When you have a fire risk assessment in place, it’s important to review it regularly. Circumstances can change, meaning your building’s fire risk assessment may no longer be valid.
Whether you have a fire risk assessment carried out for a commercial building or a rental property, this short guide to fire risk assessment reviews and fire risk assessment review periods will help you stay safe and compliant.
When should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 says that any fire risk assessment should be ‘reviewed by the responsible person regularly to keep it up to date’.
The law doesn’t define what is meant by ‘regularly’ but as a general rule the fire risk assessment review period is once a year. However, this might be more often if your building is a ‘high-risk’ environment.
Even small changes can significantly impact how staff, visitors, and tenants can exit your building in an emergency.
Signs you should complete a fire risk assessment review
If anything changes in your building that impacts the likelihood of a fire breaking out, or the chances of that fire spreading, you should complete a fire risk assessment review.
Changes might include…
- You start to use flammable or hazardous materials
- You start to carry out ‘high risk’ tasks on-site or there is a change in business activity
- You move around furniture or machinery
- There are changes to the building’s layout
- You build an extension
- More people are using the building, or staff numbers change substantially
- You hire a younger, older, or disabled person
- There has been a fire
- Fire safety equipment is stolen, replaced, or damaged
Fire risk assessments for a rental property
- You move furniture around
- There are changes to the property’s layout
- You build an extension
- A younger, older, or disabled person moves into the property
- There has been a fire
- Fire safety equipment is stolen, replaced, or damaged
A guide to fire risk assessments for landlords
Fire risk assessment review template
There is no law preventing you from reviewing your own fire risk assessment. Regulations simply imply that a ‘competent person’ should complete it. That person should have:
- The right training, qualifications and experience
- A good understanding of the process, hazards and fire risks
- The ability to communicate findings
If you want to conduct your building’s fire risk assessment, there are many fire risk assessment review templates you can follow online.
However, it’s important to remember that fire risk assessment review templates are just a tool to help you, and you use them at your own risk.
Leave the fire risk assessments to the experts
As you can see, it’s important to carry out a fire risk assessment yearly, as well as when your circumstances change. This ensures your commercial or residential property stays as safe as possible.
A fire risk assessment company like Hawkesworth can do all the hard work for you, saving you valuable time and ensuring your fire risk assessment is as comprehensive as possible. Fully accredited and available across the UK, we’re here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many appliances can I plug into an extension lead?
Not all electrical equipment is created equal. Different equipment uses different amounts of power. For example, a kettle uses 20 times more power than a fridge does.
Most extension leads can handle a maximum of 13 amps. Smaller ones may only be able to handle 10 amps.
Electrical Safety First has a socket calculator so you can see if the combination of equipment you plug in is potentially dangerous. You can find this further down the page.
Is it safe to plug an extension lead into another extension lead?
No – you should never run two extension cords together.
Connecting two or more extension leads (sometimes known as ‘daisy-chaining’) is unsafe for several reasons.
- The wires can cause a trip hazard
- The extension leads can be left coiled up and get hot, increasing the chance of fire
- They can be wound around metal (for example, desk legs), increasing the chance of the metal becoming live
- The extension leads can overload causing damage (for example, melted and burned plug sockets)
Only use one extension lead per socket and never plug an extension lead into another extension lead.
Are there any regulations surrounding the use of extension leads?
There aren’t any specific extension lead regulations.
However, regulations like The Health & Safety at Work Act and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 make it your responsibility to provide a safe working environment for employees and customers.
Top tips for using extension leads safely
Here are our top tips for using extension leads as safely as possible.
- Make sure your extension lead has a fuse
A fuse means that if your extension lead overloads, it will shut down.
This is why block/socket adaptors are not ideal for use, as many of them don’t have fuses.
- Don’t cover extension leads with a carpet or blanket
This can not only increase the risk of overheating and damage to the lead cable but can also be a potential trip hazard.
If you do need to cover a lead, use a rubber protection strip – the rubber acts as an insulator and stops the lead from getting damaged.
- Make sure the cable is unwound, uncoiled, and detangled
A tangled or knotted cable is more likely to overheat. When using an extension reel, make sure that it is fully unwound and uncoiled.
- Keep your extension lead safe when not in use
When not using your extension lead, unplug it and store it in a safe place. Don’t wrap the cord around the lead as this can damage it.
- Use an outdoor lead in the garden or outside the home
Don’t put your extension lead anywhere it can get wet – bathrooms and electricity don’t mix!
If you’re using your extension lead outside or in an outbuilding, use one that has been specifically designed for outdoor use.
- Pull the plug rather than the cord
When disconnecting equipment, pull it by the plug rather than the cord. This will extend the life of your extension cord and keep it safe.
- Buy your extension lead from a reliable supplier
Extension leads bought cheaply from online marketplaces seem like a bargain, but they are more likely to be dangerous. Check your extension lead before you use it
Keep an eye out for anything unusual, like the smell of burning plastic or smoke.
If you see, hear, or smell anything unusual, or the extension lead feels hot to the touch, unplug the extension lead and the equipment straight away.
- Remember that extension leads are only intended for temporary use
If you regularly use extension leads, it may be worth getting a registered electrician to install more sockets for you.
How much does Electrical Equipment Testing (PAT) cost?
The honest answer… It depends!
PAT tests are priced per unit. For example, if you have a computer with two monitors, it would be counted as six separate units to be tested. The computer, the two monitors, and the three power leads.
When you contact your PAT tester, let them know roughly how many units need to be tested. If you’re not sure, forward them a copy of your last PAT testing report or asset list if you have one.
