How do I prepare for a Fire Risk Assessment?

Please read over the below article which will help you prepare for your upcoming Fire Risk Assessment.

A Fire Risk Assessment can take from half a day to a few days to complete depending on the site. This has been agreed upon when joining Shield Safety.

 

The Fire Risk Assessment process -

The assessor will want to start work as soon as they arrive at your location and your support facilitating this would be appreciated. All assessors carry photo identification at all times, if they don't show it to you, you can ask to see it.

The assessor needs access to all areas of the premises under your control and will review all appropriate documentation, observe management and may ask questions of your team. The assessor should be accompanied at all times in cash handling and cash storage areas.  The Fire Risk Assessor will need to have access to all areas of the premises, including basement areas, storerooms, and roof voids if it is possible to gain access to the roof. Please ensure the Assessor has access to all areas of the building and before they depart so you are confident all areas have been assessed. It would be beneficial to ensure that any required keys to access plant rooms or inspection rooms are available and to hand.

The assessor conducts a non-invasive survey and will not operate any equipment (portable or fixed), climb ladders, or use access equipment. The assessor will need you to log onto your compliance software, for example, you will need to log into RiskProof and any other system where compliance documentation or due diligence is stored.

Please be advised that this Fire Risk Assessment must be carried out once initial construction, renovation or other building works have been completed. If your building works are delayed following confirmation of the date of the FRA, you must contact Shield Safety Group to reschedule.

Incomplete works may result in your FRA being deemed unsuitable or insufficient by the Fire Officer, therefore, Shield Safety Group will be unable to conduct the FRA in this event and a rearrangement fee will be charged for a no access.

 

Information to be made available -

To ensure your Fire Risk Assessment runs smoothly please ensure that the following information, documentation and certification is readily available:

  • Details of Responsible Person and their job title
  • Number of floors (below, ground and above ground)
  • Number of floors for car parking
  • Approximate floor area (metres squared)
  • Details of construction and layout
  • Details of recent fires (since last Fire Risk Assessment)
  • Detail of Enforcement Authority
  • Any regulatory notices in place
  • Previous Fire Risk Assessments
  • Floor Plans
  • Fire Strategy Plan
  • Health and Safety file
  • Fire Safety logbook
  • Fire Evacuation plans
  • Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans
  • Staff Training records
  • Fire Warden and Marshal training records
  • Evacuation drills
  • Maintenance records, if applicable;
    • Gas installations,
    • fixed electrical systems,
    • Portable appliance testing (PAT)
    • extraction system
    • fire suppression systems (commercial kitchens)
    • firefighting lifts
    • dry / wet rising mains
    • lightning protection
    • Fire Detection & Alarm
    • Emergency Lighting 
    • Sprinkler System
    • Automatic Opening Vent (Aov)/Smoke Ventilation
    • Portable Fire Extinguishers
  • Permit to work and hot work permits
  • Deep clean (for commercial kitchens) and open fireplace, if applicable

You will be able to access your Fire Risk Assessment on the RiskProof Fire module. To access your assessment comments please visit app.riskproof.com and then enter your user name and password. If you are unable to log in please contact us here

 

This article was last updated on 17th February 2023