Fire risk assessment for commercial buildings, HMOs and blocks of flats
A fire risk assessment is the written review every non-domestic building and the shared areas of a block of flats must have under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We visit, assess the building against the PAS 79 method, photograph what we find and give you a prioritised action plan you can hand to a contractor or your insurer.
Carried out by DC Fire & Security, Luton. Assessor holds a Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment. Updated October 2026.
Fire risk assessment at a glance
- Who needs one: employers, landlords, managing agents and anyone in control of non-domestic premises or the common parts of flats
- Method: PAS 79 structure, photographed, with actions ranked by priority and timescale
- Rough cost: small commercial premises such as a shop, café or office usually start at around £550 + VAT; larger or more complex buildings are priced from a plan or photos
- Next step: send the address, building type and floors, and we come back with a fixed price
What a fire risk assessment covers
The assessor walks the whole building and records what could start a fire, who would be at risk, and whether the measures in place are enough. The report covers:
- Ignition sources and fuel: electrics, cooking, heating, storage and waste
- Escape routes, final exits, travel distances and emergency lighting
- Fire detection and alarm: whether it suits the building and how it is tested
- Fire doors, compartmentation and fire stopping, seen as part of the building (a visual check only)
- Extinguishers, signage, staff training, procedures and who is responsible for what
- Vulnerable occupants, sleeping risk and out-of-hours use
Every finding gets a priority and a suggested timescale, with a photo, so the action plan can go straight to whoever is doing the work.
A fire risk assessment is not a fire door inspection
They are two separate services and one does not cover the other. A fire risk assessment looks at the whole building and will note if doors need attention. A fire door inspection measures and tests each door and gives you a door-by-door report. Many buildings need both, and we can do them in the same visit.
How it works
- Send us the address, what the building is used for, how many floors and the number of people. Photos or a floor plan help.
- We confirm a fixed price and a date. Assessments are paid for when booked.
- The assessor visits, walks every area including plant rooms, roof spaces and external areas where relevant, and talks to whoever manages the building.
- You receive the written assessment with photos and a ranked action plan.
- We can price the remedial work, such as fire door repairs, fire stopping or alarm upgrades, from the report. You are free to use anyone.
Buildings we assess
- Shops, cafés, restaurants and offices
- Schools, nurseries and colleges
- Care homes and supported living
- HMOs and houses of multiple occupation
- Blocks of flats: the common parts and flat entrance doors
- Warehouses, workshops and industrial units
- Churches, halls and community buildings
Fire alarm upgrades that come out of an assessment are designed to BS 5839-1 for commercial premises. We do not design or fit domestic alarm systems.
What happens after the assessment
The action plan shows what is urgent and what can be planned. Most buildings have a handful of quick fixes, such as signage, a propped door or a missing seal, and a few items that need pricing. If you have already had an assessment and it failed, see what to do after a failed fire risk assessment. The assessment should be reviewed regularly and whenever the building, its use or the number of people changes.
Choosing an assessor
Look for a named assessor with a recognised fire risk assessment qualification, relevant insurance and a sample report you can read. Our guide to choosing a fire risk assessor lists the questions worth asking. In residential blocks, see who is responsible for fire doors in flats.
Related guides and services
- Fire risk assessment cost — what affects the price
- Free fire risk assessment template — a printable form to start with
- Fire risk assessment Slough — local details
- Fire risk assessment Hertfordshire — county coverage
- Fire risk assessment North London — local details
- Fire risk assessment Buckinghamshire — county coverage
- Fire risk assessment Kettering — East Midlands
- Fire risk assessment Wellingborough — East Midlands
- Fire door inspections — door-by-door photo reports, a separate service
- Compartmentation surveys — intrusive surveys for the fire stopping behind the walls
- Fire stopping — sealing gaps and penetrations with tested systems
- Fire alarms — commercial fire alarm design, servicing and maintenance to BS 5839-1
- After a failed fire risk assessment — what to fix first
- What is passive fire protection? — the doors, walls and seals an assessment relies on
Fire risk assessments near you
Pick your town for local details, postcodes covered and a quote form. We also cover areas not listed; send the postcode.
Who does the work
The fire risk assessment is carried out by DC Fire & Security, assessed to PAS 79 by an assessor with a Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment. Where an assessment leads to work that needs a third-party certificate, that work is done by our BM TRADA Q-Mark / FIRAS-certificated contractors.
Frequently asked questions
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Where do you work?
Get a fixed price for a fire risk assessment
Tell us the address, what the building is used for and how many floors. Luton, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, London, the Thames Valley and the East Midlands.
Request a free quote
Fixed price · No obligation · Response within 24 hours