Fire Risk Assessments
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment is an organised and methodical look at your premises.
The assessment identifies and analyses the activities carried out on the premises, and the likelihood that a fire could start and cause harm to those in and around the premises.
The aims of a Fire Risk Assessment are:
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To identify the Fire Hazards
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To reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm to as low as reasonably practicable
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To decide what physical Fire Precautions and Management Arrangements are necessary to ensure the safety of people in your premises, if a fire does start
A Fire Risk Assessment will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe.
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Does your business need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Follow our quick guide to find out!
All buildings / premises / structures and open spaces that the public can access (including employees) requires a written Fire Risk Assessment, carried out by a Competent Person.
These can include:
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Offices and Shops
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Care Premises – Hospitals, Care Homes, Residential Homes etc.
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Community Spaces – Village Halls, Places of Worship and other shared premises
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Shared Properties – HIMO's, Communal Areas of Flats, Student Accommodation
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Pubs, Clubs and Restaurants
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Nurseries, Schools and Sports Centres
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Tents and Marquees
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Holiday Accommodation - Hotels, Hostels, Bed and Breakfasts
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Factories and Warehouses
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Transport Premises
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Theatre, Cinemas and Concert Halls
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Sleeping Accommodation
Whether your school or business premises is located in Northampton, Milton Keynes, Bedford, Corby, Daventry, Brackley or surrounding Northamptonshire towns, a written Fire Risk Assessment must be maintained if your business employs FIVE or more people.
Who will check if I don't carry out a Fire Risk Assessment?
The onus to have an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment falls to the Responsible Person (the owner or person who has control of the premises).
Often insurance companies insist on a suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessment.
Who conducts Fire Risk Assessments?
Our in-house, highly experienced Fire Risk Assessor Sarah carries out the Fire Risk Assessments for all our clients.
As a professional risk assessor, Sarah is fully versed in all of the most recent guidelines and legal requirements to keep your business fully compliant at all times.
We do not sub-contract out our Fire Risk Assessment work, valuing the vast experience Sarah has, along with the excellent customer service. Sarah is an Associate Member of the Institute of Fire Engineers, a very well regarded qualification.
Many companies will only accept Fire Risk Assessments undertaken by Assessors with this qualification.
All of our Fire Risk Assessments identify the following:
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The use, layout, and construction of the building
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The number of occupants
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The needs of vulnerable people, for example the elderly, young children or those with disabilities
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Electrical source of ignition and other significant sources of ignition, relevant to that business or premises.
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Smoking risk
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Arson risk
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Housekeeping and appropriate storage of combustible materials, waste or hazardous materials
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Checking the building has reasonable means of escape for the persons occupying the premises
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Adequate means of raising the alarm in case of fire
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Emergency lighting provision
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Measures to limit fire spread - Passive and Active Fire Precautions (Fire-rated walls and doors and Fire Alarm Systems)
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Provision of fire safety signs
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Fire-fighting equipment
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Fire safety training
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Evacuation drills
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Maintenance and testing for fire safety systems
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Maintenance of records for Fire Alarm System, Emergency Lights, Fire Extinguishers, Sprinklers, Fire Drills, Fire Awareness Training, Fire Warden Training, Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Annual Check