Fire risk assessments are the most important safety procedure you have to carry out on your premises. An assessment ensures that your property meets all current fire safety standards. Its focus centres on the status of your fire extinguishers, the accessibility of fire exits and the location and status of your fire alarms.
But how often should you carry out a fire risk assessment? Here, we’ll be providing the answer, as well as outlining once again the importance of fire risk assessments.
Who Is Responsible?
If you are the employer, owner, landlord, occupier, or a person in control of the premises such as a facilities manager, you are responsible for completing a fire risk assessment of your business or non-domestic premises. As such, it is essential for you to know how often to carry out a fire risk assessment.
Regular Assessments Are Key
While there isn’t a fixed period for reviewing your fire risk assessment, it is best to do so on an annual basis. Circumstances change year on year, so maintaining a vigilant attitude with regards to fire safety is the best way to rout the worst risks to safety.
That said, if circumstances on your premises change substantially before your annual review, you should complete another risk assessment promptly. You should review your fire risk assessment if, for instance:
- There are significant changes to the building layout
- Staff levels grow or diminish substantially
- Occupancy limitation changes occur
- New, potentially risky activities are undertaken on the premises
Likewise, if there are changes to fire safety legislation, you should have another fire risk assessment conducted.
Who Can Conduct a Fire Risk Assessment?
If your company has a fully trained fire marshall – which a staff member can become following a four-hour course – then you can safely conduct a fire risk assessment in-house. However, if this is not the case, you will not have an appropriate ‘competent person’ present who can complete the assessment. In situations like this, we advise that you rely on the expert fire safety services of Protect & Detect.
At Protect & Detect, we offer a range of services to ensure your property or business meets all fire safety regulations, including comprehensive fire risk assessments. We also offer professional installation and safety checks on fire extinguishers and fire detection devices in a variety of business fields. For more information on our services, contact us today.