fire risk assessment for Offices: What Assessors Look For
Evaluating the People at Risk An assessment is not just about the building; it is fundamentally about life safety. Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the RRO, you must consider everyone who may be affected by a fire. The assessor will evaluate the risk to: * Office employees working in open-plan spaces or enclosed meeting rooms. * Reception staff and security personnel who may be stationary at a single desk. * Visitors, clients, and contractors who may be unfamiliar with the building layout. * Vulnerable individuals, including anyone with mobility, visual, or auditory impairments who might need a Personal Emergency evacuation: Checking that doors on escape routes are self-closing, free from damage, and fitted with appropriate intumescent seals. * Obstructions: Verifying that corridors, stairwells, and final exit doors are kept entirely clear at all times. * emergency lighting: Confirming that adequate lighting is in place to illuminate escape routes if the mains power fails. * Fire exit signage: Ensuring that signage is photoluminescent or adequately illuminated and meets current standards. ## Firefighting Equipment Assessors will inspect your portable firefighting equipment, typically CO2 and water mist extinguishers, to ensure it is suitable for the specific risks present. A CO2 extinguisher is generally required for electrical fire risks, while water or foam extinguishers are needed for solid combustibles like paper and furniture. The assessor will check that extinguishers are correctly located, mounted on stands, and accompanied by the correct identification signs. They will also confirm that the equipment has been commissioned and is subject to annual maintenance by a competent service provider, as outlined in BS 5306-3. ## Management, Training, and Record Keeping Even the best physical fire safety provisions are ineffective without proper management. The assessor will review your emergency plan and ask to see evidence of staff training. Under the RRO, responsible persons must ensure that employees receive adequate fire safety instruction. The assessor will look for records showing that staff have been trained on what to do upon discovering a fire, how to raise the alarm, and the evacuation procedures. They will also check that fire drills are conducted at least annually, and that regular visual inspections of fire doors, escape routes, and alarm call points are being logged. ## How HawkSwift Can Help Navigating the complexities of fire safety legislation can be challenging for busy office managers. At HawkSwift Ltd, our NEBOSH-qualified assessors provide thorough, practical evaluations tailored to your specific premises. We deliver fire risk assessments from £199 + VAT, with comprehensive 5 working days reports to help you address any issues promptly. To get a court-defensible, RRO 2005-aligned assessment, book a [fire risk assessment](/book) with our team today. <script type=\"application/ld+json\"> {\"@context\":\"https://schema.org\",\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https://www.hawkswift.co.uk\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https://www.hawkswift.co.uk/blog\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"fire-risk-assessment-for-offices-what-assessors-look-for\",\"item\":\"https://www.hawkswift.co.uk/blog/fire-risk-assessment-for-offices-what-assessors-look-for\"}]} </script>