Question 1

Who carries out the assessments?

Accepted Answer

Assessments are carried out by a competent fire safety professional — MSc, MIFSM, MIFireE — with over 10 years' experience across a wide range of premises types, including commercial, industrial, residential and public-sector environments.

Question 2

Do you guarantee compliance?

Accepted Answer

No responsible consultant can guarantee compliance without understanding the premises, management arrangements and risks in full. The service is designed to help dutyholders identify risks, understand findings and take proportionate action to reduce those risks.

Question 3

What is a fire risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

A fire risk assessment is a structured review of fire hazards, the people at risk, existing fire precautions, management arrangements and the action required to reduce risk to a reasonable level. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, most non-domestic premises require a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.

Question 4

Who needs a fire risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Most non-domestic premises and relevant residential common areas require a suitable fire risk assessment to be in place, maintained by the responsible person or dutyholder. This includes employers, building owners, landlords and occupiers with responsibility for premises used by employees, visitors or residents.

Question 5

How long does a fire risk assessment take?

Accepted Answer

The time required depends on the size, complexity and risk profile of the premises. A straightforward single-floor commercial office may take two to three hours on site. A large, complex or multi-storey building may require a full day or more. The scope is confirmed before attending the premises.

Question 6

What happens if I don't have a fire risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Failure to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment in place is a breach of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Enforcement action by the fire authority can include improvement notices, prohibition notices and, in serious cases, prosecution. In the event of a fire, inadequate documentation can also affect insurance claims and liability.

Question 7

How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?

Accepted Answer

A fire risk assessment should be reviewed whenever there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid — for example, following a change in layout, occupancy, use or management arrangements, or following a fire safety incident. As a general principle, regular review (typically annual) helps keep the assessment current and defensible.

Question 8

Who is a competent person for fire risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person must ensure that the person carrying out the fire risk assessment is competent — meaning they have sufficient training, experience and knowledge of the premises type to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment. Professional memberships such as MIFSM or MIFireE provide assurance of competence.

Question 9

Can you review an existing fire risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Existing reports and documentation can be reviewed as an independent FRA validation service. Where an existing assessment is significantly out of date, incomplete or does not reflect current premises conditions, a full reassessment may be recommended. See the FRA Validation & Review service for more information.

Question 10

What is DSEAR?

Accepted Answer

DSEAR stands for the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. The regulations require employers to assess and control risks from dangerous substances that could cause fire, explosion or similar energetic events. This applies to flammable liquids, vapours, gases, combustible dusts and other substances that may create explosive atmospheres.

Question 11

What standards does a DSEAR assessment follow?

Accepted Answer

DSEAR assessments are typically aligned with ACOP L138 (the HSE's Approved Code of Practice for DSEAR), EI 15 (Energy Institute guidance for area classification in petroleum installations) and BS EN 60079 (standards for explosive atmospheres). Reports aligned with these standards are designed to satisfy insurers, the HSE and fire authorities.

Question 12

What is ACOP L138?

Accepted Answer

ACOP L138 is the HSE's Approved Code of Practice and guidance supporting the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). It provides practical guidance on how to comply with DSEAR and sets the standard for what constitutes a suitable assessment. Compliance with ACOP L138 provides a defence in enforcement proceedings.

Question 13

What is hazardous area classification?

Accepted Answer

Hazardous area classification is a method of identifying locations where explosive atmospheres — from flammable gases, vapours or combustible dusts — may occur. Areas are classified into zones based on the likelihood and duration of the hazard (Zone 0, 1, 2 for gases; Zone 20, 21, 22 for dusts). Classification supports appropriate equipment selection and the implementation of suitable controls.

Question 14

What are ATEX directives?

Accepted Answer

ATEX refers to two EU Directives (now retained in UK law) relating to equipment and protective systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The Equipment Directive (ATEX 114) governs the design and manufacture of electrical and mechanical equipment for hazardous areas. The Workplace Directive (ATEX 137) covers employer obligations to protect workers — implemented in the UK through DSEAR.

Question 15

What is passive fire protection?

Accepted Answer

Passive fire protection refers to the built-in fire protection measures within a building, including compartmentation, fire stopping, fire doors, fire-resisting walls and floors, and structural fire protection. These measures are designed to contain fire and smoke, protect escape routes and maintain structural integrity without requiring activation.

Question 16

What is the difference between active and passive fire protection?

Accepted Answer

Active fire protection systems are those that must activate in response to a fire — sprinklers, suppression systems, fire alarms and detectors. Passive fire protection is built into the structure of the building and works continuously without activation — compartmentation, fire-resisting walls, fire doors and fire stopping. Both are important and complementary.

Question 17

What is an intumescent seal?

Accepted Answer

An intumescent seal is a material — typically fitted around the edges of fire doors or within service penetrations through fire-resisting walls and floors — that expands significantly when exposed to heat. This expansion seals gaps that would otherwise allow fire and smoke to pass through. Intumescent seals are a critical component of fire door and fire stopping compliance.

Question 18

What is the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?

Accepted Answer

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced new fire safety duties for responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres. These include quarterly checks of all fire doors in common areas, best-endeavours annual checks of flat entrance doors, provision of fire safety information to residents, and specific requirements around external wall assessments and building information.

Question 19

Why do fire doors fail to perform?

Accepted Answer

Fire doors frequently fail to perform as intended due to common deficiencies: missing or damaged intumescent seals, self-closing devices that do not latch, doors wedged open, excessive gaps around the door leaf, incorrect or missing ironmongery, and unauthorised modifications. Even minor defects can significantly reduce a fire door's effectiveness. A professional fire door survey identifies these issues and provides a prioritised action plan.

Question 20

What is the difference between a fire warden and a fire marshal?

Accepted Answer

The terms 'fire warden' and 'fire marshal' are often used interchangeably in UK workplaces. Both refer to employees nominated to assist with fire evacuation — sweeping their areas, directing colleagues to exits and liaising with the incident controller. Some organisations use 'fire marshal' for the overall coordinator and 'fire warden' for floor or area wardens, but there is no statutory distinction between the terms.

Question 21

Do HMO landlords need a fire risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The common areas of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) fall within the scope of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Landlords — as the responsible person — must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the common areas is in place. Additionally, many HMOs are subject to licensing conditions that specify fire safety standards.

Question 22

What is a stay-put evacuation strategy?

Accepted Answer

A stay-put strategy (also known as 'defend in place') requires residents in a multi-occupied residential block to remain in their flats in the event of a fire elsewhere in the building — unless directly affected — rather than evacuating immediately. It relies on the integrity of compartmentation (fire-resisting walls, floors and doors) to contain fire and smoke while the fire service responds. The appropriateness of the strategy should be confirmed as part of the fire risk assessment.

Question 23

How much does an assessment cost?

Accepted Answer

Costs vary depending on the type of assessment, the size and complexity of the premises, the location, the risk profile and the scope of work involved. The quote form collects the information needed to understand the requirements and provide an appropriate fee. There is no charge for submitting an enquiry.

Question 24

Do you work with occupied premises?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The consultancy has experience in occupied and operational premises across commercial, industrial, residential and public-sector environments. Assessments are managed to minimise disruption where premises are in active use.

Question 25

What areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

The service covers the UK. Please use the contact form or quote form to discuss your specific location and requirements. A member of the team will confirm whether and how the service can help.

Question 26

What happens after I submit an enquiry?

Accepted Answer

A member of the team will review the details provided and contact you to discuss the scope, approach and fee. Submitting an enquiry does not create a consultant-client relationship or constitute fire safety advice.

Fire safety questions — answered

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