Commercial Fire Risk Assessment

Fire Risk Assessments for Offices, Shops and Warehouses

A commercial fire risk assessment should reflect how business premises are used, not just their floor plan. Offices, shops and warehouses have different combinations of people, equipment, stock and daily activity. The agreed assessment scope should take account of these differences and the areas that can be inspected.

For a workplace fire risk assessment, the way people use the building matters alongside its physical condition. Opening hours, deliveries, contractors, changing occupancy and restricted areas can affect fire precautions, escape arrangements and the access needed during an inspection.

These property types share some fire safety concerns, but the relevant details can be very different. A straightforward office, a busy retail unit and a warehouse with specialist processes should not be treated as identical premises simply because they have a similar floor area.

Business-related fire hazards, escape routes and people at risk

A business fire risk assessment should consider fire hazards and escape arrangements in the context of the activities taking place on site. Relevant matters may include electrical equipment, combustible stock, work processes, warning arrangements, protected routes and the people who use them.

Employees, customers, agency workers, contractors and delivery drivers may have different levels of familiarity with the building. Lone working, reduced-staff shifts and people who may need assistance during an emergency can also affect what needs to be considered.

Depending on the property and agreed scope, checks may include fire doors, escape routes, signage, emergency lighting, detection and warning arrangements, housekeeping and access to firefighting equipment. Any dangerous substances or specialist processes should be disclosed when the assessment is arranged.

Findings and actions for commercial premises

A commercial assessment report should identify the areas reviewed, significant findings and recommended actions within the agreed scope. It may also record spaces that could not be accessed and any assumptions or limitations that affect the findings.

Recommended actions could concern equipment, storage, escape routes, maintenance, staff procedures or coordination with another occupier. The person or organisation controlling each affected area should understand the relevant actions and priorities.

An assessment does not automatically include remedial work or specialist follow-up. Check separately what is included in the service. For other property types and wider booking options, you can book a fire risk assessment online through the main service page.

Responsibilities for Commercial Premises

Fire safety duties for commercial premises depend on who has control of the workplace and the relevant parts of the building. In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 establishes duties for responsible persons, including a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.

Responsibility may be shared between employers, occupiers, landlords and building managers. The legal framework is not identical throughout the UK: Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate fire safety legislation, so premises-specific local requirements must be checked.

Who is responsible for workplace fire safety

The responsible person may be an employer, occupier, owner or another party with control over all or part of the premises. The relevant parties should identify who manages work areas, shared routes, equipment and any building-wide fire safety arrangements.

A professional assessor can help identify risks and suitable measures, but appointing an assessor does not by itself transfer the responsible person's legal duties. Findings still need to be considered, acted upon where appropriate and kept under review.

Shared premises and reviewing the assessment

Businesses sharing a commercial building may need to cooperate where their fire precautions or escape routes affect one another. A fire risk assessment for commercial property with several occupiers may need to distinguish tenant-controlled work areas from corridors, stairways and systems managed by others.

Reviews are important when relevant changes mean that an assessment may no longer reflect the premises, including alterations to the layout, new equipment, increased occupancy, significant stock changes or a fire incident. A review does not necessarily require an entirely new inspection; the appropriate action depends on the circumstances.

For the applicable duties in England, consult UK Government workplace fire safety guidance. Check the relevant guidance and legislation separately for premises elsewhere in the UK.

Prices and Booking for Business Premises

The cost of a commercial fire risk assessment depends on the premises, how they are used and the agreed inspection scope. An office with straightforward access may involve different work from a property with several floors, restricted operating zones, specialist machinery or substantial storage.

Accurate property details make it easier to review relevant prices and appointment options. A quoted price should be considered alongside the spaces included, the access arrangements and any specialist requirements, rather than being compared on floor area alone.

Factors affecting the assessment price

The commercial fire risk assessment cost can vary with the property's size, complexity, activities and accessibility. Floor area is one consideration, but a smaller workplace with specialist processes or restricted rooms may need a different scope from a larger, simpler site.

• Property use, floor area and number of floors.
• Separate work areas, storage and operating zones.
• Machinery, specialist activities and access restrictions.
• Employee, visitor and customer occupancy.
• Location, appointment arrangements and inspection scope.

Provide enough detail about the actual premises before comparing prices. A generic figure cannot reliably account for every operational condition, and the scope of an individual booking should be checked before confirmation.

Preparing the workplace and arranging access

Preparing the areas included in the assessment helps the assessor understand the premises as they are normally used. Identify locked rooms, plant spaces, stock areas, loading bays and shared routes that may require keys, permission or an escort.

It is also useful to explain working hours, deliveries, shift changes and activities that cannot safely be interrupted. Site plans, existing fire safety checks and maintenance records and details of recent changes can help with preparation where available, although they do not replace the inspection.

If an important area cannot be accessed during the visit, the assessor may need to record that limitation. Clarifying access arrangements in advance can help avoid unnecessary gaps in the agreed assessment scope.

Booking details and inspection arrangements

Accurate booking information helps match the requested assessment with the property and available appointment options. Enter the business type, postcode, approximate floor area, number of floors and relevant operating details as precisely as possible.

Where a business occupies more than one location, describe each site's layout, use and inspection needs separately. Confirm the displayed price, appointment details and agreed scope before completing a booking.

Clear premises details and agreed access arrangements help reduce misunderstandings about what will be assessed. Use the booking form to review the options shown for your property, and raise any unusual operating or access requirements before confirming.