Fire Risk Assessments (FRA)

Fire Risk Assessments (FRA) are a legal requirement for all non-domestic properties as well as the common areas of residential flats and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

This is set out in legislation under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This is often referred to as the ‘Fire Safety Order’.

If you are responsible for a building, for example an employer, owner or occupier of premises that aren’t a single private dwelling (a private home), you need to make sure a suitably competent assessor completes a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).

It is your duty to identify risks and hazards in your premises and take appropriate action.

Fire Risk Assessments – Your Obligations

The main obligations under the Fire Safety Order are that you must :

– Carry out a fire risk assessment identifying any possible dangers and risks;

– Identify any individuals who may be especially at risk;

– Evaluate, remove or reduce risk from fire as far as is reasonably possible;

– Ensure measures are in place to provide additional protection if flammable or explosive materials are used or stored;

– Create a plan to deal with any emergency and, in most cases, keep a record of your findings;

– Review and update fire risk assessment regularly;

A Fire Risk Assessment will review the existing Fire Precautions, such a Fire Detection, Emergency Lighting, Fire Stopping and Fire Doors to ensure they are still adequate.

Fire Risk Assessmenta for New Build Developments

The Fire Safety Order is only relevant to occupied buildings. Any proposed new building will require the development of a Fire Strategy during the design stage.

Essentially this is an assumed FRA based on the number and type of occupants who intend to use the property.

The Fire Precautions required to meet Building Regulations will be identified by the Fire Strategy.

Read more about how the former London Mayor issued a demand that building owners and managers draw up personal emergency evacuation plans for disabled residents of all buildings.

Fire & Building Safety Services

Contact

To commission a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) or a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls survey (FRAEW) please call 020 4534 3130.

Follow the link for the latest RICS guidance note ‘Cladding for Surveyors, 1 Edition, March 2021‘.

For further information on FRA, FRAEW Surveys, PAS9980 or EWS1 forms please call one of our assessors for expert advice.

If you need more advice in respect of your obligations as a building owner, developer or manager, please contact us.

If you want one of our team to call you please fill in our Contact form. We will call you back.