Building safety

Fire Risk Assessments for Flats, Offices and HMOs

Fire risk assessments with a prioritised action plan, carried out by competent assessors to the PAS 79 method.

If you are the Responsible Person for a non-domestic building, or the common parts of a block of flats, the law requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. Since the Fire Safety Act 2021, assessments for blocks of flats in England and Wales must also consider the external walls and the flat entrance doors.

Our assessments follow PAS 79-1 for non-domestic premises and PAS 79-2 for housing. We look at the building, its occupants, the ways a fire could start and spread, and the measures in place to warn people and help them escape. You receive a clear action plan with each item ranked by priority.

Because we also install and maintain fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire doors, we can turn the action plan into completed work, if you choose to.

What is included

  • Site inspection and occupant risk review
  • Means of escape, compartmentation and detection review
  • External wall and flat entrance door considerations
  • Prioritised, costed action plan
  • Review dates and re-assessment reminders

Who it is for

  • Blocks of flats
  • Offices and shops
  • HMOs
  • Care settings
  • Industrial units
  • Places of worship

The rules in each UK nation

England

In England, fire safety in non-domestic premises and the common parts of blocks of flats is governed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. Higher-risk residential buildings are also covered by the Building Safety Act 2022, which is overseen by the Building Safety Regulator.

Wales

In Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to non-domestic premises and the common parts of residential buildings, as amended for Wales by the Fire Safety Act 2021. The Welsh Government is reforming building safety separately from England, so duties for taller residential buildings in Wales follow Welsh legislation and guidance rather than the English higher-risk building regime.

Scotland

In Scotland, fire safety in non-domestic premises is governed by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, and enforced by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Scotland has its own building standards system and its own approach to cladding risk.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, fire safety in non-domestic premises and the common areas of houses in multiple occupation is governed by the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010, and enforced by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

How a job runs

  1. Tell us about the building

    Use the form or send us your fire risk assessment action plan. A few details on height, use and current systems are enough to start.

  2. Survey or desktop review

    Where we need to see the building, we visit. For some jobs, such as EWS1 scoping, we start with the documents you already hold.

  3. Fixed quote

    You get a written, fixed price with a clear scope. Nothing chargeable happens without your approval.

  4. Work and certification

    Our engineers carry out the work and leave the right certificates, photographs and logbook entries.

  5. Records and reminders

    Reports are filed by building and we remind you before the next test, inspection or review is due.

Questions we are often asked

How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?

The law requires a review whenever there is reason to think it is no longer valid, such as after building work or a change of use. Many Responsible Persons review annually as good practice, and higher-risk premises may need more frequent reviews.

Who is the Responsible Person?

Usually the employer, the owner, or whoever has control of the premises. In a block of flats it is usually the freeholder or the management company for the common parts.

Fire risk assessments near you

We provide fire risk assessments in every town and city below, and everywhere in between.

England

Request a quote

Tell us about the building and what you need. We reply within one working day with next steps or a fixed quote.

  • Fixed prices, agreed before any work starts
  • Written reports and certificates for every visit
  • Coverage across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland