Did you know it’s a legal requirement to conduct a fire risk assessment in your office?
Without a proper fire risk assessment, employers are at risk of facing some serious repercussions, including fines or prison sentences.
If you want to find out more about fire risk assessments in offices, we’re here to give you everything you need to know.
Does an office need a fire risk assessment?
If you’re in charge of an office or have people visiting your workplace, you must have a commercial fire risk assessment.
If you’re in charge of a building, like an employer, owner, or someone who occupies a space that isn’t just a private home, you need to make sure that a competent person conducts a fire risk assessment on your premises.
This is important for keeping occupants safe from fire dangers – and to help prevent them from happening in the first place.
Common causes of workplace fires
Understanding the common causes of workplace fires is crucial for lowering the chances of them happening.
Some common causes include broken electrical devices, too many things plugged into one outlet, and not taking care of fire safety tools.
Spotting these dangers and finding ways to fix them is a big part of making sure the workplace is safe from fires, and a professional fire risk assessment can help you do this.
Who is responsible for completing a fire risk assessment?
So, who is responsible for completing a fire risk assessment?
Fire risk assessments must be completed by a competent person. The risk of the premises determines the level of competency the assessor must have.
For low-risk spaces, an employee with basic health and safety knowledge can conduct the fire risk assessment.
However, if the property is more high–risk and complex, a qualified and experienced assessor is required to ensure you have the proper measures in place, such as fire alarms and evacuation procedures, to ensure your office complies with fire safety legislation.
If you want to determine how competent an assessor is, the NFCC have a guide to help you.
How much does a fire risk assessment cost in the UK?
We offer competitive pricing for fire risk assessments in the UK:
£400 for small residential communal areas and premises up to 2,000sqft.
£425 for premises between 2,000-5,000sqft.
£480 for premises up to 10,000sqft.
For properties over 10,000sqft, contact us today and get a free, tailored quote!
How often should risk assessments be reviewed?
A full fire safety risk assessment must be completed and reviewed regularly by a competent person or qualified assessor.
A responsible person such as a landlord, employer or property manager must arrange for the fire risk assessment to be conducted.
The fire risk assessment must be reviewed regularly to ensure it meets legal fire safety standards.
Reviews should also be conducted if changes are made to the property that could impact fire safety measures, such as:
- Addition of vulnerable people in the office
- A fire has occurred since the last assessment
- Office has been extended
- Fire safety equipment has been damaged, stolen or replaced
- Furniture has been rearranged that may impact the means of escape
What happens if offices don’t have a fire risk assessment?
Under the fire safety legislation set out in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005), fire risk assessments are a legal obligation to ensure fire safety in offices.
Failure to have a fire risk assessment can result in a fine or prison sentence. Making sure your office has a proper assessment is really important to keep everyone safe and to steer clear of any legal issues.
How do I get a fire safety assessment for my office?
If you’re in need of a fire risk assessment service for your office, contact us and get a FREE quote!
FireRiskAssessments.com offers professional and reliable fire risk assessments to help keep your office compliant and safe. Schedule yours today!