A fire risk assessment is similar to an MOT for a car. Just as an MOT assesses whether a car is fit for the road on the day it is tested, a fire risk assessment will provide a snapshot of the fire risks of a building on the day of the inspection.

Fire risk assessments are a legal requirement and must be carried out by fully accredited professionals.

The main aim of a fire risk assessment is to reduce the chances of someone getting injured if there is an incident.

What fire risk assessments check

Fire risk assessments only cover the communal area of a building not individual flats.

Some of the things covered by a fire risk assessment include:

• are communal areas kept clear?
• is there a fire alarm system in the building?
• are escape routes and exits well signposted?

A fire risk assessment is only a snapshot

Although fire risk assessments can provide helpful insight into any potential fire risks, they are not a complete evaluation of a building’s safety because situations can change that alter the fire risk of a building.