Fire safety

Fire risk assessments for businesses, landlords & HMOs

A thorough, practical fire risk assessment of your premises, with a clear action plan that puts the most important things first. No jargon, and no recommendations you don't need.

Get a quote Common questions

Who needs a fire risk assessment?

Almost every non-domestic premises in England and Wales needs one. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the "responsible person" (usually the employer, the owner or whoever controls the premises) must make sure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out and kept under review.

We regularly assess:

offices, shops, warehouses and workshops
pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and bed & breakfasts
houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and the common parts of blocks of flats
care homes, nurseries and schools
premises being fitted out, converted or brought back into use

Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety laws with similar requirements. If your premises are there, tell us and we'll advise on the right approach.

What's included

Your consultant visits the premises and looks at how it is really used, day and night, not just at a floor plan. The assessment covers:

Fire hazards: ignition sources, kitchens, electrical equipment, storage, waste and smoking.
People at risk: staff, guests, residents, visitors, and anyone who may need help to escape.
Means of escape: escape routes, exits, travel distances, signage and emergency lighting.
Detection and warning: your fire alarm system and how it is tested and maintained.
Fire doors and compartmentation: a visual, non-destructive inspection of doors, walls and service penetrations.
Firefighting equipment and its servicing.
Management arrangements: training, drills, testing records, evacuation plans and personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs).

You receive a written report with a prioritised action plan, so you know exactly what to do first and what can be planned in over time.

Your legal duties in brief

Assess and review. The assessment must be kept under regular review, and revisited whenever something significant changes.
Record it in full. Since October 2023, changes made by the Building Safety Act 2022 mean every responsible person must record the whole fire risk assessment in writing, along with their fire safety arrangements. If you use someone else to carry out the assessment, you must record who they are.
Blocks of flats and HMOs. The Fire Safety Act 2021 confirmed that the building's structure, external walls and flat entrance doors fall within scope. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added duties such as giving residents fire safety instructions and information about fire doors.
Enforcement. Fire and rescue authorities can inspect, issue enforcement or prohibition notices, and prosecute in serious cases.

Established businesses, new fit-outs and historic buildings

Whether you've run your premises for years, you're fitting out a brand-new unit or you're bringing an older building back into use, we start from how you actually operate. Our clients particularly value advice that keeps people safe and works for the business, including keeping the character of older buildings and the atmosphere of a venue wherever we safely can.

How it works

Tell us about the premises: its type, size, how it's used and who's in it. We'll confirm the scope and quote.
Site visit at a time that suits you, with as little disruption to your business as possible.
Report and action plan in plain English, with priorities clearly marked.
Ongoing support: questions answered, help putting actions in place, and reviews when things change.

How often should it be reviewed?

The law says the assessment must be reviewed "regularly" rather than setting a fixed period. Many organisations review annually as good practice. You should always review it after significant changes, such as alterations to the building, a change of use or occupancy, or after a fire or near miss.

Running an HMO or letting property? Read our guide: Do I need a fire risk assessment for my HMO?

Client feedback

What our clients say

The assessment was thorough and professional… Stuart took the time to explain their findings clearly and identify any areas that required attention, without making the process unnecessarily complicated.

Read the full review

We recently had a fire safety risk assessment carried out at our existing bed and breakfast, bar and restaurant premises, and we were extremely pleased with the service we received.

The assessment was thorough and professional, taking into account the different areas of the business, including the guest bedrooms, bar, restaurant, kitchen and other staff and customer areas. Stuart took the time to explain their findings clearly and identify any areas that required attention, without making the process unnecessarily complicated.

We particularly appreciated the practical advice and recommendations, which were focused on keeping our guests, customers and staff safe while working within the realities of an existing hospitality business.

The whole process was straightforward, professional and reassuring, and we now have a much clearer understanding of our fire safety responsibilities and the measures we need to maintain. We would have no hesitation in recommending their fire safety risk assessment service to other bed and breakfast, hotel, pub or restaurant owners.

Coach HouseBed & breakfast, bar and restaurantFire risk assessment

Stuart took the time to understand our plans for the property and provided practical, clear advice on how we could improve fire safety while retaining the character and charm that makes this pub so special.

Read the full review

Bringing this historic pub back to life for a new business venture was an exciting project, but it also came with the responsibility of ensuring the building was safe and compliant for its new chapter.

The fire risk assessment was carried out thoroughly and professionally, taking into consideration the age and character of the building, its existing layout and features, and the changes required to transform it into a vibrant new hospitality venue.

Stuart took the time to understand our plans for the property and provided practical, clear advice on how we could improve fire safety while retaining the character and charm that makes this pub so special.

Their knowledge and approach gave us real confidence that we were creating a safe environment for our customers, staff and the future of the business.

It was reassuring to have professional fire safety advice from the early stages of bringing this much-loved historic building back into use. We would happily recommend their services to anyone undertaking the renovation or reopening of an existing pub, restaurant or other historic premises.

Duck & DaggerHistoric pub, brought back into useFire risk assessment

What really stood out was the practical and straightforward approach. The recommendations were clearly explained, with sensible advice on how to ensure the premises was safe for our customers and staff.

Read the full review

We recently had a fire risk assessment carried out on our brand-new unit as we transformed the space into a modern charcuterie, wine and cocktail bar.

As this was a completely new premises and a new business venture, getting the fire safety arrangements right from the outset was extremely important to us. The assessment was thorough and professional, taking into account the layout, customer areas, bar facilities, kitchen/preparation areas, escape routes and the way the premises would operate once open.

What really stood out was the practical and straightforward approach. The recommendations were clearly explained, with sensible advice on how to ensure the premises was safe for our customers and staff while allowing us to create the modern, welcoming atmosphere we had envisioned.

Having the fire risk assessment completed as part of the fit-out process gave us real peace of mind and confidence as we worked towards opening our doors.

We would highly recommend their services to anyone opening a new hospitality venue, particularly where fire safety needs to be carefully considered alongside the design and operation of a modern bar or restaurant.

PopinaNew charcuterie, wine and cocktail barFire risk assessment

FAQs

Fire risk assessment questions

Who is the "responsible person"?

Usually the employer, for parts of the premises they control. Where there's no employer, it's the owner or the person in control of the premises, such as a landlord or managing agent for the common parts of flats and HMOs. There can be more than one responsible person, and they must cooperate.

Can I do my own fire risk assessment?

You can, if you're competent to do so. For anything beyond small, simple, low-risk premises, most responsible persons use a competent assessor, because the consequences of getting it wrong can be very serious.

How long does an assessment take?

It depends on the size and complexity of the premises. A small shop is very different from a hotel or a large HMO. We'll confirm timescales when we quote.

What happens if I don't have one?

Not having a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is an offence. Fire and rescue authorities can issue enforcement notices, restrict use of the premises and, in serious cases, prosecute. More importantly, without one you can't be confident people would get out safely.

Do you cover premises outside Cheshire?

Yes. We're based in Chester and work with clients right across the UK.

Health & Safety that's easy to work with.

Tell us about your business and we'll be in touch with clear, practical next steps.

Get a quote enquiries@mmsc.uk