When it comes to fire safety, there’s one question every business or property owner needs to ask: “Who is responsible for completing a fire risk assessment?”
A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement and a crucial part of protecting your building and the people in it.
Knowing your responsibilities can save lives, reduce liability, and help you stay compliant with the law.
With clearer regulations now in place, this blog will unpack exactly what those responsibilities are and what’s changed.
1. Who is responsible for fire risk assessment?
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, there must always be someone in charge of fire safety. This person is called the ‘Responsible Person’.
They could be:
- A business owner
- A landlord
- A building manager
- A facilities manager
- A school headteacher or site manager
Who is the responsible person?
In most cases, the ‘Responsible Person’ will be the employer.
The Responsible Person could be the site manager, but while they implement the policy, the Employer is generally given this responsibility.
They must ensure their employee has sufficient knowledge, training & support to effectively implement the policy & protect employee safety.
For smaller companies, the director might be the Responsible Person, and similarly needs to ensure their managers have the right level of competence or consider engaging the services of an external organisation.
Your fire safety policy should clearly outline:
- The management structure for fire safety
- Who is responsible for what
- Who is the Responsible Person
Without this clarity, lives and livelihoods are at risk.
Residential properties and HMOs
In residential premises or Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), there may not be any employees, but there will be someone responsible for the management and maintenance of the communal areas.
This could be the Landlord, who may in turn pass this onto a managing agent, or there may be a Residents association.
As above, there should be a fire safety policy in place that clearly outlines who is responsible for each aspect of fire safety.
It should also highlight the areas residents need to be aware of, including how they can raise any concerns – particularly regarding their flat front doors, which play a key role in fire protection.
‘Responsible Persons’ and new fire safety regulations
Since October 2023, under the Building Safety Act 2022, high-rise residential buildings over 18m must appoint an Accountable Person and a Principal Accountable Person.
Both have legal duties to assess and manage structural and fire safety risks, prevent hazards, and reduce impacts. They must also be registered with the Building Safety Regulator.
If you’re in charge of a building or the people in it, you’re probably responsible for fire safety. This includes making sure a fire risk assessment is carried out and regularly reviewed.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and the Building Safety Act 2022 are now in force. Since October 2023, all Responsible Persons should understand how these laws affect their duties.
While the Fire Safety Regulations introduced major changes for residential premises, Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 has brought significant new requirements for non-domestic Responsible Persons.
They must now record all fire risk assessment findings, document how fire safety is managed, and identify and cooperate with other Responsible Persons.
There is also the emphasis on ensuring that the person carrying out your fire risk assessment is competent to do so.
This means ensuring ‘the person has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable the person properly to assist in making or reviewing the assessment’
2. What are the key fire safety changes in 2025?
There are several important updates to fire safety regulations which are coming into effect in 2025:
1. Sprinklers in new care homes
From March 2025, all new care homes must have sprinkler systems fitted. This helps keep vulnerable residents safe.
2. New fire testing standards
The UK is switching to European fire testing rules. This means building materials and safety products will be tested differently from March 2025.
3. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)
If someone needs extra help during a fire (like people with mobility issues or disabilities) you must have a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) to get them out safely.
These have always been required for businesses under Health & Safety regulations, however the Government has committed to introducing regulations requiring Residential PEEPS in blocks of flats.
Not sure if you need a GEEP or a PEEP? Read our guide for more information.
4. Ban on AFFF foam fire extinguishers
From July 2025, certain foam fire extinguishers (called AFFF) won’t be allowed anymore because they harm the environment. You’ll need to replace these with safer options.
What is a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment is a simple check to spot fire risks in your building and work out how to fix them.
There are five steps involved in the fire risk assessment process:
- Look for fire hazards (like faulty wiring or flammable materials)
- Think about who might be in danger
- Find ways to reduce the risks
- Write down what you find and make an action plan
- Check and update the assessment regularly
Using a fire risk assessment template or checklist can help make this easier, or you can use a professional fire risk assessor to make sure everything is done correctly, comprehensively, and safely.
How often should you review fire risk assessments?
You need to review your fire risk assessment:
- At least once every year
- Whenever there are changes to the building or how it’s used
- After a fire or any near-miss incident
This keeps your fire safety up to date and working properly.
If you’ve had a professional fire risk assessment that’s due for renewal, the FireRiskAssessment.com renewal process is the easiest way to keep your fire safety up to date.
What about fire marshals and fire wardens?
Having a fire risk assessment isn’t enough. You also need trained people, called fire marshals or fire wardens, to help keep everyone safe.
They’re responsible for checking exits are clear, supporting fire drills, and leading evacuations if there’s an emergency.
You can get fire marshal training or fire warden training online or in person, but either way, it’s important they have the right training and qualifications to do the job properly.
At FireRiskAssessments.com, we offer professional fire warden training that gives your team the skills and confidence to respond safely and calmly in a fire situation.
Get professional help with your fire safety
If you’re not sure what to do or want to make sure everything is done right when it comes to fire safety, FireRiskAssessments.com can help.
We offer:
- Professional fire risk assessments
- Expert fire warden training
- Easy-to-use checklists and expert fire safety advice
Get in touch with us to get a free risk assessment quote today and take the first step to protecting lives, keeping your premises safe, and meeting all the new fire safety rules.