Commercial Fire Risk Assessment

Commercial Fire Risk Assessment Services

A commercial fire risk assessment helps identify fire hazards, consider who may be at risk and review the fire safety arrangements within a business or other non-domestic premises.

Commercial properties can present very different risks depending on the type of business, the building layout, the number of people using the premises and the activities carried out on site.

Through MyConstructor, businesses, landlords, property managers and other responsible parties can compare available assessors, prices and appointment times for offices, shops, warehouses and other commercial premises.

Enter your postcode and property details to compare available options before booking online.

Which Commercial Properties Can Be Assessed?

Commercial fire risk assessments can be arranged for a wide range of non-domestic premises.

The correct assessment approach depends on the way the building is occupied, the activities carried out within it and the people who may be present.

Properties may include:

• offices and administrative workplaces;
• shops and other retail premises;
• warehouses and storage buildings;
• commercial units;
• mixed-use business premises;
• workplaces occupied by staff and visitors;
• premises used by customers, contractors or members of the public; and
• other non-domestic buildings within the agreed assessment scope.

A commercial fire risk assessment should reflect the actual business activity and use of the premises rather than rely on a generic checklist.

This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Where there is uncertainty about the requirements for a particular business or property, appropriate professional or regulatory advice should be obtained.

Why Fire Risks Differ Between Commercial Premises

Two commercial buildings of a similar size can present very different fire risks.

An office may contain large numbers of employees, electrical equipment and meeting spaces. A shop may need to consider customers who are unfamiliar with the building. A warehouse may contain extensive stock, storage areas, equipment and different patterns of vehicle or contractor access.

The assessment should therefore consider the relationship between the building, business activity, people, equipment, materials and working practices.

Offices and Workplaces

An office fire risk assessment may consider areas used by employees, visitors and contractors, including workspaces, meeting rooms, kitchens, corridors, stairways and exits.

Potential issues may include:

• electrical equipment and charging arrangements;
• office kitchens and cooking appliances;
• storage and combustible materials;
• escape routes used by staff and visitors;
• meeting rooms and areas with varying occupancy;
• people who may require assistance during an emergency; and
• staff awareness and emergency arrangements.

The assessment should reflect how the workplace operates during normal business activity rather than only how the building appears when it is empty.

Shops and Retail Premises

Shops and other retail premises may need to consider both employees and customers.

Customers may be unfamiliar with the building, while stock displays, storage, deliveries and changes to the sales floor can affect how people move through the premises.

A retail assessment may therefore consider:

• customer and staff escape routes;
• sales-floor layouts;
• stock and combustible materials;
• back-of-house and storage areas;
• delivery and loading arrangements;
• electrical and other equipment;
• areas not normally accessible to customers; and
• how staff would respond in an emergency.

Warehouses and Storage Premises

Warehouses can present a different risk profile because of the amount and type of stock stored, the size of the premises and the activities carried out within them.

A warehouse fire risk assessment may consider:

• the type and arrangement of stored materials;
• high-level or dense storage;
• aisles and access routes;
• loading and delivery areas;
• equipment and machinery where relevant;
• battery charging or other operational activities;
• contractor and driver access;
• large or complex escape distances; and
• the number and location of people working within the building.

The assessment should consider how storage and business operations may affect both the likelihood of a fire and the ability of people to reach safety.

What Is Checked During a Commercial Fire Risk Assessment?

The exact inspection depends on the premises, the business activity, the agreed assessment scope and the areas that can be accessed.

A commercial fire risk assessment may consider:

• potential sources of ignition;
• combustible materials and other possible sources of fuel;
• work equipment and operational activities;
• stock and storage arrangements;
• staff, customers, visitors and contractors who may be at risk;
• people who may require additional assistance;
• escape routes and final exits;
• relevant fire doors and visible fire separation;
• visible fire detection and warning arrangements;
• emergency lighting and fire safety signage where applicable;
• housekeeping and waste management;
• existing emergency procedures and management arrangements; and
• actions that may help reduce identified risks.

The assessor should consider the premises as a working environment, taking account of how the business operates during normal use.

For example, a corridor that appears clear outside business hours may operate differently when deliveries, customers, stock or equipment are present.

The findings should therefore reflect the actual use of the premises rather than only the physical building.

Who May Be at Risk in a Commercial Property?

A commercial assessment should consider the different groups of people who may be present within the premises.

Depending on the business, these may include:

• employees;
• customers;
• visitors;
• contractors;
• delivery drivers;
• temporary or agency workers;
• people working alone;
• people unfamiliar with the premises; and
• people who may require additional assistance during an emergency.

Different groups may respond differently in an emergency.

Staff may be familiar with the building, while customers and visitors may not know the available escape routes. Contractors or delivery drivers may also enter areas that are not used by the public.

A suitable assessment should therefore consider who is present, where they may be located and how they would reach safety.

How Business Activities Can Affect Fire Risk

The way a business operates can significantly affect its fire risk.

Relevant factors may include:

• the use of electrical or mechanical equipment;
• cooking or heating activities;
• storage of stock and other combustible materials;
• deliveries and loading operations;
• maintenance work;
• contractor activity;
• changes in staffing or occupancy;
• temporary displays or alterations to layouts; and
• changes to the normal use of rooms or work areas.

A commercial fire risk assessment should therefore consider both the building and the day-to-day activities taking place inside it.

How Much Does a Commercial Fire Risk Assessment Cost?

The commercial fire risk assessment cost depends on the size, type and complexity of the premises.

Factors that may affect the price include:

• the size and floor area of the premises;
• the number of floors or separate areas;
• the type of business activity;
• the number of employees and other people using the premises;
• the complexity of the building layout;
• the amount and type of stock or storage;
• equipment and operational activities;
• the areas included within the assessment scope;
• access requirements;
• assessor availability in the area; and
• report or turnaround requirements.

A small office with a straightforward layout will not necessarily require the same level of inspection as a large warehouse or a complex commercial property with several floors and operating areas.

Enter your postcode and property details to compare available assessors, prices and appointment times for your premises.

What Does a Commercial Fire Risk Assessment Report Cover?

After the site visit, the assessor will normally provide written findings or a fire risk assessment report.

For a commercial property, the report should relate to the actual premises, business activity and people using the building.

Depending on the assessment, the report may include:

• details of the premises and agreed assessment scope;
• fire hazards identified during the inspection;
• groups of people who may be at risk;
• observations relating to business activities and work areas;
• issues affecting escape routes and exits;
• relevant observations about fire doors and separation;
• visible alarm, lighting or signage issues where applicable;
• stock, storage or housekeeping concerns;
• existing emergency and management arrangements;
• recommended actions;
• priorities for reducing identified risks; and
• areas that may require further investigation, maintenance or specialist review.

The exact format and level of detail can vary according to the assessor and the complexity of the premises.

The report should be read in the context of the business and areas that were actually inspected, including any limitations recorded during the assessment.

What Access Is Needed for a Commercial Fire Risk Assessment?

The assessor should be able to access the relevant areas included within the agreed assessment scope.

Depending on the premises, this may include:

• work areas and offices;
• customer or public areas;
• storage rooms and stock areas;
• warehouses and loading areas;
• staff rooms and kitchens;
• corridors, stairways and final exits;
• plant or service areas where included;
• relevant fire safety equipment; and
• other operational areas covered by the assessment.

Where areas are locked, restricted or subject to operational controls, access arrangements should be considered before the appointment.

If important areas cannot be inspected, the assessor may need to record limitations in the report.

When Should a Commercial Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?

A commercial fire risk assessment should continue to reflect the premises and the way the business currently operates.

A review may be appropriate following significant changes such as:

• alterations to the building layout;
• changes to escape routes or exits;
• major refurbishment or building works;
• changes in business activity;
• new equipment or processes;
• significant changes to stock or storage;
• changes in staffing or occupancy;
• changes to fire safety arrangements;
• a fire or other significant fire safety incident; or
• new information suggesting that the existing assessment may no longer reflect the premises.

A business can change even when the building itself does not. Changes in operations, equipment, storage or occupancy may therefore affect whether the existing assessment remains suitable.

Choosing a Commercial Fire Risk Assessor

Commercial premises can vary significantly in complexity, so the assessor should have suitable competence and experience for the type of property and business involved.

When comparing assessors, consider whether they have appropriate experience with:

• commercial and non-domestic premises;
• offices and workplaces;
• shops and retail environments;
• warehouses and storage buildings;
• multi-storey or complex commercial layouts; and
• the type of business activity carried out at the premises.

Price is important, but it should not be the only consideration.

The assessor should be able to understand the premises, the way the business operates and the agreed assessment scope.

Through MyConstructor, you can compare available assessors, prices, reviews and appointment times before choosing a booking option.

Do You Need a Commercial or Residential Fire Risk Assessment?

This page is specifically for commercial and other non-domestic premises.

For offices, shops, warehouses and other workplaces or business premises, the commercial fire risk assessment service is generally the most relevant booking route.

For a house in multiple occupation or shared house, visit our HMO fire risk assessment service.

For rental properties, blocks of flats, communal areas and other shared residential common parts, visit our landlord fire risk assessment service.

For a broader overview of all available property types and assessment options, visit our main fire risk assessment services page.

Choosing the most appropriate service helps ensure that the booking information and assessment scope match the type and use of the premises.

Why Book a Commercial Fire Risk Assessment Through MyConstructor?

MyConstructor allows businesses, landlords and property managers to compare available commercial fire risk assessment options in one place.

You can:

• enter the postcode and relevant property details;
• compare available prices;
• review assessor profiles and customer feedback where available;
• choose an appointment time that suits your business; and
• book online.

The aim is to make it easier to find an available assessor for a commercial property without having to contact multiple providers individually.