London, Kent and the South East, providing clear, practical and actionable recommendations, supplied as a written report with a prioritised action plan.
If you are responsible for a commercial property and are unsure whether your current fire safety arrangements are suitable, get in touch with T2 Fire today to arrange a fire risk assessment.