Fire Risk Assessments in Caterham

In most cases, yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is required for business premises, workplaces, places of worship and the communal areas of residential buildings.

The law applies whether you employ one person or hundreds. Since October 2023, all Responsible Persons must also record their fire risk assessment in full, regardless of the number of employees.

If you’re unsure whether the legislation applies to your property, speak to us. We’ll help you understand your responsibilities and what type of assessment you need.

The cost depends on your building’s size, layout, occupancy, activities and overall complexity. A small office or shop will generally require less assessment time than a large warehouse, multi-storey building or premises with higher-risk activities.

At ESI: Fire Safety, we provide a clear, no-obligation quotation based on your particular property. You’ll know what’s included before making a decision, without unexpected extras.

Tell us a little about your premises, and we’ll provide a quotation tailored to your requirements.

It depends on who controls the premises and the responsibilities involved. Under the Fire Safety Order, the Responsible Person could be an employer, landlord, building owner, managing agent or occupier.

In multi-occupied buildings, several parties may have legal responsibilities. For example, a landlord might manage communal escape routes and shared fire safety systems, while individual tenants remain responsible for their own occupied areas.

Importantly, the law requires Responsible Persons to cooperate and coordinate their fire safety arrangements.

We can help clarify where responsibilities lie and identify where information needs to be shared between the parties.

At ESI: Fire Safety, you’ll deal directly with Jamie Morgan, an experienced fire safety consultant who holds a Level 6 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment and has extensive experience in building safety and engineering.

Jamie takes a personal, hands-on approach to understanding your premises, speaking with the people responsible for fire safety and answering questions from staff during the visit.

We’re not interested in rushing through a checklist. Our aim is to provide a professional assessment, explain the risks and help you understand how to make your building safer.

You’ll know who you’re dealing with and have someone you can speak to when you need advice.

A proper assessment involves much more than checking whether you have fire extinguishers and working smoke detectors.

We’ll examine potential fire hazards, means of escape, fire doors, emergency lighting, fire detection and warning systems, compartmentation and the arrangements you have in place for managing fire safety.

We also consider how the building is used, who might be at risk and whether existing precautions are appropriate.

Where applicable, our assessments follow the recognised methodology set out in PAS 79-1:2020, alongside relevant legislation and guidance.

You’ll receive a detailed report with clear findings and practical, prioritised recommendations.

We understand that fire risk assessments are sometimes needed at short notice, particularly when you’re opening new premises, taking over a commercial lease, responding to a request from your insurer or dealing with a compliance concern.

Contact ESI: Fire Safety with your property details and preferred dates, and we’ll check our availability.

Following the site visit, we’ll prepare your assessment report, including the findings and recommended actions. We’ll confirm the expected turnaround when arranging your appointment.

If you have a particular deadline, let us know. We’ll explain what’s realistically achievable and help you plan the next steps.

Absolutely. One of the biggest frustrations for business owners is receiving a lengthy assessment report and then being left to work out what to do next.

We can help you understand the findings, prioritise improvements and plan the necessary work.

Whether you need advice on fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, evacuation arrangements or staff training, we can provide practical guidance and additional consultancy support.

We also offer ongoing fire safety management services, helping you keep up with inspections, reviews, fire drills and other responsibilities.

Our relationship doesn’t have to end when your report is delivered.

A fire risk assessment isn’t a pass-or-fail examination, and identifying deficiencies doesn’t automatically mean your business must close.

Our job is to identify the risks, explain their significance and recommend appropriate action. Findings are prioritised so you can understand what requires urgent attention and what can be addressed through a planned programme of improvements.

Where serious risks are identified, immediate precautions may be necessary to protect people.

We’ll explain the findings in plain English and discuss practical ways forward, helping you make informed decisions rather than leaving you with a report you don’t understand.

There’s no fixed legal requirement to commission a completely new fire risk assessment every 12 months. However, the Fire Safety Order requires assessments to be reviewed regularly and kept up to date.

An annual review is generally recognised as good practice for smaller, straightforward premises, although more complex or higher-risk buildings may need more frequent attention.

You should also review your assessment following significant changes, such as alterations to the building, changes in occupancy, new working processes or a fire-related incident.

We can advise on an appropriate review schedule and help you manage your ongoing fire safety responsibilities.

That depends on the size and complexity of your premises. A small shop or office may take a relatively short time, while larger buildings or those with complex layouts and activities require a more detailed inspection.

We understand you’ve got a business to run, so we’ll arrange a convenient appointment and aim to keep disruption to a minimum.

You can normally continue your usual activities while we’re on site, although we’ll need access to relevant rooms, escape routes and fire safety equipment.

We’ll also take time to answer questions and share useful fire safety advice with you and your staff.