A fire risk assessment is a thorough, structured examination that covers both the physical characteristics of the premises and the management arrangements in place to prevent fire and protect people if fire occurs. Here is what a competent fire risk assessor will typically examine.

The identification of fire hazards begins with sources of ignition — electrical equipment, heating systems, cooking equipment, hot work, smoking areas, arson risk — and sources of fuel — combustible materials, waste, storage arrangements, furnishings, wall and ceiling linings — as well as sources of oxygen that could accelerate a fire. The assessor will consider how likely it is that these hazards could combine to start and spread a fire.

The assessment of people at risk considers who is in the building, how many people occupy it, what hours it is occupied, and whether any occupants have particular vulnerabilities — people who might need additional assistance to evacuate, such as those with mobility impairments, visual or hearing impairments, or cognitive difficulties. The layout of the building and the distance people need to travel to reach a place of safety are also considered.

Fire safety measures are evaluated in detail. This includes the fire detection and warning system — whether it is appropriate for the premises, properly maintained, and audible throughout; the fire suppression systems if any — sprinklers, gaseous systems; the fire extinguishers — whether the correct types are provided, properly located, and maintained; the emergency lighting; and the means of escape — the number and width of escape routes, the travel distances, the condition of escape routes, the operation and condition of fire exit doors.

Fire doors are assessed separately — their condition, their self-closing mechanism, their intumescent seals, their signage, and whether they are being propped open. Fire doors are critical to maintaining the compartmentation that limits the spread of fire and smoke, and poorly maintained or misused fire doors are one of the most common failures identified in fire risk assessments.

Management arrangements are also examined — whether the fire risk assessment has been previously carried out and acted upon, whether fire drills are held regularly, whether fire safety training is provided, and whether the building is managed in a way that maintains the integrity of its fire safety systems.

A typical process would include:

1. Identify Fire Hazards. An assessor identifies the three elements of the "fire triangle":

• Sources of Ignition: Heat sources like smokers' materials, naked flames, faulty electrical equipment, hot processes (welding), and frictional heat from machinery.

• Sources of Fuel: Anything that burns, such as flammable liquids, gases, high-racked storage, combustible waste (wood shavings, paper), and packaging materials.

• Sources of Oxygen: Primarily supplied by natural or mechanical ventilation, but also found in oxidising chemicals or oxygen cylinders.

2. Identify People at Risk. The assessment must identify everyone on-site, paying particular attention to those at special risk:

• Employees and contractors: Especially lone workers or those in isolated areas like maintenance teams.

• Unfamiliar persons: Visitors and customers who may not know the escape routes.

• Vulnerable persons: Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities (mobility, hearing, or sight impairments).

3. Evaluate, Remove, Reduce, and Protect from Risk. The assessor evaluates the likelihood of a fire starting and its potential spread via convection, conduction, or radiation.

• Hazard Reduction: The priority is always to remove or reduce hazards first (e.g., enforcing a safe smoking policy or replacing radiant heaters).

• Protective Measures: For remaining risks, the assessor evaluates protection through:

  • Detection and Warning: Electrical fire alarms and automatic detectors.

  • Firefighting: Portable extinguishers (water, CO2, foam, powder) and fixed systems like sprinklers.

  • Escape Routes: Ensuring adequate widths, clear paths, and appropriate travel distances.

  • Emergency Infrastructure: Lighting to illuminate exits and clear pictogram signage.

4. Record, Plan, Inform, Instruct, and Train.

• Record Findings: Significant findings must be recorded if you employ five or more people.

• Emergency Plan: A detailed written plan for warning people and evacuating safely.

• Staff Training: Induction and regular refreshers for all staff, including testing procedures through annual fire drills.

5. Review. The FRA must be revised if it is no longer valid or if significant changes occur, such as new machinery, building alterations, or an increase in the number of people present.

General Topics an Assessor Focuses on:

• Housekeeping: Monitoring for accumulated combustible waste or blocked fire exits.

• Maintenance Logs: Evidence of regular testing for alarms, emergency lighting, and firefighting equipment.

• Visual Indicators: Clues of 'near-misses,' such as scorch marks on electrical sockets.

• Storage Management: Checking for 1-metre clear spaces between goods and the ceiling and ensuring aisles are at least 2.5 metres wide.

• Fire Separation: Ensuring fire-resisting walls and doors are maintained and never wedged open