Fire Risk Assessment – your business needs one!

Fire is one of the most serious threats to life safety and property, due to its speed and destructive force. Within minutes, fire can engulf a room and leave a building in a state beyond repair. Most businesses do not recover from a major fire, due to the delay in getting the operations back up and running following a major incident. In the UK there are over 20,000 fires per annum in non-residential premises, with an estimated 80% of these businesses failing within the subsequent eighteen months.

The legislation on fire safety in Northern Ireland is governed by the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 and The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. These regulations affect all business premises, with business owners given responsibility for ensuring their premises reach the required fire safety standard.

Those responsible, are required – by law – to have a fire risk assessment in place, carried out by a competent person. 

Under the governing legislation, the main requirements are –

• Carry out a fire risk assessment for the premises over which you have control;
• Identify the fire hazards and risks associated with the premises, materials/substances, activities etc;
• Identify the people, or groups of people at risk and anyone who may be especially at risk;
• Remove and reduce the risks as far as reasonably possible;
• Put in place general fire precautions to deal with any remaining risks;
• Implement additional preventative and protective measures if flammable or explosive substances are used or stored on the premises;
• Develop and implement appropriate emergency procedures in the event of fire.
• If you have five or more employees, or require a licence or registration, you must record the significant findings of the risk assessment and any actions you have taken to remove/reduce the risk;
• Review the risk assessment periodically or after significant changes in the workplace (including changes made due to COVID 19).

Carrying out a fire risk assessment will allow you to make an informed decision on whether you have taken sufficient precautions or whether you need to do more to minimise the risk from fire.  The considerations that you need to apply will vary depending on the type of premise you have responsibility for.

Diamond Systems, as fire safety specialists, can carry out and document the fire risk assessment for you. With over 30 years of experience and expertise in fire safety systems, our nominated Fire Risk Assessor, Tom Snoddon, will help you meet your legal obligations under the fire safety regulations.

If you would like more information, please email sales@diamondsystems.co.uk.