Fire Risk Assessments for UK Businesses & Industrial Premises

Protect people, understand your fire risks and obtain a clear, practical action plan through a professionally coordinated fire risk assessment.

Spiers Engineering Safety coordinates fire risk assessments for factories, warehouses, workshops, offices, commercial premises and multi-site organisations. Through our approved provider network, we match your premises with an appropriately experienced fire risk assessor and provide a single point of contact from initial scoping through to delivery of the written assessment.

Whether you operate one site or multiple locations across the UK, our team can coordinate the process around your premises, activities, timescale and reporting requirements.

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A Coordinated Fire Risk Assessment Service

A fire risk assessment is a systematic examination of the premises, the potential for fire and the measures needed to protect people who could be affected. It should provide more than a compliance document: it should give the organisation a clear understanding of its fire risks, existing precautions and priorities for improvement.

Spiers provides a straightforward route to competent fire-safety support through our network of approved providers. This is particularly useful for industrial and multi-site organisations that want one commercial and administrative contact while retaining access to appropriately matched specialist expertise.

What Does a Fire Risk Assessment Consider?

The precise scope depends on the premises and activities, but an assessment will typically consider:

  • Potential ignition sources and combustible materials.
  • People who may be at risk, including employees, visitors, contractors and people in the immediate vicinity.
  • People who may be particularly vulnerable or require assistance during an evacuation.
  • Fire detection and warning arrangements.
  • Emergency routes, exits, lighting, and signage.
  • Fire-resisting construction, compartmentation, and fire doors, where relevant to the premises.
  • The provision and management of firefighting equipment.
  • Storage and use of flammable or otherwise dangerous substances.
  • Emergency and evacuation arrangements.
  • Fire-safety information, instruction, training and drills.
  • Inspection, testing and maintenance records for relevant fire-safety systems.
  • The organisation's wider fire-safety management arrangements.

Important scope point: A fire risk assessment reviews the suitability and management of fire precautions. It does not automatically include intrusive surveys, testing or certification of alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers, fire doors or other systems unless those services are expressly included in the agreed scope.

What Is the Fire Risk Assessment Process?

A fire risk assessment generally follows five connected stages:

  1. Identify fire hazards – Identify possible sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen, together with circumstances that could allow a fire to start or develop.
  2. Identify people at risk – Consider employees, visitors, contractors, neighbouring occupants and anyone who may require additional assistance.
  3. Evaluate, remove or reduce risk – Consider the adequacy of existing precautions and identify proportionate measures to eliminate, control or mitigate the risks.
  4. Record, plan and inform – Record the assessment and its findings, establish appropriate emergency arrangements and provide relevant information, instruction and training.
  5. Review and update – Keep the assessment under review and revisit it when there is reason to believe it is no longer valid or relevant circumstances have changed.

Who Is Responsible for Fire Safety?

Fire-safety legislation and dutyholder terminology differ across the UK. In England and Wales, the relevant dutyholder is generally referred to as the Responsible Person. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under separate legislation and use their own dutyholder provisions.

Fire-safety legislation and dutyholder terminology differ across the UK. In England and Wales, the relevant dutyholder is generally referred to as the Responsible Person. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under separate legislation and use their own dutyholder provisions.

Legal responsibility remains with the dutyholder. Appointing a professional fire risk assessor does not transfer the dutyholder’s legal responsibilities. The relevant person or organisation remains responsible for ensuring that the assessment is suitable, sufficient and acted upon.

How Do Fire Risk Assessments Relate to COSHH and DSEAR?

Some substances used, stored or produced in the workplace can present both health risks and fire or explosion risks. These risks may need to be considered through separate but connected assessments.

  • COSHH primarily considers how exposure to hazardous substances could affect people’s health, including exposure by inhalation, skin contact or ingestion.
  • DSEAR addresses safety risks from dangerous substances that can cause fire, explosion, other energetic events or corrosion of metals.
  • The fire risk assessment considers dangerous substances within the wider fire-safety arrangements for the premises, including prevention, warning, escape and emergency planning.

Examples of substances and activities that may require DSEAR consideration include flammable liquids such as solvents, paints and fuels; flammable gases such as LPG and acetylene; aerosols with flammable propellants; gases under pressure; combustible dusts; and substances capable of dangerous chemical reactions.

A COSHH inventory, safety data sheets and information about how substances are used can provide useful inputs when identifying possible DSEAR hazards. However, a DSEAR assessment is a separate assessment. It may need to consider quantities, physical form, storage and handling, possible releases, ventilation, ignition sources, explosive atmospheres, control and mitigation measures, and emergency arrangements.

A general fire risk assessment is not automatically a DSEAR assessment. It may identify the need for further specialist assessment, but it will not necessarily provide the process analysis, hazardous-area classification or engineering evaluation required for more complex DSEAR risks.

In Great Britain, these duties arise under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. Northern Ireland has corresponding requirements under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.

Where relevant risks are identified, Spiers can coordinate appropriate specialist support across COSHH, DSEAR and fire risk assessment requirements. This helps connected risks to be considered together while preserving the distinct purpose and scope of each assessment.

What Will You Receive?

The exact scope and format will be confirmed in the quotation. A typical fire risk assessment service will provide a written assessment and practical action plan that may include:

  • Details of the premises, activities, and agreed assessment scope.
  • Identification of fire hazards and people who may be at risk.
  • Evaluation of existing fire-prevention and protection measures.
  • Review of escape and emergency arrangements.
  • Findings relating to fire detection, warning, and firefighting provision.
  • Consideration of vulnerable people and evacuation assistance.
  • Identified deficiencies or areas requiring further investigation.
  • Prioritised corrective or preventative actions.
  • Recommendations regarding review and reassessment.
  • Identification of the assessor or assessment provider.

The completed assessment provides a practical basis for managing fire risk, assigning actions and demonstrating how the organisation is addressing its fire-safety responsibilities

How the Spiers Service Works

  1. Tell us about your premises – Provide basic information about the site, its use, occupancy, floor area, processes, substances and any existing assessment.
  2. We confirm the scope – We identify the appropriate assessment scope, any specialist considerations and the information required before the visit.
  3. We coordinate an appropriate provider – The requirement is matched to a provider with experience and competence appropriate to the type and complexity of premises.
  4. The assessment is completed – The assessor reviews relevant information, visits the premises and examines the applicable fire risks and precautions.
  5. You receive the written assessment – The findings and recommended actions are documented so that they can be assigned, prioritised and managed.

How Are Providers Selected?

Competence should be appropriate to the particular premises and its risks—not simply fire risk assessment work in general. Spiers therefore considers the nature, use and complexity of the premises when coordinating the provider.

Depending on the requirement, provider selection may consider:

  • Relevant training, qualifications and fire-safety knowledge.
  • Experience with comparable premises, industries and hazards.
  • Professional registration or third-party certification where appropriate.
  • The complexity and risk profile of the proposed assessment.
  • Appropriate professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
  • Report quality, availability and geographical coverage.

How Are Providers Selected?

  • Single point of contact – One route for scoping, quotation, coordination and delivery.
  • Industrial understanding – Support shaped around manufacturing, engineering, warehousing and operational environments.
  • Single and multi-site support – Assessments can be coordinated for one premises or across a wider estate.
  • Appropriately matched expertise – Providers are selected with regard to premises type, complexity and relevant hazards.
  • Connected compliance support – Fire risk assessment requirements can be coordinated alongside COSHH, DSEAR, machinery safety and wider workplace compliance services.
  • Practical reporting – Clear findings and prioritised actions support effective management after the assessment is complete.

Premises and Industries We Support

Our coordinated service can accommodate a wide range of commercial and industrial premises, including:

  • Factories and manufacturing facilities.
  • Engineering businesses and workshops.
  • Warehouses and distribution centres.
  • Logistics operations.
  • Offices and commercial premises.
  • Multi-site organisations and managed estates.

Certain higher-risk, specialist, residential, healthcare, heritage or complex premises may require an assessor with specific experience or certification. Contact our team so that the requirement can be reviewed and appropriately scoped.

When Should a Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?

Fire-safety legislation does not impose one universal annual reassessment interval for every premises. The assessment must be kept under review and updated where necessary.

A review may be required following:

  • Changes to the building, layout, fire protection or escape arrangements.
  • New machinery, processes, substances or work activities.
  • Changes in occupancy or the people who may be at risk.
  • A fire, near miss or significant fire-safety incident.
  • Evidence that existing precautions are no longer effective.
  • Changes in management arrangements or relevant information.
  • The passage of the review period recommended for the premises and its risk profile.

Fire Risk Assessment FAQs

Is a fire risk assessment a legal requirement?

Businesses and most other non-domestic premises are subject to fire-safety legislation. The relevant dutyholder must ensure that an appropriate fire risk assessment is completed, recorded and kept under review. The precise legal framework and terminology depend on where in the UK the premises are located.

Can we complete the assessment ourselves?

A dutyholder may be able to undertake an assessment where they have sufficient competence and the premises and risks are relatively straightforward. Where the necessary expertise or time is not available—or the premises are larger, more complex or higher risk—professional assistance should be obtained.

Does using an assessor transfer our responsibility?

No. Appointing an assessor provides professional assistance, but the relevant dutyholder remains responsible for ensuring the assessment is suitable and sufficient and that necessary measures are implemented.

Does a fire risk assessment include a DSEAR assessment?

Not automatically. A fire risk assessment may identify dangerous substances and the need for further work, but a separate specialist DSEAR assessment may be needed where substances or processes create significant fire, explosion or related safety risks.

Do you provide assessments for factories and warehouses?

Yes. Spiers coordinates fire risk assessments for industrial and commercial premises, including factories, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, workshops and engineering environments.

Can you coordinate assessments across multiple sites?

Yes. Our provider network enables us to coordinate assessments for organisations operating across multiple UK locations through a single point of contact.

How much does a fire risk assessment cost?

Cost depends on the size, type and complexity of the premises; occupancy; activities and hazards; available information; required scope; and location. Provide our team with some basic information and we will arrange a tailored quotation.

Request a Fire Risk Assessment

Need a professional fire risk assessment for one premises or a coordinated programme across multiple locations?

Speak to Spiers Engineering Safety about your premises, timescale and requirements. Our team can coordinate an appropriate assessor and provide a straightforward route to professional fire-safety support.

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