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Fire is a dangerous element; it can go from simple candlelight to a not-so-fun outbreak. That’s why it’s important to conduct a regular fire risk assessment of your home. When you ensure your home is safe from fire risks, it ensures sustained safety and reduced disasters.
Read on to understand how to carry out a fire risk assessment and how often it’s necessary to do so.
What Is A Fire Risk Assessment?
So, what do you do when asked to conduct a fire risk assessment?
The first thing you should note is that a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement in the UK, so that alone should answer the question of how serious it is. Another thing to understand is that it entails you carry out a report on your property or flat.
This report aims to highlight the necessary steps to take to reduce the risk of a fire. It’s also done to ensure that tenants know exactly what to do in the event of a fire outbreak. There are several factors to look at during fire risk assessments Surrey residents need to understand.
They include:
- Reports on the availability and location of smoke detectors, fire blankets, and fire extinguishers
- The presence and proximity of fire escape routes in the building
- The fire resistance of doors and escape routes
- The presence of fire hazards increases the risk of an outbreak, e.g. flammable furniture, combustible materials, gas leaks, and so on.
Again, the fire risk assessment is mandatory by law for all rental properties in residential areas. It also applies to landlords with at least 5 tenants.
Why Do Homeowners And Tenants Need To Carry Out A Fire Risk Assessment?
The obvious factor is the need to prevent unfortunate fire accidents. Better safe than sorry, they say, so it’s best to identify and eliminate any fire risk before it’s too late. It’s so vital in the UK that laws have been put in place to ensure residence owners adhere to the exercise.
For reference, kindly refer to the Housing Act (2004) and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005). These underline the need for a written fire risk assessment report.
How Often Should a Fire Risk Assessment Be Carried Out?
Based on the Housing Act, landlords and tenants are required to perform a routine assessment of potential fire risk. Therefore, a period of 1 year or 6 months between assessment periods is advised.
Understanding the Responsibility You Have Regarding Fire Risk Assessment
Not just landlords, tenants also have to be vigilant about the presence of fire risks in the building. These include the lack of extinguishers, escape routes, smoke detectors, etc. Fire risks also come in the form of behaviours such as smoking and making campfires in the building.
