faq

Who needs a fire risk assessment? If you own or manage non-domestic premises in England, you almost certainly do. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO 2005), the "responsible person" must carry out and regularly review a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. That covers offices, shops, warehouses, care settings, restaurants, shared areas of residential buildings, and most public spaces. It applies whether you own the building, lease it, or simply control it day-to-day. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 added extra duties for higher-risk residential buildings, but the core RRO 2005 requirement applies widely. PAS 79 is the recognised framework that helps structure a thorough assessment. If you're unsure whether you're the responsible person, that's usually the first question worth answering properly. General guidance, not formal legal advice — book a HawkSwift assessment for your premises.