Fire Risk Assessment Berkshire

In Berkshire, a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for anyone responsible for commercial properties. This includes:

• HMOs
• Residential flats
• Shared office spaces
• Hotels and hospitality venues
• Retail premises
• Factories and manufacturing sites

The only exception is for ‘single private dwellings’.

The purpose of a fire risk assessment is to ensure the safety of both people and property by identifying potential hazards and risks and then implementing measures to reduce them.

Regular fire risk assessments are not just a legal responsibility, but also a practical way to protect your property from fire damage and ensure the safety of those within it.

About Fire Risk Assessments

A fire risk assessment in Berkshire involves a thorough inspection of your property. Depending on its size, this process typically takes 2-3 hours.

The assessment is divided into five key steps:

1. Identifying Hazards: This includes potential ignition sources, such as open flames or flammable substances.
2. Identifying People at Risk: This focuses on who may be most vulnerable, such as lone workers or people with mobility issues.
3. Evaluating, Removing, or Reducing Risks: This could involve measures like safe storage and handling procedures for hazardous materials.
4. Recording Findings and Creating an Emergency Plan: For example, this might include suggesting additional fire safety training for staff.
5. Reviewing and Updating the Assessment: After the initial assessment, it is important to regularly review and update the document to ensure it stays current.

Why Choose Hawkesworth?

We have a network of over 170 fire risk assessors across the country, ensuring businesses remain safe and compliant. If you require additional services like PAT testing or emergency lighting testing, we can provide a complete safety management plan tailored to your needs.

• We are fully accredited and experienced
• We offer flexible out-of-hours appointments to suit your business schedule
• All our engineers are City & Guilds certified and DBS-checked
• We can offer multi-site assessments if you need a fire risk assessment in Berkshire for more than one property
• We’ll send you helpful reminders when your next assessment is due

To arrange a fire risk assessment in Berkshire, use our contact page to get in touch.

FAQs

What things are considered in a fire risk assessment?

The initial fire risk assessment involves a thorough review of your building, operations and personnel. Key areas considered include:

• Emergency lighting and escape routes
• Fire alarms, detection systems and sprinklers
• Staff fire safety training levels
• The existence of smoking areas
• Building layout and condition
• Storage and handling of flammable liquids

How often should the fire risk assessment be reviewed?

There is no given timeframe, but The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states that an FRA should be ‘reviewed by the responsible person regularly to keep it up to date’.

To maintain compliance, we recommend reviewing your fire risk assessment annually. However, if there are significant changes in your business, such as an increase in staff numbers or modifications to your premises, the assessment should be reviewed more frequently.