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Fire risk assessment is the systematic evaluation within a building or premises, finding the factors which determine; the hazard from fire, the likelihood that there will be a fire and the consequences if one were to occur. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of risks are assessed under the current British Standards, PAS 79-1:2020.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a non-domestic premises to have an in-date fire risk assessment at all times. This includes measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire, and identify any persons at risk.

By law it states that a ‘competent person’ must undertake the fire risk assessment, this includes the building’s ‘responsible person’, who may have no formal fire safety training, beyond the help of standard fire safety risk assessment guidelines. This can in some instances lead to insufficient and potentially dangerous fire risk assessments.

A fire risk assessment should be reviewed and renewed on an annual basis. This is to make sure the integrity of the building isn’t compromised in any way.

• A fire risk assessment contains the following:
• Identify the fire hazards
• Identify the people at risk
• Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks
• Record findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide training
• Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly

Type 4 - common parts and flats (destructive) requires a contractor to be present to open up any construction for inspection, and to make it right after the inspection and testing have been carried out. These tests and inspections often occur in flats that are vacant.

Commercial buildings are defined in Approved Document B volume 2. Fire doors are required in set locations in commercial buildings to fulfil the functional requirements of the building regulations.

Fire doors are crucial in protecting the means of escape in any building which allows a safe escape through exits. They are crucial in buildings that have a ‘stay out’ fire plan, as they provide the means to seek refuge in a compartment. The majority of fire doors are designed to stay closed at all times, whilst some doors are designed to stay open and then close automatically in the event of a fire.

A fire door inspection is a defined process whereby you confirm the door set installed will perform in the event of a fire. This is done by inspecting all components along a pass/fail protocol.

• Documentation available
• Intrusive checks
• Access control
• Door locations
• Layout of building
• Age of doors

An action plan is required when a fire door fails inspection. The issues need to be addressed within an acceptable time frame.

Fire Doors are only to be installed by a competent fire door installer with necessary training. One way of going about this is using companies that hold 3rd party certificates.

Fire Door repairs are only to be carried out by a competent installer who has the relevant knowledge and experience.

Yes, a sign off process is a good practice to have so that the installation meets the requirements of the manufacturer of the supplied fire door.

Compartmentation is the subdividing of buildings into a number of compartments.

To prevent the spread of fire by containing it within the room of origin.

Regulations say that your building needs to be safe in the event of a fire, this includes having compartmentation built within the structure. Compartmentation is not required in domestic premises unless there is a loft, according to the Regulatory Reform Order (RRO).

There is a defined process where you will identify defects and faults in existing compartmentation against a set of agreed protocols.