How Often Should Fire Risk Assessments Be Reviewed?

The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower tragedy subjected fire safety to intense scrutiny across the UK. A key recommendation was that fire risk assessments should be more thorough and only carried out by qualified professionals. As a result, many businesses and property owners are now reassessing their fire safety responsibilities, including a vital consideration: how often should fire risk assessments be reviewed to ensure ongoing safety and compliance?

The Legal Requirement: Frequency Of Fire Risk Assessments

In the UK, there isn’t a fixed legal interval which dictates how often a fire risk assessment is required. Instead, the law only requires that fire risk assessments be ‘regularly reviewed and updated as necessary’.

For most commercial and residential properties, an annual review is considered best practice as this helps property owners and managers identify new hazards, changes in occupancy, or alterations to the building structure that could affect fire safety.

The key to determining the frequency of assessments is a risk-based approach: higher-risk premises, such as care homes or industrial facilities, may require more frequent assessments, sometimes every six months or even quarterly. Conversely, low-risk premises may be able to extend the period slightly - but only with professional advice.

The Factors That May Trigger A Review

Aside from scheduled annual checks, a fire risk assessment should be reviewed and updated if there are significant changes to the building or its use, such as:

1. Structural changes or renovations
2. New processes or equipment introduced
3. Changes in the number of occupants or type of occupants (e.g. vulnerable people)
4. Any fire incident or near misses within the premises
5. Changes in legislation or fire safety guidance

Failing to promptly review the fire risk assessment after such changes could leave your property exposed to avoidable risks, and you could be subject to non-compliance penalties.

The Importance Of Appointing Qualified Professionals

Post-Grenfell reforms stress the importance of using suitably qualified and experienced professionals to carry out fire risk assessments. A thorough assessment isn’t just about ticking boxes but requires a detailed understanding of complex fire risks and effective control measures. Regular reviews by professionals ensure your assessment remains relevant, robust, and compliant with the latest standards.

How Fire Safe International Can Help

At Fire Safe International, our experts provide bespoke assessments across a range of environments. We ensure full alignment with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, giving you confidence in your building’s compliance and reducing the risk of enforcement action, costly oversights, or unexpected intervention by local Fire and Rescue Authorities.

We also ensure the process is straightforward and hassle-free, with minimal disruption to your operations. Our goal is to take the stress out of compliance, allowing you to concentrate fully on your day-to-day responsibilities without unnecessary delays, confusion, or interruptions.

Find Out More

For more information or to book your building’s fire safety assessment, please get in touch today.

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