Building Fire Risk Assessment Template

A Fire Risk Assessment is a systematic review of a building, its surroundings, its contents, and how these may or may not contribute to fire risks or hazards. These assessments include identifying potential hazards, identifying parties at risk, evaluating fire safety measures and protocol, etc. Then, these factors are weighed and assessed as a whole to determine the level of risk a building is in and whether the safety features installed are adequate for that level of risk.

Can I Do My Own Fire Risk Assessments?

Technically, as long as you are the "responsible person”, it falls on you to produce fire risk assessments on your building. However, if you want to do the assessment yourself, you will need to make sure you are knowledgeable on fire risk management if you want to create a reliable assessment. The credibility of the assessor is paramount in fire risk assessments performed on complex or large buildings, and will be critical during the event of a fire. So, unless you are working on a simple or small building, ensure you undergo the relevant training and accreditation in your region before you start performing any kind of risk assessment.

What Should a Fire Risk Assessment Include?

The contents of a Fire Risk Assessments usually vary across regions, depending on the regulatory requirements being enforced. In the UK, fire risk assessments are usually cross referenced with the Approved Document B building regulations, and should include details such as building information, the scope of the assessment, fire hazards, parties at risk, fire risk and safety management, and conclusions on the level of risk.

Building Fire Risk Assessment Examples

In the UK, the de facto methodology used for Fire Risk Assessment in common practice is the PAS 79 (2020) document, which provides guidance on how to perform assessments and record findings. Additionally, there are also government related forms that are used by fire brigades across counties and cities in the UK area.

Is There a Required Building Fire Risk Assessment Frequency?

Notably, in the UK Approved Document B, there is no fixed or mandatory frequency or time frame in which a building must undergo a fire risk assessment. Further, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 only requires that the assessment must be kept up to date and reviewed regularly.

How Often Does a Building Need A Fire Risk Assessment?

While there is no set frequency for how often you should perform a fire risk assessment on your building, you are still required to perform assessments regularly and during significant events that could increase risks to your building. For example, you will need to perform fire risk assessments when the building is newly constructed, when there are works that include material alteration, when building extensions are erected, or when there is a change of use or occupation of the building.

How Often Should a Building Have a Fire Risk Assessment?

Aside from the times you are required to perform fire risk assessments, you may also opt to perform additional assessments based on your own judgement as the “responsible person”. In practice, it is common to see fire risk assessments performed on large or complex buildings with increased fire risks such as industrial plants every six months, every quarter, or even more frequently. In contrast, residential or commercial building fire risk assessments can be done annually or every two years, depending on the building conditions.