Fire Risk Assessment

Given that most fires occur in domestic dwellings, it was recognised that a block of flats, as a building containing many such dwellings, had the potential for a higher risk to people should fire break out. Accordingly, the fire safety standards that were developed to address this risk sought to afford the same level of safety found in houses to those living in blocks of flats. These standards have been embodied in Building Regulations, which, now as then, ensure that adequate fire safety provisions are incorporated in blocks of flats when they are constructed.

Epica Health, Safety & Wellbeing undertake detailed Fire Risk Assessments to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and relevant statutory provisions. We are able to carry out fire risk assessments in the following areas:

• Offices and shops
• Factories and warehouses
• Sleeping accommodation
• Residential care premises
• Purpose built blocks of flats – Low Rise and High Rise
• Educational premises
• Small and medium places of assembly
• Large places of assembly
• Theatres, cinemas and similar premises
• Open air events and venues
• Healthcare premises
• Animal premises and stables
• Transport premises and facilities
• Construction Industry

Our approach is to use PAS 79 methodology for undertaking a fire risk assessment. You can ensure you receive a report covering all relevant aspects of fire safety. The 9 separate steps to carrying out a fire risk assessment are outlined in PAS 79:

• Obtain information on the building, the processes carried out in the building and the people present, or likely to be present, in the building;
• Identify the fire hazards and the means for their elimination or control;
• Assess the likelihood of a fire;
• Determine the fire protection measures in the building;
• Obtain relevant information about fire safety management;
• Make assessment of the likely consequences to people in the event of fire;
• Make an assessment of the fire risk;
• Formulate and document an action plan;
• Define the date by which the fire risk assessment should be reviewed.