“Do I really need a fire risk assessment?”
Possibly the most common question I’m asked. The simply answer is quite probably, yes.Every property (excluding a single occupancy domestic home) from an HMO to a block of flats, care home, nursery, school, community centre, warehouse, hotel the list goes on MUST by law, have a “regular” fire risk assessment completed.
Fire risk assessment
Under the “Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005” it is law that ‘The responsible person must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to which relevant persons are exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibition imposed on him by or under this order.’ (9. (1))
In simple terms this means it is the responsible person of any building accessed by the public’s (property, blocks of flats, church, school etc.) responsibility to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment carried out by a competent person.
The London fire brigade recommends fire risk assessors 3rdparty audited under the competency council. Such as, the Institution of Fire Engineers.
Even if this responsibility is given to another person, such as, the lease holder of a premises, the owner/ landlord still remains a responsible person and therefore can be held accountable if the fire risk assessment is not suitable and sufficient, carried out by a person without suitable qualifications and not reviewed on a regular basis, i.e. every 12 months.
The maximum penalty for failing to comply with this is 2 years imprisonment and unlimited fines even if there is no fire.
Local fire brigades carry out random inspections of premises.
Insurance companies, in my experience will only pay out in the event of a fire if a current fire risk assessment can be provided.
G.F. Fire Solutions
G. F. Fire Solutions is an independent fire risk assessment company. Our director Richard Gamble-Frost is 3rdparty audited and approved by the Institution of Fire Engineers and has over 30 years’ experience in the industry. As an independent company we focus on carrying out the fire risk assessment survey and do not supply any materials recommended to allow the client peace of mind as we can’t profit from a false report. However, we do have trusted companies that do supply these materials who we have worked alongside for many years.
If you would like to find out more about us, here are the links to the IFE page, our website and social media.
http://www.ife.org.uk/Fire-Risk-Assessors-Register/71938
https://www.gffiresolutions.com