What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment, also known as an FRA, is a written methodical investigation of a business premises, highlighting the fire risks and safety levels of the premises and its’ surroundings. An FRA considers the likelihood of a fire breaking out in a building and the possible effects on the individuals inside.
This allows businesses to recognise what risks exist and understand how these risks can be removed or minimised.
Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment?
In accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, whatever your business, as an employer, landlord, owner, occupier or manager, you have a legal duty to ensure fire safety within your business.
It is a legal requirement to have a written fire risk assessment if you fall into one or more of the following categories:
- You are a business with 5 or more employees
- Your premises are visited by members of the public
- You are a landlord of business premises or houses of multiple occupancy
- You are self-employed with business premises
This is not an optional document and is mandatory by UK law.
Who Can Carry Out a Fire Risk Assessment?
An FRA must be carried out by somebody who is deemed competent, with the necessary skills, experience and qualifications to evaluate fire risks.
The document needs to be deemed sufficient by the local authority. Heavy fines and imprisonment can be imposed on those who have either no FRA in place, or an insufficient one.
To ensure a sufficient FRA is carried out, a fully qualified Churches Fire & Security technician can visit your premises and perform a fire risk assessment for your business. This will highlight all fire risks onsite, minimise the potential risk, and put a plan in place to help keep you, your staff and your premises safe.
All Churches Fire & Security assessors are members of IFSM (The Institute of Fire Safety Managers) or IFE (The Institution of Fire Engineers), ensuring they provide every customer with the very best technical expertise and knowledge, and ultimately deliver compliance. As members of the BAFE SP205 scheme, customers can be confident that Churches Fire & Security’s work is independently assessed, helping to ensure their fire risk assessment obligations are met.
Once a fire risk assessment is in place, the Chief Fire Officers’ Association suggest annual reviews to be good practice to keep the fire risk assessment up-to-date.
To learn more about Fire Risk Assessments to ensure legal compliance, watch our short video today.
If you require a Fire Risk Assessment or you would like to talk to us about regular reviews, contact Churches Fire & Security today.
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