Fire Risk Assessments for Landlords and Business Owners

Fire Risk Assessments (FRA)

Fire represents one of the most significant risks to any building, and those living or working within it. There exists a growing body of regulations around the proper practices and methodologies for prevention and mitigation, to which anyone with a responsibility for others must adhere.
Between June 2019 and June 2020, 28% of incidents attended by fire and rescue services were fires, which amounted to just over 156,000 across a twelve month period. The risk of significant losses, injuries, health complications and, at times, fatalities is considerably higher in buildings that have not been subject to proper preventative measures, and the legal responsibility of implementing these measures lies with employers and landlords.
A fire risk assessment, while not exhaustive, is a crucial step to ensuring both that your building is properly secured against the risk of fire, and that you are operating in accordance with the law. Below, you will find everything you need in order to understand your responsibilities with regards to fire risk assessments, when you need one, and what to expect.

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A fire risk assessment is integral to controlling fire risks and managing a property.

In order to be able to protect against the risks of fire, the first step is to identify these risks, and this is where the FRA comes in. The assessment identifies any issues and gives suggested actions to assist the client in achieving optimum fire safety.

This legal requirement falls under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (commonly known simply as the Fire Safety Order). This was brought in to enhance fire safety in most buildings. It was also responsible for introducing a legal duty for ‘the responsible person’ to take all reasonable steps to ensure that fire safety levels are always appropriate.

The Hazard

The property will be given a score that identifies the likelihood of a fire occurring. All potential sources of ignition (such as ovens or faulty electrics in domestic properties, or, say, welding tools in an industrial building) and fuel must be identified, in order to create a comprehensive overview of the threats posed to anyone housed within the building.

It is important to remember that simply completing the assessment is not enough to keep you compliant with legal requirements. Any building that poses a notable risk will be provided with a list of actions that need to be taken in order to lower the risk, and ensure that those who will be living or working within it can do so safely.

The Consequences

In addition to the risk score, the building will be given a risk score indicating the potential consequences should a fire break out. This includes ascertaining the risk level of those within the building – for instance, in commercial properties offering facilities for childcare or sleep, the risk level will be far greater – as well as the availability of fire escapes, alarms, and firefighting equipment (such as extinguishers).

If the building was built according to recent regulations, then it is more likely to achieve a healthy score in this area. Some older buildings, for instance, may have been built with materials that increase the risk for those inside.

As with the previous score, recommendations can be made to ensure that, if a fire were to break out, the risk of significant consequences would be mitigated as much as possible.

Fire Risk assessments for landlords

Protecting the health and safety of your tenants means understanding a wide range of potential risks, many of which remain your sole responsibility. Significant fines, long court cases and, at times, imprisonment are all potential outcomes if you fail to do your legal due diligence on the property.

Legislation requires that a landlord carries out fire risk assessments in all common areas of properties, such as hallways. HMO fire risk assessments are required in common areas of multiple-occupancy households, where tenants may share a kitchen or living space.

FAQ’s

Do I Need a Fire Risk Assessment?

If you are asking this question already , the answer is probably a yes. It is a legal demand for all ‘non-domestic’ premises. Legislation requires that a landlord carries out fire risk assessments in all common areas of properties this includes HMO landlords. If you are an employer with 5 or more staff or if the premises are visited by members of the public an FRA is required. If you are a landlord with control over premises or if you have a licensed premise, this will also need a fire risk assessment.

How often do I Need a Fire Risk Assessment?

While the assessment is a legal requirement, there are no particular rules pertaining to the frequency of re-assessments. Any time significant changes are made within (or on) the property, it is important that you follow up with another assessment, which is why many recommend that additional tests are made once every few years.
Following the outbreak of a fire, of course – even if it is only minor – another assessment should be made into the property.

If I Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment, Will I Be Fully Compliant with the Regulation?

Simply carrying out a fire risk assessment is not enough to be fully compliant with the regulations. This is only one of the fire safety duties that you have to complete as a landlord or business owner. However, a comprehensive assessment will be a starting point for you to achieve compliance with the regulations, and offer a strong framework for making necessary improvements to the building.

Who Should Complete a Fire Risk Assessment?

The precise regulations surrounding fire safety, both in businesses and in rented properties, is continuously evolving in response to real-world examples and case studies, which is why working with an experienced specialist in risk assessment is always recommended. That way, you can ensure that every area within your property has been thoroughly checked against the most up-to-date understanding of the many risks inherent within a commercial or domestic building.

Do You Only Do Fire Risk Assessments in Manchester?

Whilst we are physically based in Manchester, many of our fire risk assessments are completed for landlords and business owners all over England.

Why Choose Fire Risk Manchester?

Our Fire Risk Assessors are highly adept at analysing every aspect of fire safety and risk within commercial and domestic properties. As a member of the Fire Protection Association, we are adept at offering fast turnaround on assessments, and can provide expert guidance at every stage – from those in the earliest stages of planning, to those looking to review an existing assessment.
For anyone in need of an expertly conducted fire risk assessment in Manchester and the surrounding areas, simply get in touch with us today for a no obligation quote.