What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

R&B Building Services advise that a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises in the UK. It is a document that identifies the fire hazards in a building and the people who are at risk from fire. The assessment also sets out the measures that need to be taken to reduce the risk of fire and to protect people in the event of a fire.

Who has to have a Fire Risk Assessment done?

The responsible person for a building is the person who has control of the building or who is responsible for the safety of people in the building. This could be the owner, the occupier, the manager or the employer.

What items must be checked in a Fire Risk Assessment?

The following items must be checked in a fire risk assessment:

• The building’s structure and construction
• The materials used in the building
• The layout of the building
• The use of the building
• The number of people in the building
• The presence of any fire hazards
• The availability of fire-fighting equipment
• The evacuation procedures
• The training of staff and occupants

The order of hierarchy in a Fire Risk Assessment

The order of hierarchy in a fire risk assessment is as follows:

1. Prevention – This is the most important step in fire safety. It involves taking steps to prevent fires from starting in the first place.
2. Protection – This involves taking steps to protect people in the event of a fire. This includes providing fire-fighting equipment and training staff and occupants on how to use it.
3. Detection – This involves having a system in place to detect fires as early as possible. This could include smoke alarms, heat detectors or sprinkler systems.
4. Response – This involves having a plan in place to respond to a fire. This could include evacuation procedures and fire-fighting procedures.

R&B Building Services Conclude:

Fire risk assessments are an important part of fire safety. By carrying out a fire risk assessment, you can identify the fire hazards in your building and the people who are at risk from fire. You can then take steps to reduce the risk of fire and to protect people in the event of a fire.