Commercial fire risk assessments
This guide focuses on offices, shops and other non-domestic premises. The responsible person must ensure a suitable fire risk assessment is carried out, recorded and reviewed.
Reviewed: 20 August 2026
This guidance is general information. The correct fire safety measures depend on the premises, its use, occupants, fire risk assessment and applicable legal duties.
Start with the premises
Identify hazards, people at risk and the precautions needed. Generic templates can help structure the process but do not replace premises-specific judgement.
Record the full assessment
Current duties require the fire risk assessment to be recorded in full. Action plans should state what needs doing, who is responsible and the priority.
Consider active and passive measures
Detection and warning, escape routes, emergency lighting, fire doors, compartmentation, firefighting equipment and management arrangements may all need consideration.
Review and follow-up
A review should check whether previous actions were completed and whether occupancy, layout, use or risk has changed.
Frequently asked questions
Does the fire risk assessment need to be written down?
Yes. Current duties require responsible persons to record the fire risk assessment in full.
Should actions be tracked?
Yes. Actions should be assigned, prioritised and followed through so the record shows how identified risk was managed.
Sources and further reading
For legal duties and technical standards, use the current primary source and professional advice where required.