Expert Fire Risk Assessments in the Midlands & London

Fire risk assessments, fire doors & regulations

UK law, good practice and our coverage across the West Midlands, East Midlands and Greater London.

Do you provide fire risk assessments in the Midlands?

Yes. We undertake fire risk assessments across the English Midlands, including the West Midlands (for example Birmingham and Coventry) and the East Midlands (for example Nottingham and Leicester), for commercial, residential, HMO and specialist premises.

Do you cover London and Greater London?

Yes. We provide fire risk assessments for duty holders and landlords in Greater London and central London boroughs, aligned with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

What types of premises do you assess in Birmingham and London?

We assess offices, retail, warehouses, blocks of flats, HMOs, healthcare, education and higher-risk industrial sites—whether in the Midlands, London or surrounding areas—with clear reports and practical action plans.

What must a fire risk assessment cover under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005?

In England and Wales the responsible person must ensure the assessment is suitable and sufficient. Good practice follows official guidance: identify fire hazards and people at risk; evaluate existing precautions (means of escape, detection and warning, firefighting equipment, signage, and passive protection such as fire-resisting construction and fire doors where they are part of the strategy); record significant findings where required; implement measures so risks are reduced so far as is reasonably practicable; and review the assessment when it is no longer valid or after significant change. HM Government’s sector fire risk assessment guides describe proportionate recording and review.

How often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?

The Order requires you to keep the assessment under review and revise it if it is no longer valid or there is a significant change to the premises, hazards or occupancy. Many duty holders adopt an annual review as good practice, and always revisit the assessment after major alterations, enforcement notices, a fire or near miss, or a change in use. Your records should show when it was last reviewed and why.

Why are fire doors important for compliance and good practice?

Fire door assemblies (leaf, frame, seals, hinges, self-closers, hold-open devices where permitted, glazing and compatible ironmongery) protect escape routes and compartment lines. Under the Fire Safety Order they are part of general fire precautions and must be maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. Typical issues include damaged intumescent or smoke seals, excessive gaps, missing or failed closers, incompatible hardware and doors wedged open. Remedial work should restore the doorset to its tested or specified design and be carried out by competent persons.

What is good practice for fire door inspections?

Set the inspection frequency in your fire risk assessment and building procedures; many sites use frequent visual checks on busy routes plus more detailed inspections (for example six-monthly or annual) by someone with suitable knowledge. BS 8214 gives guidance on fire door assemblies and their care; BS 9999 supports wider fire safety management in non-residential buildings. New or replacement doorsets should meet the Building Regulations and have adequate evidence of fire performance (for example BS EN 1634-1 or legacy BS 476-22 data) and, where relevant, third-party certification. Follow manufacturers’ instructions and document any repairs.

Who can carry out a fire risk assessment in England and Wales?

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to ensure the assessment is suitable and sufficient; it does not name one professional title. Whoever carries out or leads the assessment must be competent—with enough training, experience and knowledge of the premises and fire safety to identify hazards, evaluate risk and recommend proportionate controls. Many organisations use qualified fire risk assessors for medium- and higher-risk premises, following sector guidance. An assessment without suitable competence may not satisfy regulators or insurers.

Is a fire door inspection the same as a fire risk assessment?

No. A fire risk assessment covers the whole building’s fire safety strategy—people, hazards, escape, detection and warning, management and passive protection where relevant. A fire door inspection focuses on fire door assemblies and whether they match their specified or tested design. Door inspection results usually feed into the assessment (especially for escape routes and compartmentation) and may appear as actions on the action plan. Programme checks and detailed inspections through your written procedures and the risk on each route.

Can fire doors be wedged or propped open?

Wedging or propping open a fire door that should self-close is unsafe and is often cited in enforcement, because the door cannot protect the escape route or compartment. If you need clear access, use only solutions allowed by your fire strategy—for example hold-open devices that release on alarm, correctly installed and maintained—and record this in your fire risk assessment. Get competent advice before changing how fire doors operate.