Fire Risk Assessments in Southwark

What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a thorough, methodical and strategic inspection of a property that is designed to;

• Review the buildings potential fire risks and hazards
• Make recommendations on what can be done to make it safer
• Identify those who are at risk

Being proactive when it comes to fire is essential in order to significantly reduce the chances of a fire occurring and also ensure a better outcome if one were to break out.

Where is a Fire Risk Assessment Required?

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, fire risk assessments are a legal requirement for all businesses and relevant premises. This covers any building that isn’t a single private dwelling such as – HMOs, industrial properties, commercial spaces and blocks of flats.

The legislation applies to you if you are the owner, manager or person responsible for;

• Business premises
• Multiple occupancy houses
• Hotels, Airbnb’s, bed and breakfasts or paid accommodation
• Public premises such as a shop or salon
• A charity, place of worship or voluntary organisation
• Educational establishments, schools, nurseries and day care settings
• Care homes, hospitals and clinics
• A construction site or outdoor event

Your Role as The Responsible Person

Under the regulations, as the Responsible Person you must;

• Carry out a fire risk assessment and regularly review and update it
• Put in place appropriate fire safety measures that help to remove or reduce the risk to life and ensure that they are maintained appropriately
• Plan for an emergency
• Provide the tenants, staff or occupants with adequate information, fire safety instruction and fire safety awareness training

Who Can Carry Out a Fire Risk Assessment?

Fire risk assessments are an essential part of fire safety and prevention which is why making sure they are done correctly is so important. In order for a fire risk assessment to be deemed suitable and sufficient, it must be carried out by a competent person which means someone with the appropriate qualifications, training, knowledge, experience and attitude.

Fire safety is not something that should be taken lightly which is why it is often recommended that those responsible enlist the services of a professional who can carry out the fire risk assessment for them. This is often a very reliable and cost-effective way of ensuring that your property is safe, secure and compliant.

What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Entail?

At T2 Fire, our dedicated team of assessor’s conduct detailed, comprehensive fire risk assessments which cover all the required areas of fire safety. Here is a brief overview of what this would entail;

• Details of the properties age, layout, condition, number of floors, stairwells, lifts etc.
• Determine persons at risk which includes – who uses the building and any occupants deemed as vulnerable or higher risk due to their age, job role, mobility, illness etc.
• Identify any potential fire safety hazards and risks such as – potential ignition sources, materials, fuels and combustible materials etc.
• Review any current fire prevention, protection and management measures and equipment in place. This covers things like fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire hoses, fire blankets etc.
• Fire safety signage.
• Fire safety training, drills and emergency plan.
• Evaluate and document the means of escape in the event of a fire including travel distances, times and measurements.
• Evaluate any identified risks and make suitable recommendations on what can be done to remove or reduce them.
• All findings will be documented and recorded in detail including any actions that need to be taken.
• The fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary.