| Question | If you employ five or more people, have you recorded the findings of the fire risk assessment? |
| Advice | Complete a risk assessment in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. |
| Question | Have you told your staff or their representatives about your findings? |
| Advice | Ensure staff or their representatives are made aware of the findings of the risk assessment |
| Question | Is there a system for controlling the amounts of combustible materials and flammable liquids and gases that are kept in the workplace? |
| Advice | Ensure there is a system for controlling the amounts of combustible materials and flammable liquids and gases that are kept in the workplace |
| Question | Is that system operating effectively? |
| Advice | Ensure that waste materials such as partly-used containers of paint, flammable solvents, or flammable-solvent-based adhesives do not accumulate in the workplace. |
| Question | Are all the combustible materials and flammable liquids and gases stored safely? |
| Advice | Ensure that stores for flammable liquids and stores for combustibles materials are sited at secure locations, and that they carry No Smoking signs and signs such as "Flammable Liquid", "Flammable Gas" etc. as appropriate. Ensure the arrangements for the storage of flammable liquids conform to the guidelines published by the Health and Safety Executive and that the storage of highly flammable liquids and liquefied petroleum gases conform to the requirements of The Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972 |
| Question | Is the upholstery of furniture in good condition? |
| Advice | Ensure all new upholstered furniture for non-domestic complies with the requirements of British Standards 7176, 1995 and BS 7177, 1995 |
| Question | Is the workplace free of rubbish and combustible waste materials? |
| Advice | Ensure all rubbish and combustible waste is cleared from the building on a daily basis and securely stored, preferably in lockable metal skips, outside the building, away from fire exits and not under any overhanging structure. |
| Question | Are all heaters fitted with suitable guards and fixed in position away from combustible materials? |
| Advice | Ensure all heaters are fitted with suitable guards and fixed in position away from combustible materials? Remove all portable heaters where practical to do so. |
| Question | Are flexes run in safe places where they will not be damaged? |
| Advice | Ensure that where cables and leads could constitute a tripping hazard their routes are indicated with hazard warning tape, and where they may suffer damage by being walked upon they are run in protective flexible plastic sheathing. |
| Question | Is the use of electrical extension leads and multi-point adaptors kept to a minimum? |
| Advice | Ensure the use of electrical extension leads and multi-point adaptors is kept to a minimum. |
| Question | Are reasonable measures taken to prevent fires as a result of cooking? |
| Advice | Ensure filters are changed and ductwork cleaned regularly and a suitable fire-extinguishing appliance should be provided |
| Question | Is there satisfactory control over works carried out in the building by in-house maintenance personnel and outside contractors (including hot work permits)? |
| Advice | Ensure you have a hot works procedure in place |
| Question | Does the workplace comply with smokefree legislation? |
| Advice | Ensure compliance with smokefree legislation including the dispaly of no-smoking signs in smokefree premises and vehicles. |
| Question | Have suitable measure been taken to protect against the risk of arson? |
| Advice | Ensure suitable measures are in place to protect against the risk of arson. |
| Question | Has consideration been given to all cost-effective measures that could be taken to prevent the occurrence of arson? |
| Advice | If cost effective give consideration to installing appropriate protection measures to prevent the occurrence of arson |
| Question | Have measures been taken to ensure that smoke and flames cannot spread from one compartment within the building to another? |
| Advice | Ensure that the integrity of the compartmentation is not compromised. |
| Question | Are there a sufficient number of exits of suitable width for the people likely to be present? |
| Advice | Ensure there are a sufficient number of exits of a suitable width for the people likely to be present in the building. |
| Question | Do the exits lead to a place of safety? |
| Advice | Ensure that Fire Exits lead to a place of safety. |
| Question | Are all gangways and escape routes free from obstructions? |
| Advice | Ensure that all gangways and escape routes free from obstructions |
| Question | Are the escape routes free from tripping and slipping hazards? |
| Advice | Ensure the escape routes are free from tripping and slipping hazards. |
| Question | Are steps and stairs in a good state of repair? |
| Advice | Ensure steps and stairs in a good state of repair |
| Question | Are final exits always unlocked when the premises are in use? |
| Advice | Ensure final exits are always unlocked when the premises are in use. |
| Question | Are the devices securing final exits capable of being opened immediately and easily without the use of a key? |
| Advice | Ensure panic latches/locks or break glass bolts are fitted to fire exit doors where practical |
| Question | Are internal fire doors labelled as such and normally kept closed? |
| Advice | Ensure all internal fire doors are labelled as such and normally kept closed. |
| Question | Are the self-closers on fire doors operating correctly? |
| Advice | Ensure the self-closers on fire doors are operating correctly and that employees are made aware of the importance of reporting any self- closing devices that are not operating correctly. |
| Question | Do the doors on escape routes open in the direction of travel? (i.e. towards the escape route) |
| Advice | Ensure the doors on escape routes open in the direction of travel |
| Question | Are escape routes clearly signed? |
| Advice | Ensure that escape routes are clearly signed and that the signs conform to the requirements of the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996. |
| Question | Are fire action notices displayed prominently throughout the workplace? |
| Advice | Ensure fire action notices are displayed |
| Question | Are escape routes adequately lit? |
| Advice | Ensure that escape routes are adequately lit and if required provided with artificial lighting in accordance with the current British Standard. |
| Question | Are there appropriate fire detection and warning procedures and/or systems in place to alert ALL building occupants (including any in remote areas) in the event of a fire? |
| Advice | If required fit an approved automatic fire detection and alarm system. See BS 5839 for further information. |
| Question | Is the fire alarm system in good working order? |
| Advice | The fire alarm system should be inspected by a competent person. |
| Question | Can the fire alarm be raised without placing anyone in danger? |
| Advice | Relocate the fire alarm activator |
| Question | Are the fire alarm call points clearly visible and unobstructed? |
| Advice | Remove any obstruction and ensure clear visibility along escape routes |
| Question | Is the fire alarm system connected to a monitoring centre that calls the fire brigade? |
| Advice | Consider connecting your FDA system to a 24-hour monitoring centre. |
| Question | Is the fire alarm system, and all its components, continuously monitored? |
| Advice | Consider connecting your FDA system to a 24-hour monitoring centre. |
| Question | Are an adequate number of suitable fire extinguishers provided? |
| Advice | Provide adequate fire extinguishers. For further information on the provision of portable fire extinguishers refer to BS 5306 Pt 8. |
| Question | Are the fire extinguishers and fire blankets located suitably and ready for use? |
| Advice | Locate fire extinguisher and fire blankets in the correct postion. For further information refer to BS 5306 Pt 8. |
| Question | Is any fixed fire-fighting installation or automatic fire detection system in working order? |
| Advice | Ensure any fixed fire-fighting installation or automatic fire detection system in working order and maintained in accordance with the appropriate standards. |
| Question | Do procedures and practices avoid the use of combustible materials or processes that use heat? |
| Advice | Remove or reduce any fire hazards where possible and reduce any risks you have identified. |
| Question | Has an emergency plan been drawn up in case of a major fire? |
| Advice | Draw up an emergency plan tailored to the premises |
| Question | Is a copy of the emergency plan kept other than at the workplace |
| Advice | Ensure a copy of the emergency plan is kept somewhere other than at the workplace |
| Question | If you share the workplace with others, do they know about the risks that you have identified? |
| Advice | Bring to the attention of those who share the premises with you any identified risks. |
| Question | Has a procedure been established to review the fire risk assessment periodically? |
| Advice | Ensure your fire risk assessment (FRA) is up to date. Re-examine your FRA if you suspect it is no longer valid, e.g. following a significant change in the level of risk in the premises. |
| Question | Have staff been trained in how to call the fire brigade, the use of the fire extinguishers and basic fire prevention? |
| Advice | Ensure the appropriate training for all members of your staff or anyone else you may reasonably expect to help in the event of a fire. |
| Question | Are the fire extinguishers serviced annually by a competent company or person? |
| Advice | Ensure that you fire extinguishers are being serviced in accordance with the appropriate standards |
| Question | Is the fire alarm tested weekly? |
| Advice | Ensure that you fire alarm is being tested in accordance with the appropriate standards |
| Question | Is the fire alarm serviced by a competent company or person? |
| Advice | Ensure that you fire alarm is being tested in accordance with the appropriate standards |
| Question | Are emergency escape lighting tested monthly, |
| Advice | Ensure that you emergency lighting is being tested in accordance with the appropriate standards |
| Question | Are emergency escape lighting maintained regularly? |
| Advice | Ensure that you emergency lighting is being tested in accordance with the appropriate standards |
| Question | Are all items of portable electrical equipment inspected regularly and fitted with correctly rated fuses? |
| Advice | Ensure all items of portable electrical equipment are tested, inspected regularly and fitted with correctly rated fuses? Check the condition of all the cables and check that the appliances are fitted with correctly rated fuses. |
| Question | Is the wiring of any electrical installation inspected periodically by a competent person? |
| Advice | Ensure all electrical wiring complies with the requirements of the IEE Wiring Regulations and is inspected periodically by a competent person. |
| Question | Have you evidence of completed fire drills? |
| Advice | Ensure fire drills details are recorded and available to the Enforcing Authority |
| Question | Have you evidence of fire training? |
| Advice | Ensure fire training details are recorded and available to the Enforcing Authority |
| Question | Have you evidence of fire alarm testing? |
| Advice | Ensure fire alarm test details are documented and available to the Enforcing Authority |
| Question | Have you evidence of escape lighting tests? |
| Advice | Ensure emergency escape lighting test details are documented and available to the Enforcing Authority |
| Question | Have you evidence of maintenance and testing of other fire protection systems? |
| Advice | Ensure that fire protection tests are documented and that evidence is available to the Enforcing Authority |
| Question | Have you evidence of fire extinguisher maintenance? |
| Advice | Ensure that fire extinguisher servicing is documented and that evidence is available to the Enforcing Authority |