Do I Need a Fire Risk Assessment? What Northern Ireland Law Says

If you own, manage, or are responsible for a commercial property or non-domestic premises in Northern Ireland, you have a legal duty to keep people safe from the risk of fire. One of the key requirements under the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 is to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment — and keep it regularly reviewed.

What is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A Fire Risk Assessment is a structured review of your premises to:

• Identify potential fire hazards;
• Assess the risk of fire occurring and who might be at risk;
• Evaluate the adequacy of your existing fire safety measures;
• Record your findings and implement any necessary improvements.

This isn’t just a paperwork exercise — it’s a legal requirement designed to protect life, property, and business continuity.

Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment?

In Northern Ireland, fire safety law applies to nearly all non-domestic premises, including:

• Offices, shops, and retail premises
• Restaurants, cafes, and pubs
• Hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs
• Factories, warehouses, and workshops
• Community premises and places of worship
• Residential care homes
• Common areas of flats and apartments

If you are a business owner, landlord, property manager, or anyone with control over premises, you are legally classed as the “appropriate person” and must ensure a fire risk assessment is in place and kept up to date.

Common Fire Safety Failures We See

When we carry out Fire Risk Assessments in non-domestic premises, we frequently spot the same critical issues.

All of these could put your team, customers, and assets at risk — and leave you in breach of your legal obligations:

💎 No fire alarm zone plan. Under BS5839-1:2025, if you have a fire alarm, you must have a zone plan mounted beside your fire alarm panel. A competent maintenance technician should be highlighting this, but we regularly find it missing.

💎 Inadequate provision for evacuating disabled people. You must be able to safely evacuate all occupants without relying on NIFRS to assist. For example, evacuation chairs should be easily accessible and staff trained in their use.

💎 Inadequately trained fire wardens. With hybrid and remote working, many premises now lack enough trained fire wardens during core hours.

💎 Weekly fire alarm tests not being carried out. Routine tests must be done and recorded in your Fire Alarm Log Book — a simple but often overlooked requirement.

💎 Outstanding fire alarm faults. Faults that haven’t been investigated or cleared by your fire alarm maintainer can leave you exposed to risk and non-compliance.

Any of these issues can lead to enforcement action, fines, and — more importantly — risk to life. The good news? We can help you fix them quickly and professionally, giving you peace of mind that your people, property, and critical assets are protected.

How Often Should a Fire Risk Assessment Be Reviewed?

We recommend your fire risk assessment should be reviewed:

• At least annually;
• Whenever there are significant changes in layout, occupancy, or use;
• After any fire-related incidents or near-misses.

Regular reviews help ensure you stay compliant and protected as your business evolves.

Let Diamond Systems Help You Stay Compliant

At Diamond Systems, we provide clear, professional Fire Risk Assessments for businesses, landlords, and organisations across Northern Ireland.

✅ Easy-to-understand, jargon-free reports
✅ Practical recommendations tailored to your business
✅ Support to fix any issues we identify
✅ Friendly, experienced assessors who want to help

If you’re unsure when your last fire risk assessment was completed, or you’ve spotted any of the issues mentioned above, now is the time to act.

📩 Email info@diamondsystems.co.uk to arrange a quotation.