Can you do a fire risk assessment yourself?
The fire safety of buildings and properties should be a priority, saving lives and reducing the risks. But can you perform your own fire safety checks, or should you hire a professional fire risk assessor? Here’s everything you need to know.
Are fire risk assessments a legal requirement?
The importance of robust fire safety checks has become more understood over the last few years, requiring a systematic approach. Fire safety legislation, such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Fire Safety Act 2021 aim to make legal requirements clearer.
Failure to meet your legal duties can result in unlimited fines and prison sentences. It’s vital you make fire risk assessments a priority, regularly keeping your latest report up to date.
Who’s responsible for completing fire risk checks?
The fire safety of a building or property is the person in control of the premises, such as a business owner, facilities manager, property agent or landlord. A ‘responsible person’ is often named to manage the fire safety of the building, with duties to include regular fire risk assessment reviews and keeping a written record of the checks.
A fire risk assessment should be carried out by someone competent to ensure ‘suitable and sufficient’ checks are made. You’ll need expertise and understanding of all the internal and external building elements to assess, how to evaluate risks and how to evacuate people with different needs. Appropriate fire safety training for staff, emergency evacuation plans and issuing of information also come under this umbrella.
Can you do your own fire risk assessments?
While it’s the duty of the property’s responsible person to ensure the proper fire risk assessments are completed, you can appoint someone else to do it on your behalf. This should be a competent fire risk assessor with the relevant expertise to perform the required checks. If you’re unsure whether your current risk assessments are being carried out properly, consult with a professional.
Those choosing to carry out fire safety assessments themselves must be competent enough to identify fire hazards and who may be at risk, ensure the correct fire safety measures are in place and implement changes when needed. This can be a tough ask if you’re not trained in building fire safety.
Why hire a professional fire risk assessor?
Hiring an accredited fire risk assessor is one of the easiest and quickest ways to ensure you meet your legal duties to uphold the fire safety of your building. They’ll have sufficient training, experience and knowledge to assist you in identifying hazards and implementing the correct controls. They may also help you develop safety protocols, including evacuation procedures.
A trained fire risk assessor will also understand all the elements covered by fire safety legislation and guidance. This includes how to check the fire risks relating to external walls and balconies, communal areas and entrance doors, ensuring no stone is left unturned.
Book a fire risk assessment with an accredited team
Need a new fire risk assessment in London, Kent, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas? Contact MD Fire today on 0208 355 8820.
