How Much Does a Fire Risk Assessment Cost?

There is no single price for a fire risk assessment, because every building and every business is different. What we can do is explain how we price our own assessments at Fire Safety Specialists, what affects the cost and what else you may need to budget for, so you know what to expect before you ask for a quote.

How much does a fire risk assessment cost with us?

We aim for a base price of around £350 for a half-day assessment and £500 for a full-day assessment. Around 90% of the fire risk assessments we carry out fall between these two figures.

Larger premises take longer to assess properly. For buildings such as large schools, hospitals, business centres, shopping centres and large blocks of flats, we normally price the work by the number of days needed and confirm this with you before anything is booked.

These figures are the base price for a straightforward job near our Sheffield base. For an accurate price for your premises, request a fire risk assessment quote or call us on 01246 439210.

What affects the cost of a fire risk assessment?

The main factor is the time needed to inspect the premises, review the paperwork and write a report that records everything that was checked. These are the things that usually make the biggest difference.

The size and layout of the building

A small, single-storey shop or office can usually be assessed far more quickly than a multi-storey building with several escape routes, plant rooms and shared areas. More floors, rooms and fire doors mean more to inspect and record.

How the building is used and who is in it

Premises where people sleep, where vulnerable people live or are cared for, or where members of the public visit in large numbers generally need a more detailed assessment. Examples include blocks of flats, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), care settings, hotels and holiday lets.

Travel and location

We usually absorb travel of up to around 30 minutes each way into the price. Longer journeys cost more, both in fuel and in time when we could be on another job, so a full day's work close to us can sometimes cost less than a short job several hours away. For longer distances we may also need to include an overnight stay, typically around £100 a night, rather than ask an assessor to drive home after a long day on site.

Grouping several sites together

Where premises are close together, we can often complete several assessments in one day and price them as a single day's work. For example, a number of glamping pods, static caravans or holiday lets on one site can usually be covered in a day. The same number spread across a city or several sites usually cannot.

Having the right paperwork ready

We ask for servicing and testing records in advance so that we can check they are in place and that any issues have been dealt with. This can include Gas Safe and electrical installation (EICR) certificates, PAT testing, fire alarm and detection servicing, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, fire dampers, kitchen extract ducts and rising mains. Having these ready helps the assessment run smoothly.

Why a thorough assessment takes longer than it used to

It used to be common for an assessment to be completed in a single visit with a short report. A thorough fire risk assessment now typically takes around 30% longer than it once did, for several reasons.

• Every finding should be recorded. In England, changes that came into force in October 2023 require responsible persons to record their fire risk assessment in full, not just the significant findings. If something is not in the report, it is reasonable to assume it was not checked. Checking a few fire doors and assuming the rest are fine is not good enough.
• The assessor must be competent. The person carrying out the assessment should have "sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities" for the job. A report is judged on the competence of the person who wrote it as well as its contents, so be cautious of anyone who claims to be an expert in many unrelated specialisms. Our guide to choosing a competent fire risk assessor explains what to look for.
• All responsible persons need to be identified. This could include the business owner, a health and safety manager, a landlord, a letting or managing agent, the building owner or the person commissioning the assessment. We record their roles, responsibilities and the areas they control, and set out how relevant information should be shared between them. Read more about who is responsible for a fire risk assessment.
• Fire safety must be maintained between assessments. We set out the routine checks that should be recorded and how often, such as testing the fire alarm, checking that fire exit doors open freely, keeping corridors clear, checking extinguishers and signage, testing emergency lighting, keeping the outside of the building clear of combustible materials and keeping the route to the assembly point clear and well lit.
• The right people need to be trained. How many people need fire safety or fire warden training depends on the type of business, the number of people on site and the building itself. A small office may only need one or two trained people, while a busy pub or restaurant may need everyone to have some training.

Other fire safety services you may need to budget for

Depending on your premises and the findings of the assessment, you may need some of the following. The figures below are typical guide prices for our own services.

Service	Typical cost
Fire safety training	About the same as a fire risk assessment if we train on your site, or about £50 per person if you come to us
Fire emergency plan	Around £100
Personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs)	£3 per person surveyed, plus £45 for each bespoke plan required
General emergency evacuation plan (GEEP)	Around £200, or more for large or complex buildings
Fire safety information pack for buildings with two or more flats	Around £150
Fire logbook app for recording routine checks	£5 per month
Help preparing a remedial action plan	£50 per hour

Remedial works

A fire risk assessment will often identify issues that need to be put right. That is exactly what the assessment is for, but the findings cannot simply be left on file. It is not always possible to fix everything immediately because of time, contractor availability or budget, so we can help you prepare a remedial action plan that lists each issue, how it will be resolved, by whom and by when. The cost of the work itself, such as replacing fire doors or upgrading alarms, depends on what is needed and is carried out by the relevant contractors.

When a fire strategy document can reduce costs

Occasionally, an existing building has extensive remedial works identified, but the way the building is now used means some of that work may not be technically necessary. In one example, a doctors' surgery had around 20 doors originally designated as fire doors, each costing around £1,000 to replace. A door cannot simply be declared no longer a fire door without assessing the fire safety of the whole building, which is what a fire strategy document does. In that case the client paid between £1,000 and £2,000 for the document rather than around £20,000 for the doors. We rarely recommend this approach for existing buildings, but it can be worth considering where the remedial costs are high.

The law on fire risk assessments

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person for most non-domestic premises, including the common parts of blocks of flats and HMOs, to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and keep it under review. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety legislation. Serious breaches can lead to unlimited fines and, in the most serious cases, imprisonment.

If you are not sure whether the law applies to you, read does my business need a fire risk assessment?

Is the cheapest fire risk assessment the best value?

Not necessarily. Paying a low price for an assessment that still leaves you non-compliant is close to a waste of money. When comparing quotes, it is worth asking:

• What experience and qualifications does the assessor have for your type of premises?
• Will the report record everything that was checked, not just the main problems?
• Will the assessor review your servicing and testing records?
• Will you receive a clear, prioritised action plan?
• Are travel and any overnight costs included in the price?

Frequently asked questions

How much does a fire risk assessment cost?

Most of our fire risk assessments cost between around £350 for a half day and £500 for a full day. Larger or more complex premises are usually priced by the number of days needed.

Can I carry out a fire risk assessment myself?

The law allows the responsible person to carry out the assessment if they are competent to do so. For anything other than simple, low-risk premises, appointing a competent professional is usually the safer choice. Our article on who can carry out a fire risk assessment explains the options.

How often does a fire risk assessment need to be reviewed?

A fire risk assessment must be reviewed regularly and whenever there is reason to think it is no longer valid, such as after building work, a change of use or a fire. Find out more about how often a fire risk assessment should be reviewed.

Which areas do you cover?

We are based near Sheffield and carry out fire risk assessments across Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, including Sheffield, Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Chesterfield. Travel for work further afield is included in your quote.