COMPLIANCE & SAFETY.

A fire risk assessment identifies fire hazards, people at risk and the measures required to keep your premises safe. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must ensure a suitable and sufficient assessment is completed and kept under review.

How often? Review regularly and whenever significant changes occur. There is no fixed statutory interval, although annual review is recognised as good practice for many premises, with higher-risk environments potentially requiring more frequent review. 

Legislation: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Guidance: PAS 79-1 / relevant Government fire-safety guidance

Fire doors protect escape routes and compartmentation by restricting the spread of fire and smoke. Regular inspections identify damaged seals, excessive gaps, defective hinges, closers, glazing and other issues that could prevent a doorset performing correctly.

How often? JTX recommends a competent inspection at least every 6 months, with more frequent checks for high-use or higher-risk doors. This aligns with established fire-safety maintenance practice. Note that certain residential buildings in England have specific statutory requirements, including quarterly communal fire-door checks in multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 m. 

Legislation: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Standards/Guidance: BS 8214 & BS 9999

Fire stopping maintains the building’s compartmentation where pipes, cables, ducts and other services penetrate fire-resisting walls and floors. An inspection identifies missing, damaged or unsuitable fire-stopping and helps confirm installations are appropriate for the required fire resistance.

How often? There isn’t a universal statutory “every 6/12 months” rule for all passive fire stopping. I would therefore advertise this as risk-based periodic inspection, plus inspection following alterations, service installations, refurbishment or damage that could affect compartmentation.

Legislation: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Standards/Guidance: BS 9999 and applicable tested fire-stopping system/manufacturer requirements

Fire extinguishers are life-safety equipment and must remain suitable, accessible and ready for use. Routine servicing checks their condition, contents, pressure, location and suitability for the risks present.

How often? Monthly visual checks should be undertaken by the Responsible Person, with a basic service at least every 12 months by a competent person. Extended servicing is generally required at 5-year intervals for many water, foam and powder extinguishers, with different requirements applying to CO₂ and certain other types. 

Legislation: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Standard: BS 5306-3

Emergency lighting provides illumination to escape routes, exits and critical areas if the normal lighting supply fails, helping occupants evacuate safely.

How often? Monthly functional tests should confirm the emergency luminaires operate when the normal supply is interrupted, with an annual full rated-duration test of each luminaire. The current BS 5266-1:2025 refers to BS EN 50172:2024 for the routine inspection and testing regime. 

Legislation: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Standards: BS 5266-1:2025 & BS EN 50172:2024

Electrical equipment used at work must be maintained so that it does not present a danger. Inspection and testing can identify damaged cables, plugs, insulation and electrical faults before they cause electric shock or fire.

How often? Risk based — not automatically annually. The appropriate interval depends on the appliance, how frequently it is used and the environment. Equipment regularly moved or used in harsh environments should generally be inspected and tested more frequently than low-risk office equipment. 

Legislation: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Guidance: HSE HSG107 / IET guidance