Does a fire risk assessment expire in Northern Ireland?
Praesidium Fire & ConsultancyPublished 2 min read
Key points
- A fire risk assessment has no expiry date in Northern Ireland, but the law says it must be reviewed regularly so that it stays up to date.
- The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service recommends a review at least every 12 months.
- A review is also needed when there is reason to suspect the assessment is no longer valid, or after a significant change in the matters it covers, including the premises, the special, technical and organisational measures, or the way work is organised.
Does the law set a fixed review date?
No. Regulation 3 of the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 says a review “shall be carried out regularly so as to keep it up to date”, and it does not set a number of months or years.
The duty sits with the employer, under Article 25 of the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, and with anyone who has control of the premises, such as the owner or a managing agent, under Article 26. Official guidance in Northern Ireland calls this person the “appropriate person”.
How often does the fire service recommend a review?
At least once a year. The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service recommends that you review your fire safety risk assessment “regularly and at least every 12 months”.
A yearly review gives you a fixed date in the diary. Bring it forward whenever something significant changes.
When does the law require a review?
When there is reason to suspect the assessment is no longer valid, or after a significant change. Regulation 3 gives examples of significant changes: to the premises, to the “special, technical and organisational measures”, and to the way work is organised.
Official guidance in Northern Ireland, from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, the Department of Health and nibusinessinfo.co.uk, lists changes like these that should prompt a review:
- alterations to the building or its layout, such as an extension or new partitions
- new work activities, processes or equipment
- more stock, furniture or combustible materials in the building
- new or more sources of ignition
- a significant increase in the number of people using the building
- a change to opening hours, such as night time opening, or a new night shift
- people with a disability using or working in the building
- a failure of fire safety measures, such as a fault in the fire alarm
- a fire, or a near miss
The official guidance is also clear that you do not need to amend the assessment for every trivial change.
Does a review need to be written down?
Often, yes. Regulation 8 says the significant findings, including the fire safety measures and anyone especially at risk from fire, must be recorded as soon as practicable after an assessment or a review when you employ five or more people, when the premises need a licence or registration, or when an alterations notice requires it.
Keeping a dated record of each review is also the simplest way to show that the assessment is up to date.
What does a review involve?
A review checks that the assessment still matches the building as it is used today. It looks again at the fire hazards, the people at risk and the fire safety measures, and updates the actions where something has changed.