UK enforcement data shows small and medium-sized enterprises are repeatedly caught with inadequate fire-risk assessments. Fire authorities no longer accept generic tick-box FRAs. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment, and for complex premises such as HMOs or care homes, inspectors increasingly expect documentation structured around PAS 79. If your current assessment is outdated or does not reflect recent layout changes, you are exposed. Officers want to see active management: updated logs, clear escape routes, and working alarms. Review your premises now rather than waiting for an inspection or a near-miss. — HawkSwift FRA News. General guidance, not formal legal advice — book a HawkSwift assessment for your premises.
Quick answers
Q: Is a basic tick-box fire risk assessment enough for my small business?
No. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, your fire-risk assessment must be "suitable and sufficient," meaning fire authorities now routinely reject generic, tick-box documentation. You must actively identify and mitigate genuine hazards to remain compliant.
Q: Does my fire risk assessment need to follow PAS 79?
For complex premises such as HMOs or care homes, fire authorities increasingly expect your documentation to follow a recognised methodology like PAS 79. This structured approach provides proof that you have properly identified and mitigated fire hazards.
Q: How often do I need to review my fire risk assessment?
You must review your assessment whenever there are layout changes to your premises, and it should be supported by updated logs, clear evacuation routes, and functioning alarms. Fire safety officers look for evidence of active management, so you cannot simply leave your documentation to gather dust.
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