Fire risk assessments aren’t just something the government recommends, it is a legal requirement to help ensure everyone in your property is safe from the risk of a fire.
However, many business owners still remain unsure on how often they should really be reviewing their fire risk assessment policies.
Legal requirements for fire risk assessments in the UK
In the UK, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 outlines the legal requirements that must be followed by businesses and workplaces.
Part 1 of the act outlines general duties, general fire practices, the ‘responsible person’ and what premises it is applicable to. Part 2 covers the ongoing requirements, including the need to carry out a fire risk assessment.
Since the 1st October 2023, it is now a legal requirement under Section 9 to have a fire risk assessment in your workplace, regardless of the size of your business and how many employees you have.
Your fire risk assessment checklist should include the following steps:
How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?
To help ensure your staff, visitors and environment are protected, we highly advise you to review your fire risk assessment every year, even if your business hasn’t changed at all.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 outlines that your fire risk assessment should be reviewed as follows:
(3) Any such assessment must be reviewed by the Responsible Person regularly so as to keep it up to date and particularly if—
(a) there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid; or
(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates including when the premises, special, technical and organisational measures, or organisation of the work undergo significant changes, extensions, or conversions.
How long is a fire risk assessment valid for?
How long your fire risk assessment is valid depends on the type of building and your local regulations.
Generally speaking, it is recommended that you conduct a new fire risk assessment every 3 years and continue to review it once a year or whenever there has been any significant changes to your workplace design or processes.
Why it is important to review your fire risk assessment
It may feel like a bit of a hassle to annually review your fire risk assessment, but it is essential for keeping you and others safe while at your workplace.
Reviewing your fire risk assessment gives you peace of mind knowing that any potential new fire risks are identified and your environment will be safer because of it.
At Lanahan Risk Management Services, we’re here to help you to stay on top of your fire risk assessments. If you think your fire risk assessment needs to be reviewed or there have been significant changes to your premises and you don’t feel confident reviewing your risk assessment by yourself, we can do it for you.
Get in touch with our team today to see how we can help keep you and your business safe with our fire risk assessment services.