Fire safety is essential for both businesses and homes, but the requirements when it comes to fire risk assessments are slightly different.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, understanding these differences is essential to protecting your property and the people who live/work in it.
In this article, we’ll look at the key differences between a commercial fire risk assessment and a domestic fire risk assessment.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment is a comprehensive review of a property that identifies potential fire hazards and the risk those hazards pose. The assessment also looks at ways to minimise or eliminate hazards and risks. The fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for many buildings and a key part of property fire management.
Do I need a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment is essential for almost every type of building. This includes:
- Commercial buildings like offices, schools, factories and retail premises
- Shared spaces like apartment blocks and office buildings
- Guest houses, Airbnbs and bed and breakfasts
- Blocks of flats and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
The only exception is single-occupant domestic properties, which are private homes. However, you’re free to arrange a fire risk assessment still, if it gives you peace of mind!
Commercial Fire Risk Assessments
Commercial properties like offices, shops and factories are required, by law, to have a fire risk assessment. This is regulated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The main aim is to protect employees, customers and visitors by ensuring the building is safe.
The Specifics of Commercial Fire Risk Assessments
Commercial buildings are more complex than domestic ones, so there is more to review when it comes to the fire risk assessment. In a commercial fire risk assessment, the report will look at areas such as:
- Fire equipment and systems: This includes alarms, sprinklers, emergency lighting and fire doors. These must be regularly maintained and inspected, to ensure they are in good working order.
- Evacuation planning: The assessment must detail an evacuation plan for anyone who uses the building. This can include employees, customers and potentially vulnerable people, like those with disabilities.
- Legal obligations: The ‘responsible person’ of the commercial building is legally obligated to ensure their premises comply with fire safety regulations. A fire risk assessment is the tool for helping them do this.
Domestic Fire Risk Assessments
Domestic fire risk assessments apply to private homes. They’re not usually a legal requirement, but some homeowners choose to have one for peace of mind.
The Specifics of Commercial Fire Risk Assessments
A domestic fire risk assessment is generally more straightforward, it will look at:
- Fire safety: Smoke alarms, escape routes and tips for electrical safety will be covered.
- Fire load: Domestic settings will usually have a lower fire load (this means less combustible materials), which will be taken into account in the assessment.
- Habitation: The domestic fire risk assessment will ensure the safety of residents’ day-to-day activities.
Commercial and Domestic Fire Risk Assessments
At Hawkesworth, our network of 170+ engineers can help you with both commercial and domestic fire risk assessments, wherever you are in the country. Request a quote using our online form.
