Get Instant Booking
Select your property and get quote within 30 seconds
What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) evaluates fire risks within a building, identifies potential hazards, recommends necessary actions, and assesses the level of occupants to mitigate these risks. FRA ensures that the people and the building comply with fire regulations, such as Regulatory Reform Order (2005). It covers emergency planning, emergency routes, and emergency occupants.
Ensure Complete Compliance with Our Property Solutions
Our Prices
We offer competitive pricing to ensure you receive top-quality service without breaking the bank:
Communal Area
£109.00
Understanding Fire Risk Assessments
Fire Risk Assessments are critical for maintaining safety in communal areas, spaces shared by many occupants, such as lobbies, stairwells, and corridors. Here is what FRA entails:
Recognizing Hazards
A detailed, thorough risk assessment addresses every fire safety factor, from detecting risks to implementing efficient safety measures.
Risk assessment involves
Determining the likelihood and possible consequences of a fire.
Safety Measures
These Include testing the emergency lighting, fire doors, alarms, and extinguishers.
Having up-to-date plans
Evacuation tactics and unimpeded, clear escape routes are ensured by evacuation plans.
Why Fire Risk Assessments Are Crucial for Communal Areas
Communal areas are apartment blocks and shared spaces with unique fire safety challenges due to their shared nature. Here’s why they are essential:
Legal Compliance
Landlords and property managers are legally mandated to perform FRAs. Non-compliance may result in significant fines or even jail time.
Protection of Residents
Fire safety precautions adapted to the needs of vulnerable people—such as older people or people with disabilities—are crucial since these people are frequently more vulnerable in public spaces.
Fire Mitigation
Thorough evaluations assist in detecting fire hazards and eliminating them before they cause damage, guaranteeing that the property’s escape routes and fire alarm systems are operational.
Insurance Requirements
Many insurance companies require ongoing fire risk assessment documentation before granting coverage to shield property managers from monetary and legal dangers.
Identifying Communal Areas in Residential Properties
Communal areas are shared spaces within residential buildings that multiple occupants access. These areas play crucial roles in fire safety, such as primary routes. Correctly accessing these spaces reduces fire risks and ensures protection. A fire risk assessment in communal areas helps identify potential hazards.
What Qualifies as a Communal Area?
A communal area space refers to spaces within a property many occupants share. These include non-private sections of a building that occupants use. From corridors to lobbies, these communal areas require attention for fire safety.
Corridors, Stairwells, and Lobbies
Some of the most communal spaces serve as evacuation routes during emergencies. Fire risk assessment is evaluated in these areas, such as when a block exists or emergency lighting is used. Regular maintenance of fire doors and alarms is a clear pathway to ensure safe evacuation.
Shared Kitchens and Laundry Rooms
Shared kitchens and laundry rooms are often significant fire risks due to potential sources and electrical appliances. Proper ventilation, safe storage of flammable materials, and functioning fire extinguishers are essential for accessing these places. Regular checks on the safety maintenance of equipment reduce the likelihood of fire incidents.
Entrances, Exits, and Parking Lots
Entrances and exits must remain accessible and transparent in case of fire emergencies. A fire risk assessment ensures that exit signage, fire safety, and door alarms work. Parking systems require attention and access to emergency vehicles.
Outdoor Spaces and Recreational Areas
Although outdoor communal spaces such as gardens, shared recreational zones, and play areas may be less likely to present fire risks, storing flammable materials in these areas can be problematic.
Legal Obligations for Property Owners and Managers
Property owners and managers must conduct fire risk assessments to ensure the safety of residents. This helps to prevent potential fire risks and ensure compliance with UK fire laws.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Explained
This law mandates that all non-domestic communal properties undergo regular fire risk assessments. It requires the responsible person to ensure that fire safety precautions are well maintained.
Who Is the Responsible Person for Fire Risk Assessments?
The responsible person is typically the building owner, property manager, or landlord. They arrange a competent fire risk assessor to evaluate the communal areas and ensure compliance.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with the Fire Safety Order results in severe penalties, such as fines. The responsible person faces legal action in these cases, putting property and tenants at risk.
The 5 Step Fire Risk Assessment Process
1. Identifying > 2. Assessing > 3. Checking > 4. Developing > 5. Reviewing
Identifying Fire Hazards and Risks
The first step is to locate ignition sources and flammable materials and assess how the future could start. This includes electrical faults, faulty appliances, or improper storage of combustible materials.
Assessing Vulnerable Areas and People
Finding combustible materials and probable ignition sources is the first step in determining how to contain or spread a fire. This could involve broken appliances, incorrect flammable goods storage, or electrical issues.
Checking Fire Safety Equipment and Fire Doors
Controlling the spread of fire requires functional fire doors, extinguishers, and fire alarms. A comprehensive examination guarantees that every piece of equipment is operational and readily available in an emergency.
Developing an Evacuation Strategy
Any property must have a precise and well-documented evacuation strategy. This plan delineates escape routes, areas of convergence, and individual duties to guarantee a seamless evacuation procedure during a fire.
Reviewing Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
The last phase involves assessing fire alarm and detection systems to ensure they are placed correctly, inspected often, and equipped to warn people in time for a safe evacuation.
How Often Should Fire Risk Assessments Be Conducted?
Fire Risk Assessment Frequency by Property Type
- Low-Risk Properties
These include low-risk residential properties with little fire risk, like single-family houses or compact apartment buildings. Low-risk properties should complete fire risk assessments every two to three years, with an annual review.
- Medium-Risk Properties
Because of their higher occupancy and common areas, medium-risk properties like larger apartment complexes or multi-story buildings frequently have additional fire hazards. These properties should undergo an assessment every one to two years to ensure that the safety devices, alarms, and fire escapes are operating as intended.
- High-Risk Properties
High-risk premises, such as hostels, care facilities, and structures that house vulnerable people, require the most frequent inspections. Annual fire risk assessments are needed, with interim reviews if necessary. These structures frequently have extra risks, such as intricate designs and greater occupant susceptibility.
Situations That Trigger Immediate Reviews
Apart from schedule assessments, certain circumstances demand a proper review of fire risk assessment to address new hazards.
- Structural Modifications: To guarantee ongoing fire safety, any additions, remodels, or changes that impact emergency exits, fire compartmentation, or escape routes must be immediately reevaluated.
- Changes in Occupancy: It is vital to assess evacuation procedures and modify the fire safety plan in response to the arrival of new residents or particularly vulnerable individuals (such as the elderly or disabled).
- Fire Incidents: Following a fire or near-miss, a thorough evaluation is required to ascertain what went wrong and how future occurrences of the same type of incident can be avoided. This also depends on finding possible flaws in fire detection and suppression systems.
- New Fire Safety Equipment: It is essential to check that fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, and fire alarms have been installed correctly and are incorporated into the building’s overall fire safety plan.
- Environmental modifications: Even outside modifications, such as more flammable material storage or development nearby, might create new risks that require a reevaluation to maintain the property’s safety.
Who Should Conduct the Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment should be conducted by someone experienced in fire safety. In contrast, property owners may perform basic assessments for low-risk properties that require personal expertise.
Choosing Between DIY and Professional Assessments
DIY assessments might be suitable for simple, low-risk properties. However, professional fire risk assessors bring knowledge, especially for communal areas with significant natural fire hazards.
Importance of Hiring Qualified Fire Risk Assessors
Qualified assessors ensure compliance with fire safety regulations and help prevent risks by examining fire hazards, safety equipment, and evacuation routes.
Fire Safety Equipment for Communal Areas
Key Safety Features to Consider:
Fire Alarms and Smoke Detectors
Early detection technologies are essential for timely warnings and enabling occupants to flee before a fire advances.
Emergency Lighting
In a power outage, emergency lighting directs residents to safety by highlighting escape routes and exits.
Portable Fire Fighting Equipment
You need fire blankets and extinguishers to put out little fires before they get out of control. For efficacy, placement and upkeep must be done correctly and regularly.
Automatic Smoke Vents
These devices increase visibility and lower the risk of smoke inhalation during an evacuation by dispersing smoke from common areas.
Pricing and Costs of Fire Risk Assessments
At EICR Cert, we offer competitive pricing for fire risk assessments to meet the needs of a property.
How Pricing Is Determined
The size of the property, the layout’s complexity, and the degree of danger all affect the cost of a fire risk assessment. More thorough assessments may be necessary for larger properties with more common areas or higher-risk profiles, which may impact cost.
Transparent, Fixed Pricing Starting at £109
We have a starting price of £109 for low-risk, smaller buildings. We think it’s important to provide fixed, transparent prices to help property owners and managers create efficient budgets.
Request a Free Quote Today
EICR Cert provides complimentary, no-obligation quotations to get an accurate price for your particular property. Our staff will examine your property’s requirements and offer a full breakdown of prices to ensure the most excellent value.
Additional Tips for Maintaining Fire Safety in Communal Areas
Keeping Fire Exits Clear
Make sure there are never any obstacles in the way of fire escapes or evacuation routes. In an emergency, furniture, bikes, and strollers can obstruct vital escape routes and delay the evacuation process.
Regular Checks and Maintenance of Fire Safety Equipment
Fire alarms, extinguishers, and emergency lighting require regular maintenance and inspections. Property managers must arrange for routine inspections to verify that all equipment is operational and up to date.
How to Report Issues
Residents and employees should report any issues with fire safety, such as malfunctioning equipment or obstructed exits, to building management immediately. A well-defined reporting mechanism guarantees that problems are dealt with before they become hazardous.
Booking a Fire Risk Assessment with Us
Easy Steps to Schedule Your Assessment
- Get in touch with us: Please call or use our online form to share information about your property.
- Obtain an Estimate: We will provide you with an upfront price based on your property’s size and risk level.
- Plan the Visit: Select a time that works well for our accredited assessors to visit and inspect the common spaces.
Fast Report Turnaround (7-10 Working Days)
We recognize how crucial prompt results are. At EICR Cert, we give a detailed fire risk assessment report within 7-10 working days after the evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is responsible for communal fire safety?
The property owner, landlord, or management agent ensures fire safety in common areas. They are responsible for ensuring that all safety precautions are taken and maintained and that fire risk assessments are completed.
How long does the assessment process take?
Depending on the property’s size and complexity, several hours are usually needed for the on-site fire risk assessment. The report is usually sent in seven to ten business days.
What happens if I don't comply with the law?
Breaking fire safety regulations can result in harsh consequences, such as fines, jail time, or a prohibition on managing properties legally.
How often should I review the fire risk assessment?
Fire risk assessments should be evaluated every year or immediately following any significant changes, like structural modifications or the addition of vulnerable inhabitants.
Contact Us
EICR Cert makes scheduling a fire risk assessment simple when you are ready. Our staff is available to assist you in ensuring your property conforms to fire safety laws.
Get in Touch to Book a Fire Risk Assessment
To arrange your assessment, call us or complete our short online form. Our helpful staff will schedule an inspection and deliver a customized price when convenient for you.
Fill Out Our Online Form
We recognize hoFor prompt service, contact us by phone. Alternatively, fill out our online form for a price and a callback.w crucial prompt results are. At EICR Cert, we give a detailed fire risk assessment report within 7-10 working days after the evaluation.