How to Choose the Right Fire Risk Assessor (And What to Watch Out For)
A practical guide to choosing a qualified fire risk assessor in the UK; what accreditations to look for, red flags to avoid, and questions to ask.
INFIRISK Team·8 min read·
How to Choose the Right Fire Risk Assessor (And What to Watch Out For)
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for virtually every non-domestic premises in England and Wales must ensure a "suitable and sufficient" fire risk assessment is in place. In Scotland, the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 imposes similar obligations. The assessment must be carried out by a "competent person", and this is where things get complicated.
There is no legal requirement for fire risk assessors to hold a specific qualification or licence. Anyone can, in theory, call themselves a fire risk assessor. This lack of mandatory regulation means the market includes genuinely expert professionals alongside individuals who lack the training, experience, and competence to produce an assessment worth the paper it is printed on.
Choosing the wrong fire risk assessor does not just waste money. It creates a false sense of security, leaves genuine hazards unaddressed, and, should a fire occur, exposes the responsible person to criminal prosecution for failing to meet their legal duties.
This guide explains what to look for, what to avoid, and how to make an informed decision.
What Qualifications and Accreditations Matter
Industry-Recognised Qualifications
The following qualifications are widely accepted as indicators of competence in fire risk assessment:
IFE (Institution of Fire Engineers) membership, The IFE is the professional body for fire engineers and fire safety practitioners. Members at MIFireE or FIFireE grade have demonstrated significant knowledge and experience. The IFE also operates a Fire Risk Assessor Register, which requires candidates to pass a rigorous peer-reviewed assessment.
NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate or Diploma, The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health offers fire safety qualifications that provide a solid theoretical foundation, though practical assessment experience is equally important.
FPA (Fire Protection Association) qualifications, The FPA offers fire risk assessment training programmes and maintains a register of qualified assessors.
Level 4 Diploma in Fire Safety, Offered by various awarding bodies, this provides a comprehensive grounding in fire safety principles and risk assessment methodology.
Third-Party Certification Schemes
The gold standard for demonstrating competence is third-party certification, where an independent body audits the assessor's qualifications, processes, and output quality on an ongoing basis.
BAFE SP205, This is the most recognised third-party certification scheme for fire risk assessment in the UK. BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) operates SP205 through UKAS-accredited certification bodies. Companies holding BAFE SP205 certification have had their assessors' competence, their management systems, and sample assessment reports independently verified. Choosing a BAFE SP205 certified assessor is the single most reliable way to ensure competence.
IFC Certification and Warrington Certification are among the certification bodies that audit against the BAFE SP205 standard.
A third-party certified fire risk assessor has been externally validated. A self-declared "qualified" assessor has not. The difference matters enormously if your assessment is ever scrutinised by a fire authority or challenged in court.
Red Flags: Warning Signs of an Incompetent Assessor
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Any professional fire risk assessor should carry professional indemnity (PI) insurance. This protects you if the assessment is negligent and you suffer a loss as a result. If an assessor cannot provide proof of PI insurance, walk away.
No Sample Report Available
A competent assessor should be willing to provide a redacted sample report so you can evaluate the quality of their work before commissioning. If they refuse or claim they do not have one available, that is a significant concern.
Quoting Without Visiting or Understanding the Premises
A fire risk assessment cost depends on the size, complexity, occupancy type, and specific hazards of the building. Any assessor who provides a fixed quote based solely on a postcode or a brief phone description, without asking detailed questions about the premises, is unlikely to deliver a thorough assessment.
Legitimate assessors will ask about floor area, number of storeys, occupancy type, sleeping risk, any known hazards, and the current fire safety provisions before providing an accurate quotation.
Unusually Cheap Pricing
Fire risk assessment is a professional service that requires significant time on site, technical expertise, and substantial report-writing time. If a quote seems remarkably cheap compared to others you have received, ask yourself what is being cut.
Common shortcuts taken by budget assessors include: spending inadequate time on site, using generic template reports with minimal site-specific detail, failing to review existing documentation, and omitting detailed action plans.
The cost of a fire risk assessment for a typical medium-sized commercial premises ranges from £300 to £800+, depending on complexity. For large or complex buildings, costs can be significantly higher. An assessment quoted at £100-£150 should raise immediate questions about what you are actually getting.
No Clear Methodology
Ask the assessor to explain their methodology. A competent assessor will reference PAS 79-1:2020 (the published document that provides guidance on fire risk assessment methodology) and be able to explain how they structure their assessment process.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Fire Risk Assessor
What qualifications do you hold relevant to fire risk assessment? Look for the qualifications listed above. Be wary of vague answers.
Are you registered with a third-party certification scheme such as BAFE SP205? Verify this independently on the BAFE register.
Do you carry professional indemnity insurance? Ask for the certificate and check the cover level.
Can you provide a sample report? Review it for depth, clarity, and actionable findings.
What experience do you have with my type of premises? A residential block, an industrial warehouse, and a care home each present very different fire safety challenges. Sector-specific experience matters.
How long will the site visit take? For a medium-sized commercial building, expect at least half a day. Anything significantly less may indicate a superficial assessment.
What is included in the fee? Clarify whether the quote includes the site visit, report production, an action plan with prioritised recommendations, and any follow-up consultation.
How quickly will I receive the report? Two to three weeks is typical. Same-day reports are a red flag for quality.
What a Good Fire Risk Assessment Report Should Contain
A competent fire risk assessment, produced in accordance with PAS 79-1:2020, should include:
Premises details, Address, description, occupancy type, number of floors, approximate occupancy numbers, and the responsible person's details.
Fire hazard identification, Sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen. Specific hazards identified during the site visit.
People at risk, Identification of persons who may be especially at risk, including those with disabilities, lone workers, visitors, and sleeping occupants.
Evaluation of existing fire safety measures, Assessment of detection and warning systems, means of escape, emergency lighting, fire-fighting equipment, signage, and management procedures.
Assessment of fire risk, A structured evaluation of the likelihood of fire and the potential consequences.
Action plan, Prioritised recommendations with clear timescales, categorised by urgency (typically immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term).
Review date, When the assessment should next be reviewed (typically annually, or sooner if there are significant changes to the premises).
A report that runs to three pages of generic statements with no site-specific observations is not a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, regardless of who produced it.
Understanding Assessment Types: Type 1 Through Type 4
Fire risk assessments are categorised by scope:
Type 1, Common areas only, non-destructive. The assessor inspects communal areas (corridors, stairways, lobbies) without entering individual flats or opening up building elements. This is the most common type for residential blocks.
Type 2, Common areas only, destructive. As Type 1, but the assessor may open up concealed spaces (above ceilings, within risers) to inspect fire-stopping and compartmentation.
Type 3, Common areas and flats, non-destructive. The assessor also inspects a sample of individual flats, checking flat entrance fire doors, detection within flats, and internal arrangements.
Type 4, Common areas and flats, destructive. The most comprehensive assessment, including inspection of concealed elements within both communal areas and individual flats.
The appropriate type depends on the building's age, construction, height, and risk profile. Following the Grenfell Tower inquiry, there has been a significant shift towards Type 3 and Type 4 assessments for higher-risk residential buildings, particularly those over 18 metres in height.
Your fire risk assessor should advise you on which type of assessment is appropriate for your building. An assessor who only offers Type 1 assessments, or who does not discuss the distinction, may lack the expertise for more complex buildings.
Why Competence Matters More Than Price
An incompetent fire risk assessment is worse than no assessment at all. It creates documented evidence that you engaged a professional, whilst failing to identify the hazards that a competent assessor would have found. In the event of a fire:
The fire authority will review your fire risk assessment.
If the assessment is found to be inadequate, you, as the responsible person, bear the liability, not the assessor.
The court will ask whether you took reasonable steps to ensure the assessor was competent.
Choosing the cheapest option without verifying competence is not a reasonable step.
Recent prosecutions under the Fire Safety Order have resulted in fines exceeding £100,000 and custodial sentences for responsible persons who failed to maintain adequate fire safety arrangements. The cost difference between a competent assessor and a budget one is typically a few hundred pounds. The cost difference in liability exposure is potentially unlimited.
Making Your Choice with Confidence
Selecting a fire risk assessor is a decision that directly affects the safety of everyone in your building. Prioritise third-party certification (BAFE SP205), verify qualifications independently, review a sample report, and choose on the basis of competence and thoroughness rather than price alone.
The right assessor will not just produce a report, they will help you understand your building's fire risks and give you a clear, actionable plan to manage them.
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