Your fire risk assessment is an important document which you must review regularly. This is because you have a legal duty to make sure your premises are safe for yourself and your staff, your customers, visitors, and anyone else who may use or attend your premises. You can learn more on our Fire Risk Assessment page.

Review your Fire Risk Assessment

After a fire you should review your Fire Risk Assessment. If you find any problems or deficiencies you should inform the person in control of the property so that action can be taken to rectify these. As part of the review, checks should be made on the following:

Escape routes –

Check if escape routes have been compromised,, obstructed, had structural damage, or have become unsafe to use as a result of the fire.

If your escape routes are compromised or are unsafe to use:

• check how far occupants have to travel to get to places of relative safety such as lobby areas. Are these distances excessive?
• where your main escape route is affected or can't be used, check if your alternative means of escape such as stairs or fire exits are still adequate for the number of occupants of the building, 

Your fire detection system

• check if your smoke detection systems are still working
• Check if your fire detection and warning arrangements are adequate for your business and premises, especially if the fire had developed without being noticed.

Other active fire safety measures

Please be aware that in the event of a fire there may be other active fire safety measure − such as smoke control systems −  which will activate and might need to be reset.