Review fire risk assessments

This standard is for those who review fire risk assessments for the responsible person, or their designated representative, and sets out the skills, knowledge and understanding for you to confirm that fire safety actions needed to meet regulatory and legal compliance, are being implemented, or have been implemented within the required timescale.

This usually occurs at an agreed time after the risk assessment was carried out.­

P1. confirm that the individual that you are liaising with is the responsible person, or their designated representative, for making any decisions you may require to be made **

P2.* * confirm the requirements of the fire risk assessment review to be carried out and ensure all relevant parties understand and accept them

P3. establish the reason for a fire risk assessment review being triggered, including the elapse of a defined period since fire risk assessment, change to the premises and the risk assessment being invalid

P4. examine existing fire risk assessment documentation to assist with effective assessment of risk

P5. confirm the **number of reviews that have been carried out since the previous fire risk assessment

P6. confirm the changes in fire precaution at the premises since the fire risk assessment was carried out

P7. confirm that actions from the fire risk assessment needed to meet regulatory and legal compliance are being or have been implemented within the required timescale­­

P8. identify existing issues, not dealt with since the last risk assessment that are still continuing and existing issues with no identifiable mitigating action

P9. confirm that relevant parties, including the responsible person or their designated representative, and regulators, have been informed of safety issues where there are no mitigating actions and enforcement action may be required

P10. evaluate the effectiveness of fire hazard control systems that have been put in place since the fire risk assessment, including fire safety designs and fire protection systems, installed or at a planned stage

P11. identify safety issues where there are no mitigating actions and inform relevant parties, including the responsible person or their designated representative, and regulators.

P12. identify new or emerging issues since the last review or risk assessment was carried out

P13. produce fire safety risk assessment review documentation in accordance with business policies and procedures and in agreed formats

P14. maintain the confidentiality of information on sites and systems in line with current and relevant legislation and regulations; industry standard guidelines; your organisation's quality management procedures and health and safety codes of practice

P15. confirm the timescale for the next periodic fire risk assessment review with the responsible person, or their designated representative

K1. communication methods and why it is important to communicate with the responsible person, or their designated representative, effectively and promptly

K2. how, why and when to use different communication methods

K3. the scope and limitation of the services that your organisation can provide and of actions that you can take

K4. the reasons why you must confirm the person you are liaising with is deemed to be the responsible person, or their designated representative, with the authority to make necessary decisions

K5. how and why you should maintain security and confidentiality of the responsible person's, or their designated representative's, information

K6. the legal and organisational requirements regarding data protection

K7. the information that you need to prepare accurate fire risk assessment review reports

K8. current relevant legislation and regulations; industry standard guidelines and best practice; your organisation's quality management procedures and health and safety codes of practice

K9. when to refer upwards and to whom, when compliance with fire safety legislation and regulations has been breached

K10. what the responsible person, or their designated representative, need to be aware of in terms of their responsibilities, as well as your organisation's responsibilities and those of relevant stakeholders

K11. how and when to schedule a periodic fire risk assessment review

assessment methods: the collection of data and information pertaining to the assessment of fire risk.

fire hazard: source, situation or act with potential to result in a fire (e.g. an ignition source or an accumulation of waste that could be subject to ignition.)

fire hazard identification: process of recognizing that a fire hazard exists and defining its characteristics Fire Risk Combination of likelihood and consequence(s) of fire.

fire risk assessment: a methodical approach of qualitative and quantitative measures with recorded findings on fire risk management.

fire risk assessor: a competent person who, when instructed, is capable of undertaking a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and effectively communicating advice on the findings.

premises: any building used for either domestic or non-domestic purposes.

responsible person: in relation to a workplace, the employer if the workplace is to any extent under their control; or in relation to any other premises the person who has control of the premises such as the owner, manager or landlord. The responsible person may also be referred to as the duty holder.

site characteristics: the buildings intended physical usage characteristics that may impact on the integrity of the ­­­fire protection system e.g. the addition of ceiling high cupboards, the storing of flammable materials.

stakeholders: including but not limited to, local fire authority; water undertaker; building control; insurers; government departments; environmental agencies; third party certification bodies.