If you’ve been researching fire safety or fire risk assessments, you might have come across the term PAS 79. It’s one of those bits of jargon that gets thrown around in the industry—but what exactly is it? And do you need to worry about it?
At ESI: Electrical Safety Inspections, we often get asked by landlords, property managers, and business owners:
“Do I need to follow PAS 79 for my fire risk assessment?”
So here’s everything you need to know—without the waffle.
What Is PAS 79?
PAS 79 stands for Publicly Available Specification 79, and it’s a British Standard code of practice for carrying out fire risk assessments.
It was first introduced by the British Standards Institution (BSI) as a structured guide for fire risk assessors to follow, helping ensure consistency and quality in how assessments are completed.
Think of it as a best-practice framework—it doesn’t change the law, but it gives professionals a recommended method to document, structure, and justify their fire safety findings in a clear and compliant way.
Who Is It For?
PAS 79 is mainly designed for:
- Fire safety professionals and assessors
- Landlords and facilities managers of complex premises
- Responsible Persons who want to ensure thorough documentation
- Businesses looking for confidence in their legal compliance
It’s not a legal requirement to use PAS 79—but it is widely respected by fire authorities, insurers, and professional bodies like the IFE (Institute of Fire Engineers).
What Does PAS 79 Include?
The PAS 79 guidance outlines a structured 9-step process to carrying out a fire risk assessment. This includes:
- Identifying fire hazards
- Identifying people at risk
- Evaluating the risk of fire starting
- Evaluating the risk to people
- Removing or reducing fire hazards
- Removing or reducing risks to people
- Recording findings and actions
- Preparing an emergency plan
- Reviewing and revising as necessary
It also provides a standard format for documenting the assessment, making it easier to spot gaps, prioritise risks, and provide evidence of compliance if you’re ever audited or inspected.
What’s the Latest Version?
The most current guidance is:
🔸 PAS 79-1:2020 – For non-housing premises (e.g. shops, offices, factories)
🔸 PAS 79-2:2020 – For housing premises (e.g. blocks of flats, HMOs)
This update was brought in to reflect lessons learned from Grenfell and other fire safety developments. The guidance in PAS 79-2, in particular, addresses issues around compartmentation, evacuation strategies, and cladding/fire spread risks in residential buildings.
Do I Have to Use PAS 79?
Legally? No.
You’re not required by law to use PAS 79. What the law does require is that your fire risk assessment is:
✅ Suitable and sufficient
✅ Carried out by a competent person
✅ Kept up to date and recorded in writing
But using PAS 79 gives you a recognised structure—and shows enforcement officers or insurers that your assessment is thorough, methodical, and professionally presented.
If you’re using a qualified fire risk assessor (like us), they’ll often follow PAS 79 or a similar standard, even if it’s not mentioned explicitly.
Why Does PAS 79 Matter?
Because it:
✔️ Encourages consistent, logical assessments
✔️ Helps identify and prioritise real risks
✔️ Provides clear documentation that’s easy to follow
✔️ Can reduce liability in the event of a fire
✔️ Gives confidence to landlords, tenants, staff, and insurers
At ESI, we don’t believe in over-complicating things—but we do follow industry best practices. Our fire risk assessments are based on PAS 79 principles and meet all legal requirements, while being clear, relevant, and actionable.
Final Thoughts
PAS 79 isn’t a legal requirement—but it is a highly respected benchmark in fire safety. If you want peace of mind that your fire risk assessment is structured, compliant, and up to scratch, working with a provider that follows PAS 79 is a smart move.
Need a fire risk assessment you can rely on?
📞 Contact ESI today or book online. Our qualified assessors follow industry-recognised methods (including PAS 79 where appropriate) to help keep your building, your people, and your reputation protected.
