Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Risk Assessments also known as FRAs are a legal requirement of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (also known as the RRO), which came into force in 2006 and requires every property, excluding a single private dwelling, to have a “Suitable and Sufficient” FRA completed by a Competent Person.

The RRO effectively moved the responsibility for proactive fire safety to building owners, managers and occupiers also known as the Responsible Person.

So, who is the Competent Person?  According to the RRO it is someone who has ‘sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities in order to complete the FRA’. These other qualities should include integrity and an ethical approach to their role – this is where our team comes in!

Back to the purpose of an FRA – it provides an assessment of the risk to life from fire in the premises and where appropriate make recommendations to reduce those risks to life. Acting on the recommendations can help reduce the chances of a fire occurring and should a fire occur reduce the impact on relevant persons.

It’s important to note that as stated in the Fire Safety Act 2021 (from 29^th April 2021), Responsible Persons are accountable for failing to comply with risk-based guidance.

How often should FRA’s be reviewed?  The original FRA should be reviewed at regular intervals, at least annually, to ensure it remains “suitable and sufficient” in relation to the property.  If there are any material changes to the property then the assessment must be reviewed.

Our recommendation is that they are re-assessed every three years to account for any degradation to the building as well as any changes within the vicinity of a building such as; a multi-storey carpark has been built next door etc.

It’s a good idea to have the risk assessment reviewed by a competent person should it be deemed not to be “suitable and sufficient” or should a fire or other fire safety incident occur.

Just to summarise, if you are a property manager, building owner, occupier, letting agent, facilities manager etc. then as the Responsible Person we can help you with completing the FRAs as well as Fire Door Inspections knowing we are the Competent Person!