Commercial Fire Risk Assessment

Commercial fire risk assessment services

A commercial fire risk assessment helps business owners, employers, facilities managers, commercial landlords, occupiers and other responsible persons understand fire risks in non-domestic premises. Through MyConstructor, you can book vetted UK assessors for offices, shops, warehouses, workplaces and other commercial buildings.

The assessment can help identify fire hazards, people who may be at risk, existing fire safety measures and actions that may be needed to reduce risk. It is suitable for businesses that need a professional review of their premises, escape routes, fire doors, emergency lighting, signs, alarms, storage areas and workplace fire safety arrangements.

Use the booking form to enter your postcode, select the most relevant commercial property type and compare available assessors. You can then choose a price, review appointment times and book online.

When a commercial fire risk assessment may be needed

A commercial fire risk assessment may be needed where a person or business has responsibility for fire safety in a workplace or other non-domestic premises. This can include employers, owners, commercial landlords, business tenants, occupiers, facilities managers, building managers, managing agents or anyone else with control of the premises.

Commercial premises can change over time. A workplace may need review after changes to layout, staffing, opening hours, storage, equipment, refurbishment, business activity or fire safety arrangements. Shared buildings may also involve more than one responsible person, which can make access, communication and management arrangements important.

This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. For official guidance, you can also review the GOV.UK workplace fire safety information at fire risk assessments.

Commercial premises we cover

Different commercial premises have different fire risks. A quiet office is not assessed in the same way as a retail unit with public access, a warehouse with stock storage or a mixed-use building with shared routes.

Offices and workplaces

An office fire risk assessment may look at staff areas, meeting rooms, kitchens, electrical equipment, escape routes, fire doors, emergency lighting, signage, alarms and arrangements for employees, visitors and contractors.

Shops and retail units

A shop fire risk assessment may consider public access, stock storage, display layouts, staff-only areas, escape routes, tills, back rooms, fire safety signs, lighting, customer movement and the way the premises operates during trading hours.

Warehouses and storage premises

A warehouse fire risk assessment may review storage layout, racking, combustible materials, loading areas, staff routes, vehicle access, electrical equipment, housekeeping, stock movement and the fire safety measures in place across larger or more complex spaces.

Shared commercial buildings

Shared commercial buildings can include offices, retail units, workshops or business premises with common entrances, corridors, stairways, reception areas or shared exits. The assessment may consider how different occupiers use the building and how shared routes are managed.

Commercial fire risk assessment cost

The commercial fire risk assessment cost depends on the property type, size, layout, number of floors, use of the premises and overall complexity of the building. A small office or shop may have different pricing from a large warehouse, multi-floor workplace or premises with several access points and storage areas.

Common factors that can affect the price include:

• Property type, such as office, shop, warehouse or workplace premises
• Size, floor area and number of storeys
• Number of rooms, departments, stock areas or work zones
• Escape routes, stairways, corridors and final exits
• Type of business activity carried out onsite
• Public access, staff numbers, visitors and contractors
• Storage, combustible materials or equipment risks
• Existing alarms, fire doors, emergency lighting and signs
• Assessor availability in your area
• Report requirements and turnaround time

To get a commercial fire risk assessment quote, enter your postcode and property details in the booking form. You can compare available assessors, prices and appointment times before confirming your booking.

What gets checked in commercial premises

During a commercial fire risk assessment, the assessor reviews the premises from a fire safety perspective and considers how fire risks could affect employees, customers, visitors, contractors, occupiers and other people who may use the building.

A commercial assessment may include checks such as:

• Fire hazards in accessible workplace and business areas
• Possible ignition sources, including electrical equipment, heating or machinery where relevant
• Combustible materials, stock, packaging, storage and housekeeping risks
• Escape routes, stairways, corridors, doors and final exits
• Fire doors, door closers and visible issues where relevant
• Alarms, detection systems and warning arrangements where relevant
• Emergency lighting and fire safety signage where relevant
• Firefighting equipment and its visible location where relevant
• People who may be at risk, including staff, visitors, customers and contractors
• Areas used by lone workers, night staff or vulnerable people where relevant
• Current emergency procedures and fire safety arrangements
• Recommended actions to help reduce risk

The exact checks depend on the property layout, business activity, access provided and the assessor’s professional judgement.

Workplace fire risk assessment

A workplace fire risk assessment focuses on the way a business premises is used by staff, visitors, contractors and anyone else who may be affected by fire risk. It can help employers and managers understand whether escape routes, warning systems, fire safety measures and management procedures are suitable for the workplace.

Workplaces can include offices, retail units, warehouses, workshops, clinics, studios and other business premises. The assessor may consider how people enter, move through and leave the building, as well as any risks linked to equipment, storage, staff numbers, opening hours or shared access.

Office fire risk assessment

An office fire risk assessment may be suitable for small offices, serviced offices, multi-floor workplaces, co-working spaces and office areas within larger commercial buildings. Office risks can include electrical equipment, kitchen areas, meeting rooms, storage, blocked escape routes, poor signage or unclear emergency arrangements.

The assessment can help office managers, employers, landlords and facilities teams identify practical actions that may improve fire safety and make the workplace easier to manage.

Shop fire risk assessment

A shop fire risk assessment is designed for retail premises where staff, customers, contractors and delivery workers may use the building. Retail layouts can change often because of stock movement, seasonal displays, shelving, promotional stands and back-room storage.

The assessor may review public areas, staff-only areas, tills, stock rooms, exits, signs, emergency lighting and how people would leave the shop in an emergency. This can help retailers understand risks linked to both customer access and day-to-day operations.

Warehouse fire risk assessment

A warehouse fire risk assessment may be needed for storage, distribution, logistics or stock-handling premises. Warehouses can involve larger floor areas, racking, goods movement, machinery, packaging, loading bays, staff routes and different levels of combustible materials.

The assessor may consider storage layout, escape routes, housekeeping, signage, lighting, fire doors, alarms, access arrangements and whether fire safety measures are suitable for the way the warehouse is used.

What the commercial fire risk report includes

After the visit, the assessor will usually provide a commercial fire risk assessment report or written findings. The report helps summarise the main risks identified during the inspection and the actions that may need to be considered.

The report may include:

• Commercial property details and assessment scope
• Fire hazards identified during the inspection
• People who may be at risk, including staff, visitors, customers or contractors
• Existing fire safety measures
• Issues linked to escape routes, doors, alarms, lighting or signs where relevant
• Comments on storage, housekeeping, business use or workplace arrangements where relevant
• Recommended actions and risk reduction measures
• Areas that may need further review, repair or maintenance

The format and level of detail can vary depending on the assessor, business premises and complexity of the building.

How long a commercial fire risk assessment takes

The time needed for a commercial fire risk assessment depends on the size, layout, number of floors, access requirements and complexity of the business premises. A small office or shop may take less time than a warehouse, large workplace or multi-occupier commercial building.

After the site visit, the assessor may need additional time to prepare the report and outline the recommended actions. Providing clear access to work areas, exits, storage rooms, plant rooms, shared routes and fire safety equipment can help the assessment run more smoothly.

Reviewing fire risks in business premises

A commercial fire risk assessment should be reviewed when the premises, layout, occupancy, business activity or fire safety arrangements change. Reviews may also be needed after refurbishment, changes to stock levels, new equipment, changes in working patterns, fire safety incidents or changes to the way the building is managed.

Employers, business owners, occupiers and facilities managers should keep commercial premises under review and make sure the assessment remains suitable for the way the workplace is used.

Who can carry out a commercial fire risk assessment

A competent person should carry out a fire risk assessment. Many businesses choose to book a professional commercial fire risk assessor because workplace premises can involve practical risks linked to staff safety, customer access, storage, equipment, escape routes and business operations.

When comparing assessors, consider their experience with offices, shops, warehouses or similar commercial premises, as well as clear pricing, customer reviews and ability to inspect the relevant parts of the building. The assessor should understand the fire safety issues that can affect business premises and workplace environments.

Access is important. If stock rooms, work areas, staff rooms, plant rooms, shared routes, exits or other relevant areas cannot be accessed, the assessment may be limited and the report may not fully reflect the condition of the premises.

Other fire risk assessment options

This page is focused on commercial fire risk assessments for non-domestic premises and workplace environments. It is intended for business-related properties where the assessment needs to reflect commercial use, staff access, visitors, contractors, equipment, storage, operations and building management responsibilities.

If you need a fire safety review for residential property types, please use our dedicated landlord fire risk assessment page. That page is the better route for users looking for residential property guidance rather than a business or workplace assessment.

If the property is a house in multiple occupation, please use our dedicated HMO fire risk assessment page. This keeps HMO-specific bookings separate from standard commercial premises and helps you choose the most relevant service before comparing assessor availability and prices.

For a broader overview of available assessment types, you can return to our main fire risk assessment services page. The main hub is best for users who are still comparing service categories or are unsure which booking route applies to their property.

Why book this commercial assessment online

MyConstructor helps business owners, employers, occupiers, commercial landlords, building managers and facilities managers compare assessors and book property services online. Instead of contacting different fire risk assessment companies separately, you can use the platform to compare availability, prices and reviews in one place.

Booking online can help you:

• Compare vetted assessors for offices, shops, warehouses and workplaces
• Check prices before confirming your booking
• Choose an appointment time that suits your business schedule
• Book online using a clear process
• Arrange assessments for commercial and non-domestic premises
• Contact support if you need help with your booking

The aim is to make it easier to book a professional commercial fire risk assessment with clear pricing and convenient appointment options.