Having an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment is the responsibility of all business owners.
Today, the law states that you have to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment and provide the design of a fire alarm that will be compliant with the legal requirements as stipulated in BS 5839-1:2017.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
If your premises accommodates 5 or more people, you must have a written record of a Fire Risk Assessment.
British Fire Safety Law dictates that you must have an up-to-date Fire Risk Assessment for your premises.
The report outlines fire risk factors and what you have in place to detect and protect both the building and its occupants.
It also provides a list of things you must do in order to be safe and legal.
Who is responsible for carrying out the Risk Assessment?
It is the ‘Responsible Person’ for a premises that makes sure the Fire Risk Assessment is carried out, and that all necessary recommendations are completed.
The ‘Responsible Person’ can be the occupier, employer or owner of the building.
Even if the landlord carries out the assessment, the occupier is responsible for ensuring the building is safe and compliant.
For example, carrying out a weekly fire alarm test is something the occupier of the building is responsible for.
What does a Fire Risk Assessment look at?
A Fire Risk Assessment looks at fire hazards, procedures and emergency plan and training for the people on site.
It looks at things like emergency routes, exits and signage, firefighting equipment, such as extinguishers, the training people undertake in fire safety and fire detection warning systems.
It will also look at whether your electrics are checked when they should be (e.g. every 5 years) as this can be a fire safety threat.
How often do I need to have a Fire Risk Assessment?
We recommend having a Fire Risk Assessment on an annual basis. In addition if you change or alter the premises you should also then have another fire risk assessment otherwise the report will be invalid.
Examples of changes include refurbishments, extensions, a fire related incident has occured or a change of ownership.
In these instances we recommend having an assessment before the annual review is due.
Can I carry out a Fire Risk Assessment myself?
You can carry out the assessment yourself using templates that you can download from the internet.
But, we always recommend that you get an approved specialist to do this for you. This is because if a fire related incident occurs that wasn’t highlighted in the report then the assessor is liable.
A qualified risk assessor knows exactly what to look out for. They’re highly educated in fire safety and know what potential threats to look for.
About Dorset Fire & Security
Dorset Fire & Security offers comprehensive fire and security solutions to commercial, public sector, and residential customers across the South of England.
Our commitment lies in delivering dependable and efficient fire and security solutions to our valued customers.
Whether you require safeguarding against fires or intruders, or simply seek assurance that your property is adequately protected, we offer a comprehensive solution that caters to all your requirements.
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If you want to learn more about our CCTV installation options, which include different types of CCTV systems, or if you want to request a free site survey, please get in touch with us today.
