Fire risk assessments
A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for every site you run, carried out by competent assessors and kept under review so it never quietly goes out of date.
Why it matters
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for a non-domestic premises must carry out a fire risk assessment that is "suitable and sufficient" for the building, its occupants and how it's used, and keep it under review. ILUX carries these out for every site on your estate.
The assessment is reviewed regularly and whenever something changes — a layout alteration, change of use, new tenant or incident. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires it to be kept under review; how often depends on the type of site, its risk and what your insurer or your own policy requires. For most commercial and retail sites that means an annual review, and we set the interval for each site on that basis rather than as a blanket rule.
What's included
Every assessment follows the five-step approach set out in UK fire safety guidance, applied to the building in front of us rather than a checklist.
- Identify the fire hazards specific to the building and how it's used
- Identify the people at risk, including anyone with additional needs
- Evaluate, remove or reduce the risk, and evaluate the fire protection measures already in place
- Record the findings, the significant risks and the actions needed, and prepare an emergency plan
- Review the assessment regularly and whenever the premises or its use changes
The written report sets out the significant findings in plain language, a prioritised action plan for anything that needs doing, and a clear review date. It's built to be readable by whoever runs the site day to day, not just by a fire engineer.
An assessment is only as good as what happens next.
The findings feed straight into your fire alarm servicing and certification, so the system that's actually installed matches what the assessment says the building needs.
Across a multi-site estate
We run assessments as a programme rather than one-off bookings: a rolling schedule across the estate, review dates staggered, and every report held against the site in your client portal.
New sites are assessed before they open; existing sites get a fresh assessment whenever they change hands, change use, or have significant building work.
Common questions.
Who is the "responsible person"?
Usually the employer, owner, or whoever controls the premises — often the head of property or facilities. It's a legal role, not a job title, and the assessment must be commissioned by, or on behalf of, that person.
Do we need a new assessment for every site, or does one cover the estate?
Every site needs its own assessment. Layout, occupancy and use differ site to site, so a single generic document won't meet the "suitable and sufficient" test even across near-identical units.
What happens if the assessment finds something serious?
It goes into the action plan with a priority. Anything that's an immediate risk to life is flagged for action straight away; everything else gets a fixed price and a timescale so you can plan the work.
Can you assess sites we don't currently maintain?
Yes. A fire risk assessment stands on its own, though most clients find it's the natural starting point for bringing fire compliance across as a whole.
What's the difference between the assessment and a fire alarm service?
The assessment looks at the whole building and decides what's needed. Servicing keeps the systems it relies on, like the alarm, working. You need both.
How long does an assessment take?
It depends on the site's size and complexity. A straightforward retail unit is usually a few hours; a larger or more complex building takes longer. We agree the timescale as part of the survey.
Do you assess sites outside England?
Fire safety law differs slightly across the UK's nations. We assess sites across the whole of the UK and apply the right legislation for where the site sits.
Know where every site stands.
Send us your site list and we'll scope a fire risk assessment programme across all of them.