Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it’s a legal requirement to have a fire risk assessment for most non-domestic premises.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that a fire risk assessment must be conducted by a competent person. Our fire safety consultants haves the training, qualifications, and experience to effectively assess and address fire risks and hazards in the specific type of premises they are responsible for.

A fire risk assessment should be carried out on occupation of the premises.

There is no specific legal requirement for how often fire risk assessments must be reviewed. It is at your discretion to determine when a review is necessary, taking into consideration changes in business operations and circumstances.

A fire risk assessment should be reviewed every 12 months from the date of the assessment, or earlier if there is reason to believe it is no longer valid, significant changes have occurred or there has been a fire.

Fire risk assessors are not legally required to be registered. However, the law does require a fire risk assessor to be ‘competent’.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 defines a competent risk assessor as someone with ‘sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to properly assist in undertaking the preventative and protective measures’. So, it is strongly advisable to choose a risk assessor who is registered on the Fire Risk Assessors (FRA) Register.

The cost of a fire risk assessment depends on the type and complexity of the premises, the assessment scope, additional services offered and more. Costs range from a few hundred pounds for a basic assessment to over a thousand for a comprehensive one.

It’s recommended to consider both the cost and the assessor’s qualifications to ensure a thorough and competitive assessment.

Failure to have a fire risk assessment can lead to legal penalties. The legal penalties for not complying with fire safety legislation include enforcement notices, fines, imprisonment in serious cases, and civil liability for compensation.