Fire Risk Assessment Checklist: What Actually Gets Checked

 Short answer: an assessor is checking whether people can get out safely, whether they'd know there's a fire in time to do it, and whether the building itself will hold back the fire long enough for that to happen. Everything on the checklist sits under one of those three questions.


DETECTION AND WARNING


Smoke alarms need to be properly positioned on each floor, working, and giving proper coverage rather than one unit stuck in a hallway and forgotten. Kitchens usually need heat detectors instead, since smoke alarms near cooking just get switched off eventually. Larger buildings need an interconnected alarm system meeting BS 5839, with battery backup, loud enough to actually wake someone asleep.


ESCAPE ROUTES


This is where an assessor spends most of their time. Routes need adequate width, generally a minimum of 750mm, completely clear of obstructions, with enough alternative exits and acceptable travel distances to the nearest one. The final exit door has to open from the inside without a key, every time, no exceptions for "we keep it locked overnight for security."


EMERGENCY LIGHTING


Where natural light isn't enough, you need a minimum of 1 lux along the centre of the escape route, backed by at least three hours of battery power, positioned properly at direction changes and level changes, not just dotted around wherever looked convenient.


FIRE DOORS AND COMPARTMENTATION


Doors on escape routes need proper FD30 or FD60 certification, intumescent strips actually fitted and in good condition, working self closers, and no more than a 3mm gap between the door and frame. This is one of the most common fail points, because doors get propped open, closers get disconnected, and nobody notices until an assessor checks.


SIGNAGE AND RECORDS


Fire action notices posted where people will actually see them, exit signs, door labels, a marked assembly point, and extinguishers clearly identified. And critically, records: testing dates, maintenance history, and the assessment itself, all documented, because a fire risk assessment that only exists as a memory doesn't count as one.


WHAT MAKES IT "SUITABLE AND SUFFICIENT"


The legal standard isn't just having a document, it's having one that actually reflects your specific building and gives a clear action plan with risks prioritised properly, not a generic checklist ticked off without anyone really looking. That distinction is exactly what gets tested if an inspector ever visits or something goes wrong.


GETTING YOURS PROPERLY CHECKED


If you want someone to go through all of this properly for your specific property rather than relying on a template, that's what I do. You can see what's included here: https://www.fiverr.com/tonycarlyon/write-a-professional-fire-risk-assessment-for-your-uk-property-or-business

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