Fire safety guide
For non-domestic premises in England, the responsible person must assess fire risk and act on the findings. Work through the building, its occupants and the daily operation together.
Core guidance and English/Chinese wording were checked against the linked official sources on 29 September 2026. This editorial source check is not a professional review or an assessment of any premises.
Check who controls the premises, who employs the staff and who manages shared areas. A lease does not remove the need to understand and co-ordinate duties with a landlord or other occupiers.
A tenant employing people in a rented unit may be a Responsible Person for that workplace. The landlord or managing agent may maintain shared stairs and fire systems. The lease helps identify maintenance arrangements, but check who controls each area and co-ordinate the fire plan with the other Responsible Persons.
Look for ignition sources, combustible stock and dangerous substances, then consider staff, customers, contractors and anyone who may need help to evacuate.
Follow each route to a safe exit. Check that warning, lighting, doors and firefighting equipment are suitable for the premises and that the team knows what to do when the alarm sounds.
Keep the assessment and fire safety arrangements in writing. Turn findings into a dated action list, brief staff on the emergency plan, and check that fire measures are maintained and tested.
Review the assessment regularly and after changes to layout, activity, occupants or fire precautions. Simple premises may be assessed in-house; obtain competent help where the risk or building is beyond your expertise.
Check the assessor's experience and training for your type of premises and fire risk. Agree which rooms, shared areas and arrangements they will examine, and record the assessor's identity. The Responsible Person remains responsible for the fire risk assessment even when someone else prepares it.
For premises matched to the assessor's competence, SiteRound can provide a written fire risk assessment and action list, then arrange a revisit after corrective work. Confirm the inspection scope, any access limits and the paperwork before booking.
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