Fire Risk Assessment on Site

A fire risk assessment identifies fire hazards on site and evaluates the risk to people from fire.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a fire risk assessment for every construction site.
The assessment considers ignition sources, fuel sources, people at risk, and existing fire safety measures.
Common ignition sources include hot works, electrical faults, smoking, and temporary heating equipment.
Fuel sources on construction sites include timber, insulation, packaging, solvents, LPG, and diesel.
The assessment must be reviewed whenever the site layout, materials, or work activities change significantly.
Fire escape routes, assembly points, and alarm systems must be identified and communicated to all workers.
The responsible person under the Fire Safety Order is typically the principal contractor on construction sites.
The Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites provides industry best practice.
A written fire risk assessment must be available on site and accessible to all workers and the fire service.

Legal requirement	The Fire Safety Order 2005 makes it a criminal offence not to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
Prevent site fires	Fire risk assessments identify and control hazards before they cause fires that destroy projects and endanger lives.
Changing conditions	Construction sites change daily. Regular review ensures the fire risk assessment reflects current hazards and controls.

Do

Don't

Complete a site-specific fire risk assessment before construction work begins.
Identify all ignition sources and fuel sources present on the site.
Review the assessment whenever the site layout or activities change significantly.
Communicate fire escape routes and assembly points to every worker on site.
Ensure adequate fire detection, alarm, and extinguisher provision across the site.
Record the fire risk assessment in writing and keep it available on site.
Include temporary accommodation, material stores, and waste areas in the assessment.
Brief all workers on the fire risk assessment findings during site induction.
Appoint fire wardens and ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities.
Test fire alarms weekly and record the test results in the fire log.

DON'T begin construction work without a fire risk assessment in place.
DON'T treat the fire risk assessment as a one-off document that never changes.
DON'T ignore changes in materials, layout, or activities that affect fire risk.
DON'T leave fire escape routes blocked by materials, plant, or skips.
DON'T assume fire extinguishers are enough; prevention is always the priority.
DON'T store flammable materials near ignition sources or temporary accommodation.
DON'T skip the weekly fire alarm test or fail to record it in the log.
DON'T allow smoking anywhere other than the designated smoking area on site.
DON'T forget to include night security and lone workers in the assessment.
DON'T file the assessment away; it must be available to workers and the fire service.

See also: Fire Safety Awareness on Site | Flammable Materials Storage

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