A fire risk assessment isn’t just a tick-box exercise—it’s a legal requirement, and more importantly, a vital part of keeping people safe. But here’s the catch: a fire risk assessment is only as good as the person carrying it out.
Let’s talk about why competence matters, and what that actually means in practice.
Fire risk assessments are designed to:
Identify potential fire hazards
Evaluate who may be at risk
Recommend measures to reduce or remove risk
Ensure appropriate fire safety arrangements are in place
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (and recent updates under the Fire Safety Act and Building Safety Act), the Responsible Person must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is completed.
But how can it be “suitable and sufficient” if it’s carried out by someone who isn’t trained or experienced?
A competent person is someone with:
Appropriate knowledge of fire safety legislation and guidance
Relevant experience in conducting assessments for similar environments
A clear understanding of fire behaviour, construction, human behaviour, and risk control
This could be an in-house specialist, but more often than not, it’s best to turn to a qualified fire risk assessor who does this day in and day out.
⚠️ Warning: Just because someone is confident doesn’t mean they’re competent. The risks of a poor assessment can be severe.
Using an unqualified person to carry out your assessment can lead to:
Enforcement notices from the fire service
Fines or prosecution
Business disruption
Worst-case scenario: loss of life and liability for negligence
In short: cutting corners can cost you far more in the long run.
When you work with a competent professional, you can expect:
A thorough and tailored risk assessment
Clear, actionable recommendations
Help meeting legal obligations
Peace of mind that you’re doing everything possible to protect people and property
It’s about more than compliance—it’s about responsibility.
Fire doesn’t give second chances. Having a fire risk assessment done by a competent person is one of the smartest, most responsible moves any business or property owner can make.
If you’re unsure about your current assessment or want to make sure you’re on the right track, we’re here to help. Our trained fire safety professionals can carry out fully compliant, practical, and site-specific assessments that keep you safe—and on the right side of the law.