Fire risk assessment companies and software FAQ
Nicky Slavid
What are fire risk assessment companies?
Fire risk assessment companies are appointed by responsible business owners to ensure that they comply with the law and meet agreed standards by conducting fire risk assessments of their premises.
A fire risk assessment (FRA) is a systematic evaluation of a building required by law to identify fire hazards, assess the risks, and determine appropriate measures to ensure the safety of occupants in the event of a fire. Without a fire risk assessment, it is unlikely that an insurance company would cover you and your business in the event of fire.
Fire risk assessment companies may also supply and service fire extinguishers, other fire protection products, compartmentalisation surveys and fire marshal training. Safer Food Scores works in partnership with a highly reputable fire risk assessment company to offer fire risk assessments and associated fire protection products and services.
What is fire risk assessment software?
The best fire risk assessment software is cloud based, with automatic notifications if required actions have not been completed within the required timescales, and a dashboard and reporting systems to easily compare sites.
Safer Food Scores fire risk assessors use SFS Hub software to record their fire risk assessments. Clients are notified automatically when they are complete so that they can check and close off any required actions. The reports are PAS 79 compliant as preferred by insurance providers and written in plain English which is not always the case with fire risk assessments.
As the fire risk assessments are stored on the cloud, they can easily be found and downloaded when an officer from the local fire authority visits on a routine matter or to investigate a fire.
What are the legal requirements for fire risk assessments in the UK?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that a fire risk assessment must be carried out and maintained for all non-domestic properties and common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings in the UK.
Who is responsible for carrying out a fire risk assessment?
The responsibility for ensuring a fire risk assessment is carried out and recorded in full lies with the ‘responsible person’ or duty holder. This could be the building owner, employer, landlord, or any person with control over the premises.
New legal duties for fire safety responsible persons were introduced in October 2023.
How often should a fire risk assessment be conducted?
Fire risk assessments should be reviewed regularly and updated whenever there are significant changes to the building, its usage, or its occupancy. As a general guideline, it is recommended to review the assessment at least once a year.
What are the penalties for not complying with fire safety regulations?
Non-compliance with fire safety regulations can result in enforcement notices, fines, and even imprisonment for serious breaches.
How can Safer Food Scores help?
- We can arrange for one of our highly qualified and experienced fire risk assessors to carry out or review, and record your fire risk assessments.
- Our health and safety management systems include comprehensive fire safety procedures to help you demonstrate how fire safety is managed in your premises.
- We can provide face-to-face training and e-learning suitable for your fire marshals and other team members.
Any guidance given in our articles is not official and Safer Food Scores can take no responsibility if the information is used to form part of any legal or regulatory compliance for your business. However, please do get in touch if you are interested in our support services and would like to benefit from official guidance relating to your particular circumstances, email [javascript protected email address]
