Fire safety is not just a box-ticking exercise. A fire risk assessment (FRA) is a legal requirement and a practical way to protect lives, property, and business continuity. Many building owners ask: How often should a building have a fire risk assessment? This guide by Fire Safety Specialists Ltd explains FRA frequency, review schedules, and what to do if your building has no FRA in place.
A fire risk assessment is a structured review of a building to identify potential fire hazards, evaluate fire risks, and ensure safety measures are in place. The purpose is to protect people at risk, safeguard property, and comply with fire safety regulations.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that every non-domestic building, and the shared parts of multi-occupied premises, have a “suitable and sufficient” fire risk assessment. This is not optional. Failing to conduct one risks fines, enforcement notices, and even prosecution.
FRAs also connect with the Building Safety Act, which strengthens accountability for building safety management. Both laws highlight that fire risk assessment frequency is a key factor in keeping safety measures effective.
For more information please read: What Is a Fire Risk Assessment and Why Do You Need One?
The most common question for landlords and businesses is how often to conduct an FRA. The law does not set an exact calendar deadline, but the accepted best practice is:
Annual reviews keep your safety measures up to date, while full reassessments provide a deeper check.
You may also read: Do Converted or Small Blocks of Flats Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
If your building has no fire risk assessment, you must act quickly. The responsible person (usually the owner, landlord, or manager) is legally required to arrange an FRA.
Steps to take:
Failing to have an FRA can result in large fines. Cases have seen developers and landlords fined over £100,000 for ignoring fire safety laws. Beyond penalties, a missing FRA leaves occupants unprotected in the event of a fire.
A fire risk assessment review is not the same as a full reassessment. Reviews ensure existing safety measures remain effective, while reassessments reset the process entirely. Both are required for compliance with fire safety regulations and to help the responsible person prove that fire risks are under control.
An FRA review means checking that the existing fire risk assessment is still valid. A review of the fire risk assessment should happen:
Reviews keep the assessment current and confirm that fire safety protocols still work as intended.
A new fire risk assessment must be carried out when reviews are no longer sufficient. A full reassessment should be done:
Reassessments give a thorough fire risk assessment from the ground up, ensuring all hazards, people at risk, and safety measures are re-evaluated.
High-risk buildings such as hospitals, care homes, schools, factories, and blocks of flats with vulnerable occupants should have annual fire risk assessments (FRAs). Even if the law does not fix a strict timeline, yearly reviews are best practice to keep compliance clear and safety measures effective.
Annual FRAs become essential when risks change. This may involve adding flammable materials, using hazardous processes, increasing occupancy in care homes, or carrying out renovations that alter fire doors or escape routes. Each of these situations demands a fresh look at fire safety.
Because high-risk premises face greater challenges during a fire, they cannot follow the same schedule as low-risk offices. Regular assessments reduce hazards, confirm safety measures remain effective, and give peace of mind that the building meets fire safety standards.
You may also read: When Is A Fire Risk Assessment Required For Flats?
Every fire risk assessment should begin by looking at the key hazards that can lead to fires or make them worse.
Every FRA must identify potential fire hazards. These include:
The FRA also identifies people at risk, including employees, visitors, and vulnerable groups such as children or the elderly.
Fire safety measures form the backbone of any fire risk assessment, ensuring that hazards are controlled and people can escape safely during an emergency.
These pieces of equipment are the first line of defence and must be kept in reliable working order.
Ongoing maintenance and training ensure that safety measures remain effective and continue to protect lives.
The term “responsible person” is legally defined under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This role is central to ensuring that every building has a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment in place.
Depending on the type of property, the responsible person may be a landlord or property manager in residential premises, a business owner or director in a workplace, or a facilities manager overseeing a public building. Each carries the same duty to protect people at risk and maintain fire safety standards.
The responsible person must either carry out the fire risk assessment themselves, if competent, or appoint a qualified assessor. They are also accountable for keeping documentation, ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations, and implementing any improvements needed to keep the premise safe.
A fire risk assessment review should be systematic, focusing on key steps that keep safety measures accurate and up to date.
An FRA review should follow these steps:
Hiring a professional fire risk assessor ensures a thorough fire risk assessment and compliance with fire safety regulations.
You may also read: Who Can Perform a Fire Risk Assessment - Landlord or Professional?
Clear responsibilities are vital during a fire risk assessment and in the event of a fire. These roles provide structure and ensure safety duties are carried out effectively.
Together, these roles ensure that existing safety measures remain effective and that compliance with fire safety standards is maintained.
Regular fire risk assessments protect lives, reduce property damage, and ensure compliance with fire safety obligations. For landlords and businesses, they provide peace of mind by proving that safety measures remain effective and up to legal standards.
Risk assessments aren’t just about ticking boxes; they are about ensuring the safety of everyone who enters the building. A thorough fire risk assessment review also reassures occupants that escape routes, alarms, and extinguishers are ready when needed.
Fire risk assessment frequency is essential for safety and compliance. High-risk premises need annual reviews, while low-risk sites require full reassessments every few years. By ensuring the responsible person maintains alarms, extinguishers, escape routes, and follows fire safety regulations, every premise can stay safe and compliant.
A fire risk assessment is vital for compliance, safety, and protecting lives. Low-risk premises need one every 3–5 years, while high-risk buildings require annual reviews. The responsible person must keep alarms, extinguishers, and escape routes maintained so safety measures remain effective.
You may also read: How to Commission a Fire Risk Assessment When the Council Won’t Help
How often should a fire risk assessment be carried out?
A fire risk assessment should be done every 3–5 years for low-risk premises and annually for high-risk premises to manage fire hazards, follow fire safety regulations, and keep safety measures effective.
What happens if you don’t have a fire risk assessment?
Without an FRA, the responsible person risks fines, prosecution, and non-compliance, while unsafe fire alarms, extinguishers, and escape routes could fail to protect lives in the event of a fire.
Can I do my own fire risk assessment in the UK?
Yes, if you are competent and understand fire safety laws, but a professional fire risk assessor or trained assessor ensures hazards are identified and compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is met.
Do residential landlords need a fire risk assessment?
Yes, landlords are the responsible person for multi-occupied premises, and it is a legal requirement to maintain fire safety measures like alarms, fire doors, and extinguishers for compliance and to protect lives.
How frequently must a fire risk assessment be reviewed?
Reviews should be carried out in an annual review and after significant changes in the workplace or premise, ensuring fire safety measures remain effective and documentation shows compliance with fire safety regulations. For more information, please read: How Often Should a Fire Risk Assessments Be Reviewed?
