Fire Risk Assessments (FRA)

We deliver clear, proportionate Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) across the UK for landlords, housing providers, managing agents, FM teams and asset owners—aligned to the latest British Standard BS 9792:2025 and the Fire Safety legal framework. Our reports focus on risk, not box-ticking, and convert technical findings into a practical, costed action plan you can deliver.

Why you need Fire Risk Assessments

If you’re the “dutyholder” or “responsible person” for non-domestic premises or the common parts of domestic buildings, you must ensure a suitable and sufficient FRA is carried out and kept up to date. BS 9792 recognises the Fire Safety Order (England & Wales) as the applicable legislation for FRA duties and sets out good practice for how FRAs should be planned, undertaken and recorded.

In higher-risk and high-rise residential buildings, extra duties include providing information to the fire and rescue service, such as site plans, floor identification and wayfinding, and where required a Secure Information Box.

What you get with our Fire Risk Assessments

A single, decision-ready report that gives you:

Executive summary with risk level and top actions.
Clear scope and type of FRA (Type 1–4 for housing) so everyone knows what was inspected, what was sampled, and what wasn’t.
Building and people factors captured consistently, including construction, external walls and any FRAEW reference, occupancy characteristics, and escape strategy.
Life safety systems review (detection, emergency lighting, smoke control, firefighting lifts, fire mains and hydrants, wayfinding, evacuation alert systems, Secure Information Boxes) with maintenance status.
Action plan ranked by risk and urgency, with dependencies and suggested verification.
Competence and limits recorded transparently (who did the work, peer review where used, exclusions and assumptions).
Review period and triggers - grounded in BS 9792 guidance on when FRAs should be reviewed versus fully replaced.

Our approach (mapped to BS 9792)

1) Brief and scope

We confirm the legal context and type of FRA required. For multi-occupied housing this may be Type 1–4. We define the areas included and excluded, and note any existing fire strategy documents or FRAEW reports.

2) Desktop review

We collate available drawings, previous FRA or FRAEW findings, maintenance records, fire alarm and lighting logs, fire door inspection data, and resident or tenant fire safety information.

3) Site inspection

We inspect construction and compartmentation, escape routes and doors, detection and alarm, emergency lighting, firefighting facilities, smoke control, wayfinding, and the contents of any Secure Information Box where applicable.

4) People and management

We review evacuation strategy, fire procedures, drills, staff and resident engagement, maintenance competence and records. Where relevant, for example in specialised housing, we integrate person-centred fire risk assessment insights following the model in BS 9792.

5) Risk evaluation and action plan

We assess likelihood and consequence, then set out proportionate, reasonably practicable measures with short, medium and longer-term priorities.

6) Review period and triggers

We recommend a justified review frequency and highlight triggers—such as material alterations, occupancy change, significant works or system changes—that should prompt an earlier review or full reassessment.

FRA Types for Housing (BS 9792)

Type 1: Common parts (non-intrusive). The baseline assessment in most blocks where there’s evidence of integrity; includes sampling of flat entrance doors and relevant communal areas.
Type 2: Common parts (intrusive). Includes opening-up and sampling to interrogate hidden construction where integrity is uncertain or past works suggest risks.
Type 3: Common parts plus dwellings (non-intrusive). Adds checks within a sample of dwellings, such as means of escape, alarms and sprinklers or water-mist, plus any resident actions that compromise protection.
Type 4: Common parts plus dwellings (intrusive). As Type 3 with opening-up and sampling inside dwellings and common parts, typically with a contractor and in line with asbestos controls.

We will always agree the type and sampling strategy up front, so expectations, access and resident communication are handled properly.

High-rise and higher-risk priorities

BS 9792 emphasises verifying facilities and information that support the fire and rescue service, including:

Access for appliances, fire mains and hydrants, firefighting lifts, and smoke control.
Wayfinding signage for storey and flat identification and Secure Information Boxes where legally required.
Evacuation Alert Systems in blocks of flats with stay-put strategies, ensuring systems are commissioned, independent from detection and alarm, and properly maintained.

Competence you can evidence

BS 9792 sets out what a competent assessor should understand: legislation, guidance, fire dynamics, evacuation strategies, domestic fire safety for Types 3–4, older buildings, and the need for continuing professional development. We align to this competence profile and record qualifications, experience and any peer review in your report.

Deliverables - Fire Risk Assessments

BS 9792-aligned FRA report with photos, annotated findings and a prioritised action plan.
Register of fire protection systems with maintenance observations and any obvious gaps against the strategy, covering detection, emergency lighting, firefighting lifts, smoke control, evacuation alert systems, hydrants, Secure Information Boxes and wayfinding.
Scope transparency, including type, sampling and exclusions, a clear review date, and triggers for earlier review or full reassessment.

Sectors we support

Residential: purpose-built and converted blocks, HMOs, sheltered and extra-care housing, with person-centred assessment integration where relevant.
Commercial and mixed-use portfolios, offices, retail, logistics and industrial.
Education, healthcare, hospitality and leisure assets with varied occupancy profiles.

FAQs - Fire Risk Assessments

When should an FRA be reviewed?

BS 9792 advises review when there are material alterations, significant changes to given factors or fire precautions, and provides example intervals. For example, low-risk modern low-rise blocks may justify a review around two years, while higher-risk or higher-rise buildings may require annual review. It also gives example replacement cycles of around three to four years depending on risk. Your report will justify the interval for your building.

What extra applies in high-rise residential?

Expect duties around plans, wayfinding, Secure Information Boxes and specific resident information. BS 9792 flags these legal requirements and the associated guidance under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Do you inspect inside flats?

For housing, that depends on the agreed FRA type. Type 1 and 2 are common-parts only; Type 3 and 4 include dwellings, non-intrusive versus intrusive respectively. We will advise the right level based on risk, history and available evidence.

What about external walls and cladding?

BS 9792 expects FRAs to capture relevant construction details and reference any FRAEW where applicable. We will flag where specialist façade assessment or further investigation is needed.

Fire doors—how deep do you go?

The FRA should describe fire doors, including flat entrance doors, note sampling and check maintenance and testing arrangements. Where full inspection is outside scope, we will say so and recommend targeted surveys.

How we can help

Standards-led: Our methodology and reporting structure are mapped to BS 9792, including competence and evidence standards. Authoritative, standards-based content supports trust and compliance.
Clarity for decision-makers: Executive summary, visuals and a prioritised plan make adoption easier, reducing risk quicker.
Sector depth: From specialist housing with person-centred assessments to complex mixed-use and tall buildings, we address the realities you face.

Get a compliant, actionable FRA

Tell us about your buildings and objectives, such as compliance, insurance and lifecycle works. We will scope the right FRA type, access requirements and deliverables, and help you get your risk profile under control.

Conclusion : Fire Risk Assessments

Fire Risk Assessments are a vital component of building safety and legal compliance in the UK. By understanding your obligations under the Fire Safety Order, implementing necessary precautions, and regularly updating your FRA, you can protect occupants and ensure peace of mind.
If you need assistance with Fire Risk Assessments, please call 020 4534 3130.

Contact - Fire Risk Assessments

To commission a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) or a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls survey (FRAEW) please call 020 4534 3130.

For further information on FRA, FRAEW Surveys, PAS9980 or EWS1 forms please call one of our assessors for expert advice.

If you need more advice in respect of your obligations as a building owner, developer or manager, please contact us. For more information on all aspects of this service see the collection of articles in our blog.

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