Fire Risk Assessments in London

Fire Safety Law

What is the fire safety law?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the primary legislation covering general fire safety in England and Wales, supported by subsequent amendments and the Fire Safety Act, which clarified responsibilities in residential buildings.

In Scotland, general fire safety duties are set out under Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, which together place duties on those responsible for premises.

As an employer, building owner, landlord, or occupier, you are classed as the Responsible Person and are required to ensure that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out and kept up to date. Fire risk assessments in London may be completed as a standalone exercise or as part of a wider safety management system.

Based on the findings of the assessment, the Responsible Person must ensure that appropriate fire safety measures are in place to reduce the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.

A fire risk assessment in London should identify potential fire hazards, sources of ignition, combustible materials, and the people who may be at risk, and set out actions required to manage and reduce those risks.

For further information on fire safety law and guidance, please refer to government fire safety guidance and the relevant Health and Safety Executive (HSE) resources.

As the responsible person you must:

carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the premises and keep it up to date, reviewing it when necessary (e.g., changes in use, occupants, or layout)
tell staff, residents, or their representatives about the fire risks you have identified and how they are being managed
put in place and maintain appropriate fire safety measures, including detection, alarm systems, escape routes, fire doors and other precautions proportionate to the risk
plan for an emergency, including ensuring that escape routes are available, understood, and practised where appropriate
provide people on the premises with information, instruction, and training on fire safety measures and emergency procedures

Fire Risk Assessment Example

Example of what a fire safety risk assessment in London includes.

The purpose of a London fire risk assessment is to identify the fire hazards, identify people at risk, evaluate, remove or reduce the risks, record your findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide training and review and update regularly.

The assessor will reference a question template when completing the assessment, the completed report or survey can document the following examples.

Electrical sources of ignition
Smoking
Arson/wilful fire raising
Portable heaters and heating installations
Cooking
Lightning
Housekeeping
Hazards introduced by outside contractors and builders
Dangerous substances
Other significant fire hazards
Means of escape from fire
Measures to limit fire spread and development
Emergency escape lighting
Fire safety signs and notices
Means of giving warning in case of fire
Manual fire extinguishing appliances
Relevant automatic fire extinguishing systems
Other relevant fixed systems and equipment
Management of fire safety procedures and arrangements
Training and drills
Testing and maintenance
Records

For fire risk assessment guidance and recommended methodology, please see the PAS 79 Fire Risk Assessment documentation available at the British Standards Institution (BSI) website.

Details of the building

Including responsible person, competent persons, floors, lifts, basements and stairwells.
Fire protection

Including firefighting facilities, fire alarm system, extinguishers, fire blankets, fire hoses, sprinkler systems and extract systems.
Fire hazards

Including sources of ignition, sources of fuel and sources of oxygen.
People at risk

Including numbers of employees, guests, visitors, customers, contractors, patients and tenants and considerations made for mobility impairment, vision impairment, hearing impairment, lone workers, elderly persons, language, substance abuse, cognitive disability and young persons
Means of escape

Including measurements and travel distances.
Risk ratings

It is common for an assessor to use a matrix for calculating risk in their report.
Significant findings

Including any problems identified and recommendations for fixing.
Photographs and supporting evidence

A fire risk assessor may ask for documents or take pictures while on your premises.

Accreditation & Certification

Examples of the accreditation and certification that the fire safety companies hold.

ISO 9001:2008

This standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement.

ISO 14001:2004

A framework that a company or organisation can follow to set up an effective environmental management system.

OHSAS 18001:2007

An internationally applied British Standard for occupational health and safety management systems.

NSI Life Safety Scheme

The BAFE SP205 Scheme requires organisations to implement a documented management system (DMS).

BSI Members

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is a service organisation that produces standards across a wide variety of industry sectors. Its codes of practice and specifications cover management and technical subjects ranging from business continuity management to quality requirements.

CIEH Membership

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) is a professional and educational body, dedicated to the promotion of environmental health and to encourage the highest possible standards in the training and the work of environmental health professionals.

Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR)

The register is only open to those health and safety consultants who have met specific standards within their professional bodies.

BAFE SP205

An industry standard for fire safety companies. It sets out criteria and requirements for not only the competency of those carrying out the risk assessments but the competency of those who review and 'sign off' the reports before they are issued.

Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO)

The Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO) maintain high professional standards amongst members.

Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM)

The Institute of Fire Safety Managers is a professional body of highly respected individuals and companies who all share the same objective.

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)

The IFE assesses knowledge of fire and professional experience, awarding internationally recognised membership grades and fire-related qualifications.

Testimonials

Reviews from our clients

The fire risk assessor was very knowledgeable on all aspects of fire safety relating to my business. A very professional fire risk assessment service and would highly recommend them to anyone.

Robert B.

The Fire Risk Assessment Network are a great company to work with. Highly recommend the fire risk assessors.

Craig S.

We have worked with the Fire Risk Assessment Network on many occasions and we are very happy to recommend their fire safety risk assessment services

Chris T.

I found the Fire Risk Assessment Network to be very efficient, knowledgeable and helpful. First class service. Highly recommend this company for fire risk assessments.

Henry W.

Buildings

Fire risk assessors experienced in assessing all types of buildings in London .

Agricultural

Barns, sheds, greenhouses, farmhouses and stables.

Commercial

Banks, convention centers, forums, facilities management, garages, hotels, nightclubs, markets, high-rise buildings, resorts, shops, shopping malls, studios, supermarkets, warehouses and restaurants.

Residential

Blocks of flats, dormitories, houses, maisonettes, nursing homes, care homes, sheltered housing, town houses, landlords, guest houses, private dwellings, tenants, villas and bungalows.

Educational

Archives, colleges, classrooms, gymnasiums, institutions, libraries, museums, art galleries, theatres, concert halls, cinemas, schools, opera houses, universities and boarding schools.

Government

Council, consulates, county, courthouses, embassies, fire stations, borough, general needs, local authority, local government, schemes, supported housing, parliament, police stations, post offices and prisons.

Industrial

Breweries, factories, foundries and mills.

Military

Barracks, bunkers and castles.

Religious

Churches, cathedrals, chapels, mosques, monasteries and temples.

and many more

Apartments, arenas, business, bed and breakfast, beauty salons, cafes, bookshops, clinics, clubs, community halls, construction sites, depots, day nurseries, department stores, dental practices, fast-food restaurants, sport stadiums, hairdressers, holiday homes, holiday lets, hospices, hospitals, leasehold properties, pubs, village halls, nuclear premises, ships, open air events, offices, workshops and the workplace.

About Us

We connect UK businesses, organisations and landlords with recommended and approved fire risk assessors.

We have built a reputation for ourselves through both our customer service and the standards of our fire risk assessment in London. The fire risk assessors are experts in their field and hold a vast range of different accreditations, certifications and qualifications.

We are an experienced team in the fire safety industry and have organised many single and multi-site projects. Our mission is to help clients stay compliant with fire safety laws and make fire risk assessments readily available nationwide.

Request a free quote with your requirements today. We look forward to hearing from you.

London Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Risk Assessments in London

Recommended & Approved Fire Risk Assessors