Why fire risk assessments must be carried out by a competent professional

Fire risk assessments are a legal requirement and a critical part of protecting people, property and businesses. However, there is still a widespread misunderstanding that anyone can carry out a fire risk assessment. This assumption can place organisations at serious risk.

What the law actually requires

Under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005, the responsible person must ensure that a fire risk assessment is suitable and sufficient. This goes far beyond completing a checklist or downloading a template.

The assessment must properly identify fire hazards, evaluate who is at risk and set out appropriate control measures. Importantly, the law is clear that this work must be carried out by a competent person with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience.

If an assessment is completed by someone without the right level of competence, it may fail to meet legal requirements, even if it appears complete on the surface.

What competence really means in practice

Fire safety is complex, particularly in care settings. Buildings vary in layout, construction and use. Residents may have limited mobility or require assisted evacuation. Staff routines, equipment storage and building alterations all affect fire risk.

A competent assessor understands fire behaviour, building design, evacuation strategies and relevant legislation. They can identify risks that are not immediately obvious, such as failures in compartmentation, inappropriate evacuation plans or deficiencies in fire doors.

Without this expertise, critical issues can be missed, which may only come to light during a fire authority inspection or following an incident.

Recognised standards give reassurance

One of the most widely recognised benchmarks for fire risk assessor competence in the UK is BAFE SP205. This is a UKAS accredited third party certification scheme for life safety fire risk assessments.

Assessors certificated to BAFE SP205 are independently assessed against a recognised standard. Their processes, competence and quality controls are regularly audited. This provides reassurance that assessments are robust, consistent and defensible.

Fire authorities, insurers and industry bodies routinely reference BAFE SP205 as a marker of good practice. Using a certificated assessor demonstrates that reasonable steps have been taken to comply with fire safety legislation.

The risks of an inadequate assessment

An unsuitable or insufficient fire risk assessment can lead to enforcement action, increased scrutiny from regulators and potential issues with insurance cover. More importantly, it can leave people exposed to avoidable harm.

Fire risk assessments should never be treated as a tick box exercise. They are a fundamental part of effective risk management and must reflect the real world use of the building.

How we can help

Fire risk assessments form part of our wider Business Solutions offering, designed specifically for care providers. We work with competent professionals who understand care environments and the expectations of regulators, insurers and fire authorities.

We can help you review existing fire risk assessments, identify gaps and arrange suitable and sufficient assessments carried out by competent assessors aligned with recognised standards such as BAFE SP205. We also support you in understanding the findings and turning them into clear, practical actions.

If you would like support with fire risk assessments or wider fire safety planning, contact our team to see how our Business Solutions can help protect your people and your organisation, by completing this short form.