Fire safety is one of the few areas of UK business compliance where the legal duty falls on a specifically named individual, the “responsible person”, rather than the business in the abstract. For most small businesses, that responsible person is the owner or a senior manager, whether or not they’ve formally recognised the role.
Direct answer: almost every UK business premises requires a fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This must be carried out by a “responsible person,” identify fire hazards and who might be at risk, and set out the precautions in place. It needs regular review, particularly after any significant change to the premises or how the business operates.
Who is the “responsible person”?
Typically the employer, owner, or whoever has control of the premises. This person carries legal responsibility for fire safety, including ensuring a proper risk assessment is carried out and kept current, regardless of whether they personally conduct it or arrange for someone else to.
What a fire risk assessment actually covers
Identifying fire hazards
Sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen that could combine to start a fire, and anything that could allow a fire to spread once started.
Identifying people at risk
Staff, visitors, and anyone else who might be on the premises, with particular attention to anyone who might need additional help evacuating.
Evaluating and reducing risk
Deciding whether existing precautions are adequate, and what additional measures are needed to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
Recording findings
For businesses with five or more employees, findings must be recorded in writing. Smaller businesses aren’t legally required to record findings, though doing so is good practice regardless, since it demonstrates the assessment was genuinely carried out.
Planning, training and reviewing
A clear evacuation plan, appropriate staff training, and a commitment to reviewing the assessment regularly, particularly after any significant change.
Fire safety measures a typical assessment identifies
| Area | What’s typically required |
|---|---|
| Detection and warning | Working smoke alarms or a fire alarm system appropriate to premises size |
| Escape routes | Clear, unobstructed routes, adequately signed |
| Firefighting equipment | Appropriate fire extinguishers, correctly maintained |
| Emergency lighting | Where natural light can’t be relied on during an evacuation |
| Staff training | Clear understanding of evacuation procedures and assembly points |
How often does it need reviewing?
There’s no fixed legal interval, but a fire risk assessment should be reviewed regularly and specifically after any significant change: a change to the layout of the premises, a change in the number of people using the space, or after any near-miss or actual incident.
Can you do it yourself, or do you need a professional?
For a simple, low-risk premises, such as a small office, many responsible persons can carry out a competent assessment themselves using official guidance. Higher-risk premises, larger buildings, or situations involving vulnerable occupants often warrant a professional fire risk assessor, both for genuine safety and to demonstrate due diligence if the assessment is ever scrutinised.
What happens if you don’t have one?
Fire authorities can inspect premises and take enforcement action, including fines, against a responsible person without an adequate assessment. Beyond the legal risk, the practical consequence of an inadequate assessment is a genuinely higher risk to people’s safety if a fire does occur.
Where this fits into your wider compliance picture
Fire risk assessment is one specific, substantial piece of a business’s broader health and safety obligations. Our guide on health and safety for small business covers the wider legal picture this fits into.
FAQs
Who is legally responsible for fire risk assessment in a small business? The “responsible person,” typically the employer, owner, or whoever controls the premises, carries legal responsibility for ensuring an adequate fire risk assessment is in place and kept current.
Do I need to record my fire risk assessment in writing? It’s a legal requirement for businesses with five or more employees. Smaller businesses aren’t legally required to record it, but doing so is genuinely good practice.
How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed? There’s no fixed interval, but it should be reviewed regularly and specifically after any significant change to the premises, occupancy, or following any incident or near-miss.
Can I carry out a fire risk assessment myself? For a simple, low-risk premises, yes, many responsible persons manage this themselves using official guidance. Higher-risk or more complex premises often warrant a professional fire risk assessor.
